Regional development vital for national economy

By Dhaneshi YATAWARA

The new F.O.S.E. market in Pettah Reconstructions of the Nampankulam Irrigation Scheme in Vavuniya The new marketplace for Nugegoda pavement hawkers

Minister Basil Rajapaksa inaugurating ‘Divi Neguma’ Phase Two

Sri Lanka has always been a country of villages. The village, while retaining its identity with its impressive features, can be developed as a micro centre of growth - with the vision that village has to be decent and comfortable place for people to live, work and engage in their cultural and communal activities. Nearly 55% of the regional contribution to the national economy is from the Western Province, according to the Economic Development Ministry. Thus, regional development has become an essential part in the Sri Lankan national drive for development.

Despite the different rural development approaches which had taken place over the past 60 years of post-independent era, no significant progress has been achieved to bring about a change in the lifestyle of rural masses to acceptable levels.

The Western Province's contribution to the national economy is around 45%. It is the other eight regions that contribute to form the rest of the national economy," said Nihal Somaweera, Additional Secretary (Regional Development) to the Economic Development Ministry. It is with the objective of strengthening the rural masses to support the national economy from the family level the 'Divi Neguma' Phase Two started. "The regional development, through the Economic Development Ministry is focused from three different angles, i.e. - household, regional and national levels," said Somaweera.

Family based

The livelihood development program at household level is 'Divi Neguma' which aims at empowering the family. Yet the program is a national drive. "This becomes a national drive as 'Divi Neguma' is not a governmental sector program alone. The private sector, Non Government Organisations are also involved in implementing this program," he explained. 'Divi Neguma' is a collective effort of 20 line ministries and relevant departments coordinated through the Economic Development Ministry. Successfully completing the first phase the 'Divi Neguma' national development drive at its second stage aims to develop 2.1 million households. The second stage of the Home Gardening program under the 'Divi Neguma' was launched last week on an auspicious time.

Under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa the second phase of 'Divi Neguma' National Program commenced on October 27 in Biyagama at the auspicious time of 9.59 a.m. Initially Divi Neguma National programme was lunched to established one Million domestic economic units. The main objective of the project is to uplift the living standard of families, to improve their nutritional level and ensure food safety while minimising the cost of living enabling the families to generate an extra income as well.

It is the concept of the Mahinda Chinthana policy to transfer the 16,000 villages in the country to prosperous units by 2016 providing fast track development for less developed regions of the country. The strength of the country is the strength of the village.

Village-based

Village is the next focus on regional development focus. At the village level the rural infrastructure development program is the 'Gama Neguma'. "Out of the total regional development work the mega projects are foreign funded - through aid and soft loans. Currently the Northern Province is the focus as the area is so devastated and needs immediate measures to rebuild," Somaweera said. Accordingly the 'Gama Neguma' will develop a region upgrading the livelihood of the local people, infrastructure as well as sanitary and water facilities.

"We need to bring the backward regions TO THE forefront and make them significant contributors to the national economy in order to stand up as a developed country," he said.

Apart from the North millions of rupees are spent on developing the other regions.

Explaining the criteria selecting the priority areas Somaweera said Uva and the North Central provinces are comparatively more backward in development. North Central and Uva contribution to the national economy are 4.8% and 4.6% whereas the rebuilt Eastern Province contributes 5.8%. Southern and North Western are the second highest contributors to the national economy when the Western province gives 45.1% to it.

The Government has to give a boost to the most needy areas as funds are limited resources for countries like ours.

While developing the region's infrastructure through local and foreign funded projects the Economic Development Ministry guides more investors to the backward regions."We try to promote business investments in those areas by giving incentives to the business community to take more lucrative opportunities to the backward regions," he added.

Through infrastructure development focus is more on improving accessibility, development of irrigation and rural infrastructure including health, education and market places. "Poor infrastructure facilities would distract investors away from the areas.

Apart from other areas Jaffna needs more attention to attract investors to that area.

The major concern is in providing uninterrupted electricity to Jaffna," he said. Accordingly a new power transition line is under way from Kilinochchi to the Northern peninsula which will be completed in 2013. "At present seven major businessmen have agreed to invest in Mannar and Vavuniya districts," Somaweera added.