Gama Neguma with grass roots participation
Chaminda PERERA
Senior Presidential Advisor and MP Basil Rajapaksa will inaugurate
the Gama Neguma projects tomorrow at Welgala, a colony set up by former
Prime Minister Sir John Kotelawala in the 1950s.
National Building Minister Salinda Dissanayake at a press briefing at
the Government Information Department yesterday said the "Gama Neguma"
projects are aimed at fully developing all Grama Niladhari Divisions
islandwide within three years.
"The Ministry plans to strengthen the Janasabha at GN divisions level
to fast track the development drive in the village with maximum
community participation", the Minister said.
"Every development project requires community participation which is
ensured by the Janasabha. These Janasabhas comprising of political and
religious leaders in the village will be registered under the respective
Divisional Secretaries", he said.
"The Grama Niladhari, Samurdhi officer and Agriculture Development
Research Assistant are assigned to collect data of each family which is
required for the livelihood development in the village", he said.
"The Gama Neguma programme has three main objectives namely spiritual
livelihood and infrastructure development. This whole programme is
centred on these three objectives", he said.
"We aim to promote carbonic fertiliser usage among the farmers who
are now compelled to use imported fertiliser. Various programmes have
been planned to stall third party involvement in the farming sector."
"Market facilities for farmers products and self employed youth are
guaranteed by the Ministry under this programme".
The main feature of the programme this year will see all GN divisions
being made participants.
A sum of Rs.14,000 million have been allocated for the programme.
Many more projects such as Maganeguma, Wew Dasadahasa, the Milk
villages programme will also be launched under the line ministries at
village level, he said.
This project will also begin at Kolanikawewa in Kahatagasdigiliya
parallel to the ceremony at Welgala.
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