National Development process should centre around village - President

COLOMBO: The National Development Process should centre around the village and the programmes to uplift the economic and social status of the rural folk must be implemented with proper planning, emphasises President Mahinda Rajapaksa.

The President made this observation, addressing the Progress Review Meeting of the Rural Livelihood Development Ministry held at Temple Trees, last Thursday.

The progress made during the last year under the two programmes of "Gama Neguma" and "Gemi Diriya" and the future agenda of the two programmes were discussed at length at this meeting.

The Gama Neguma programme was launched on March 24 this year. This programme encompassing all the villages in the island is implemented with the participation of residents of the village concerned under joint development plans.

By November this year, 9599 plans were produced involving 14,017 Grama Niladhari Areas in 327 Divisional Secretariat Divisions.

The amount allocated was Rs.1000 million to develop highways, electricity, irrigation, drinking water supply, housing, sanitary facilities, postal facilities and transport.

A large number of projects to find means of livelihood too were implemented during this year.

At the Progress Review Meeting, the President expressed his satisfaction with the progress made during the period under review.

Speaking on the intention to establish Janasabhas for implementing rural development projects, the President emphasised the importance of ignoring political affiliations in the formation of Janasabhas and the need to include qualified people who are familiar with the local situations when the Janasabhas are formed.

With regard to the "Jana Diriya" Programme which is motivated to alleviate poverty among the rural population, the progress has by now exceeded the target amount of 500 villages and during next year, the programme plans to involve more than 1000 backward villages.

The Government is completely dedicated to uplift the rural population and the Ministers as well as state officials should share the responsibility to achieve this objective, stated the President.

Minister in Charge Jagath Pushpakumara, senior officials of the Ministry, senior officials of the Ministry of Plan Implementation and President's Secretary Lalith Weeratunga were also present.