Over 13,400 development projects under Gam Pubuduwa

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The "Gam Pubuduwa" (Village Re-awakening) project launched by the Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Ministry last year under its Suwahas Jana Pubuduwa development program to upgrade the infrastructure facilities of rural villages will commence 13,444 infrastructure development projects throughout the country during this year.

The Government has allocated Rs.500 million to implement these 13,444 projects of Gam Pubuduwa program which will commence with effect from this month. Out of the recommended infrastructure projects, agriculture, rural roadways, irrigation and water ways projects are given priority this year. Each project selected by the village community will be given Rs.20,000, a Samurdhi Ministry spokesman told the Daily News.

"However, all these projects implemented with full public participation would add more value to the country's development drive rather than to the money spent on each of this projects," he said.

According to spokesman, Gam Pubuduwa project has completed 12,262 infrastructure development projects in selected villages countrywide during the year 2004.

He said 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 last year.

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, he said.

Samurdhi Societies and Samurdhi beneficiaries will be the most active partners of Gam Pubuduwa project. As the significant feature, each project needed to their village will be decided and will conduct the full inspection of community in that respective village.

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 could commence 65 projects worth Rs.1.3 million in Vavuniya district last year.

Meanwhile the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority (SLSA) has decided to allocate more money to the Samurdhi Societies who have implemented the best infrastructure development last year. The SLSA will grant Rs.50,000 each to three Samurdhi Societies which have completed first best three projects in each Divisional Secretariat division while Rs.40,000 will be given to three Samurdhi societies who implemented second three best projects. In addition, Rs.30,000 will be given to Samurdhi Societies who have completed third best projects.

"The Ministry through this move hopes to honour the village community who extended their labour and commitment towards implementing best projects in their village," he said.