Gam Pubuduwa completes over 10,750 projects
 

by Uditha Kumarasinghe

The "Gam Pubuduwa" (Village Re-awakening) project launched by the United People's Freedom Alliance Government in 2004 as its key development drive to upgrade the basic infrastructure facilities of rural villages has successfully completed 10,757 infrastructure development projects throughout the country during 2005.

Under the Gam Pubuduwa development drive, the Sri Lanka Samurdhi Authority had identified 12,879 projects to be implemented in rural villages selected from each Grama Niladari division during this year with the full participation of village community.

Of them, the Ministry has signed agreements on behalf of 12,686 identified projects and successfully completed 10,757 projects, Samurdhi and Poverty Alleviation Minister Pavithra Wanniarachchi told the Daily News yesterday.

The Government has allocated Rs.318.76 million to implement these 12,879 projects under Gam Pubuduwa this year.

Out of the recommended infrastructure projects, agriculture, rural roadways, irrigation and waterways and drinking water projects are given priority this year. Each project selected by the village community will be given Rs.20,000, the Minister said.

"However, the community has also contributed Rs.179 million to implement these projects. Therefore, all these projects implemented with full public participation would add over Rs.531.38 million value to the country's development drive," she said.

During this short period, the projects implemented under the Gam Pubuduwa have successfully helped to develop infrastructure facilities of a large number of rural villages with the maximum involvement and participation of the people, the Minister said.

Samurdhi Societies and Samurdhi beneficiaries are the most active partners of Gam Pubuduwa projects. Each project needed by their village is decided after a full inspection by the community in that respective village. This is the key factor which helped to implement Gam Pubuduwa in a more successful manner.

With the steady progress achieved by Gam Pubuduwa programme, the Ministry could commence a large number of development projects in the North-East areas. These projects has covered several North-East areas including Jaffna, Vavuniya, Batticaloa, Trincomalee and Ampara districts, she said.

According to the Minister, the Government has targeted the Samurdhi movement as one of its major development strategy this year.

Meanwhile Jana Pubuduwa, the other project of Gam Pubuduwa will also be implemented countrywide next year as planned. It has earmarked a large number of income generating projects to improve the income level of Samurdhi beneficiary families.

Jana Pubuduwa will provide opportunities to Samurdhi beneficiaries to be gainfully self-employed in agriculture, industries, animal husbandry, fisheries, sales or any support services.

"Through these two concepts, the Government together with the village community hopes to create a massive change in the country's ongoing development process," she said.