Taking prosperity to the periphery

'Trickle-down' is the test of the state. That is, it is in degree to which material prosperity is made to 'trickle-down' to the people in the outermost regions of the country that development could be said to be occurring. This goal had proved elusive over the decades because the 'small man' did not really feature in the decision-making processes of this country, although governments screamed themselves hoarse to the effect that all their endeavours were for the uplift of the 'have-nots'.

The statistics have, so far, spoken for themselves. It is the Western Province which is at the top of the league in regional growth. Material wealth centres in a very big way in particularly Colombo and Gampaha, while districts, such as, Moneragala, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa are, in comparison, appallingly poor. Therefore, growth there may have been, but not development, correctly understood. The concept of development, understood in an enlightened way, implies that material growth is combining well with equal distribution of wealth. When this combination materializes fully, it could be said that development has indeed occurred.

Nevertheless, mega prestige projects have been projected by governments over the decades as heralding development in the countryside. This is, of course, a highly naive conceptualization of development. The fact that districts, such as, Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa and Moneragala are continuing to lag in the development race is sure proof that growth is concentrating mainly in Colombo and some outlying districts. The challenge before the state is to spread this prosperity evenly over the length and breadth of the land.

The authorities are speaking of growth in the region of eight percent and over and this is something to be happy about but how much of this growth would percolate down to the poor in the peripheries? This is the thought-provoking poser that is crying out for an answer.

There are no simple answers to this problem, but our understanding of the dilemmas of development is that every man, woman and child of this country must be fully empowered and be in a position to further their legitimate interests, if development in the truest sense of the word is to occur. And they will be in such a position only when they are capable of having a say in the decision-making process in their villages and towns.

Thus is President Mahinda Rajapaksa vindicated in ensuring that the local government electoral process goes on without a hitch. He has also gone ahead with this interesting idea of conducting the next 'Deyata Kirula' exhibition in Anuradhapura. This underscores the importance of truly taking development to our villages and remote homesteads. It is important to realize that while doing so, the humans at the periphery should be empowered and in control of their lives.

We believe the state should use this opportunity to assess thoroughly the effectiveness of all provincial and local government institutions. The usefulness of these organizations should be evaluated on the basis of whether they are ensuring the well being of the people. In other words, the poser to be answered is whether they are truly instruments of development. Accordingly, the possibility needs to be explored of holding the people's elected 'representatives' at these levels of government, very strictly accountable for fulfilling the people's essential needs.

That no easy conceptualizations could be made about poverty and underdevelopment is brought out in a decision by the President to provide housing facilities on a substantial scale to the needy in and around Colombo. While prosperity is prominent by its presence in the metropolis and in some major towns, such wealth usually exists side-by-side poverty and squalor. Skyscrapers and slums coexist in a study of contrasts and in this phenomenon too we have the evidence that poverty is lingering and that it must be judiciously dealt with.

All this proves that the concept of development itself needs to be understood in an enlightened fashion. It just would not do to have a per capita income which could be boasted about. The concrete problem of empowering the people must be addressed. That is, more and more jobs must be created and the purchasing power of the people enhanced to enable them to meet their essential needs uninterruptedly.

One could take some comfort in the fact that these issues are receiving the attention of the state but what the people would like to see are more and more national, provincial and local level politicians and officials taking on the task of development more resourcefully, boldly and accountably.