National rejuvenation and income
equity
Holding a Parliamentary debate on GNP per capita could
not have come at a more appropriate time. As could be seen, much
has been happening over the past few months by way of national
reconstruction and rehabilitation and an honest debate on how
equitably the income of this country is being divided among the
people is bound to prove very revealing, besides enabling the
state to sharpen its policy perspectives.
The indubitable truth is that poverty has been shrinking
progressively in this country over the past few years. So
notable has been this progress that today we could easily claim
a slot in the Middle Income Countries bracket.
This has been achieved amid a global economic downturn and
international social upheavals centering on the demand for an
equal distribution of 'bread.' After all, what are the Wall
Street protests all about? Isn't it over the people's demand for
an equal portion of the national cake, which is seen by them as
being gobbled-up by Western corporate Executives?
In this respect, Sri Lanka has been an island of stability in
a sea of ferment. While most other countries in the developing
world have been struggling to keep their home fires burning, Sri
Lanka has kept her economy in fine trim and more than managed to
keep the wolf away from the door. While we cannot say that the
majority of Lankans are living in luxury, we could claim that
they are making ends meet.
All this has been made possible by a relatively active state
sector. The point is that essential goods and services have been
continuously provided to the people, come what may, and this has
enabled the people of this country to enjoy a reasonably good
standard of living over the years. For instance, even in these
times of the giant super mall, Sathosa has been steadfast in
making available to the people essential commodities at purse
easy prices. Besides, the Samurdhi scheme has been kept going,
despite many persons entering the status of middle income
earners. Of equal importance are the essential services which
are being continuously provided to the masses, such as,
education, vocational training and health. It is these services
which have been proving to be central in the upgrading of the
abilities of the people and in the general qualitative
improvement of our human resources. If the generality of Sri
Lankans are managing to steer clear of desperate poverty it is
mainly because of the latter factor.
However, all eyes would continue to be on our state agencies
with regard to the momentous undertakings the government has
shouldered in the once conflict- hit provinces. As reported by
us yesterday, more and more displaced persons are being provided
reasonably good conditions of living, including a roof over
their heads, in the North. In fact, the resettlement,
reconstruction and rehabilitation process is approaching its
last stages and the news is that the government is allocating Rs
1,000 million more to ensure that the last of the displaced are
comfortably resettled and rehabilitated.
While it is gladdening to note that the state is sticking to
its task in the former conflict afflicted areas of this country,
it is now obliged to ensure that the people of these regions too
are reasonably well off citizens of this land. In other words,
economic equity should be part of their lot and prosperity
should soon be a striking feature of the North-East
socio-economic set-up. Thus will economic equity and income
parity be essential aspects of our polity.
It should be the steadfast policy of the state to provide
equality of condition and opportunity over the length and
breadth of this country. This is the key to national well being
and durable happiness. When this is achieved, all sections of
the people would have no difficulty in identifying fully with
the state. |