Rural development programs in full swing - Athauda Seneviratne

By Naalir Jamaldeen

Villages are the gateway of development. A country can achieve sustainable development only when the villages are developed because sufficient resources are available in villages including human resource, Senior Minister of Rural Affairs Athauda Seneviratne said in an interview with the Sunday Observer.

Senior Minister Athauda Seneviratne

Q: Can you elaborate the rural development process?

A: Various factions such as Central Government, Provincial Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas and Divisional Secretariat Offices of respective district are the implementing agency of development programs in the village level. Certain projects are implemented by the Central Government. Provincial Councils, Pradeshiya Sabhas and Divisional Secretariats also implement certain development projects in the village level with the funding from the Central Government. The Government Departments also do their job well by implementing infrastructure and livelihood development projects in the rural level. All rural development programs are being coordinated by the Economic Development Ministry.

People in the village level will be made by conducting awareness campaigns by visiting village to village. During the awareness campaigns people will be made aware that what kind of project is to be implemented, how much of money has been allocated on certain project and be prepared the project is ready to be implemented.

Several district level meetings have been organised under the patronage of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa. From 7,000 to 8,000 people would participate in each meeting which is held at district level.

A pottery item being made

New pottery created

The role of Government Departments in implementing the rural development programs will also be discussed.

My Ministry has taken steps to create awareness among the people in villages by making the village society members aware. We have implemented coordinated development programs in the district level with the participation of all factions.

Divi Neguma plays a pivotal role in the development of villages. Divi Neguma is the only program which takes the development village to village and house to house.

Q: Do you have any idea to improve the pottery industry?

A: Quality clay is required for this industry. Clay, is not available anywhere. Due to continuous mining there is poaching of clay deposits. Clay is the only common raw material to produce tile, clay utensils and other household handicraft items.

Molagoda, Kegalle is famous for pottery items, where handicraft items are made from clay. Because clay is not available in Molagoda completed products are brought to Molagoda for marketing from other parts of the country.

Q: Can you elaborate on the sectors which come under the Divi Neguma and where you are responsible to develop?

A: There are so many divisions coming under the Economic Development Ministry. We implement the rural development projects coordinating with Minister Basil Rajapaksa. We do certain awareness campaigns across the country coordinating with the Ministry.

We have our own traditional industry. We implement certain rural development projects along with the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry. We also implement certain rural development projects along with the Economic Development Ministry. Jaggery (Hakuru) industry, Kithul treacle cultivation are also among them. We also help improve the kithul industry.

Minister Douglas Devananda has also initiated a program to identify the traditional industries which are functional in the village level and to help the industrialists to get their industry improved.

We also try to implement programs to improve such kind of industries with the assistance from the Central Government.

Q: Jaffna district is famous for Palmyra products. Has your Ministry any involvement with this industry?

A: We implement certain Palmyra development projects along with the Traditional Industries and Small Enterprise Development Ministry. Various handicraft items, sweet items, Hakuru are made from Palmyra. Palmyra toddy is the other product made from Palmyra. Palmyra is useful to man in various ways.

Q: Jaffna district is famous for Palmyra products, as Batticaloa district is famous for products made from reed. Has the Ministry implemented any programs for the sake of the large number of people who depend on this industry?

A: Under the Mahinda Chinthana national development concept, the Government focuses attention to develop the industrial sector including the cottage industry. Reed is the most important raw material. Shortage of reed is the main problem currently this industry face. Nobody has paid attention so far to cultivate reed except for using the reed, available in the close proximity or in the distant area.

Cane is also imported from Malaysia. Cane is available in the forests but without the permission from the authorities cane can't be cut. A cane bush will never die. When cutting, the bush will grow fast. And permission from authorities should consider the survival of this industry.

Q: Can you outline the rural welfare projects or programs which have already been implemented or are to be implemented?

A: Steps have been taken to find a solution to the economic and social problems remain in villages coordinating with the Economic Development Ministry. Problems in the village level remain in various forms.

Q: The development of the country begins from village level and only when they are encouraged will the country achieve its sustainable goal. Do you agree?

A: Majority of people of this country live in villages. Most of them depend on agriculture. The population in the cities is comparatively low. Priority should be given to rural development in the development process of the country.

The livelihood and infrastructure facilities for rural community should be developed. Facilities required to develop the agriculture sector should be improved. There are so many traditional industries which are operational in the village level. They should be given assistance to get their industries improved. The industries should be organised while arranging loan facilities and other required assistance to those industrialists. Marketplaces for their products should be developed.

These days I am closely working with Divi Neguma program which was initiated by the Economic Development Ministry by absorbing Gama Neguma, Maga Neguma, Pura Neguma programs which were initiated by President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

Now the Rural Affairs Ministry concentrates on domestic or household development. The Ministry plans to implement various programs for the sake of rural community and develop the country via this mechanism.

The Ministry will implement door to door awareness programs to motivate them towards development utilising the resources which are available in their possession. There is enough labour resource in the village level. They will be made aware how to get maximum benefit from those resources. We also hope to give them seeds, plants and fertiliser items required to those crops under the Divi Neguma program. From time to time the farmers will be given guidelines.There is a conducive environment in the village to breed cattle in villages. People run poultry farms, operate animal husbandries in villages.

Plans are also afoot to start dairy provide dairy cows, chicks to village farmers under the Divi Neguma Program.