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| Wednesday, 17 November 2004 |
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by Uditha Kumarasinghe The "Gam Pubuduwa" (Village Re-awakening) project launched by the Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry under its Suwahas Jana Pubuduwa development program to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of 13,223 rural villages during this year has already commenced 12,447 infrastructure development projects in 12,447 selected villages countrywide, Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told the Daily News yesterday. The Minister said the Gam pubuduwa programme was launched by the Ministry as an integral part of the "Sanwardhana Sangramaya" (Development Drive) initiated by President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. This programme was ceremonially launched by the President at Anuradhapura on October 22. During this short period, the project has successfully helped to develop the infrastructure facilities of rural villages with the maximum involvement and participation of the people," she said. The Minister said Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority (SLSA) will invest Rs.264 million for this effort, spending approximately Rs.20,000 per each project. This money can only be used to purchase material and for skilled labour. The community of each village can decide on the particular project. The SLSA has already allocated Rs.249 million to implement these 12,447 villages. In addition to these Government funds, a huge contribution has been made by the Samurdhi beneficiaries and villagers to make these projects successful. "Therefore, once all these projects are completed it will add nearly Rs.400 million worth rural development projects to country's development drive," she said. Under the Gam Pubuduwa, the highest number of development projects (1603) are being operated in Kurunegala district. In addition, 1150 projects have been implemented in Kandy district while 1003 projects have got off the ground in Gampaha district. The Ministry has allocated Rs.75 million to implement projects in three districts including Kurunegala (Rs.32 million), Kandy (Rs.23 million) and Gampaha (Rs.20 million). With the steady progress achieved by Gam Pubuduwa programme, the Ministry intends to commence a large number of development projects in the North-East areas. The Ministry has already commenced 65 projects worth Rs.1.3 million in Vavuniya district, she said. The Minister said out of the recommended infrastructure projects, drinking water and community water schemes, rural roadways, culverts, small bridges, water ways and environmental conservation projects are given priority. More than 50,000 rural infrastructure development projects are due to be commenced under the second stage of Gam Pubuduwa programme next year, the Minister said. |
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