8. past and present rd programmes

Rural DevelopmentLesson 8: Past and Present Rural Development

Programmes in Sri Lanka

P.B. Dharmasena0777 - 613234, 0717 - [email protected] , [email protected]://independent.academia.edu/PunchiBandageDharmasenahttps://www.researchgate.net/profile/Punchi_Bandage_Dharmasena/contributions http://www.slideshare.net/DharmasenaPb

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INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENTIntegrated Rural Development Projects• Introduced in 1970• Targeted socio-economic development in rural

areas to reduce inter-districts inequalities• Benefits not received from major projects such as

Mahaweli, free trade zones, urban development etc.

INTEGRATED RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Why IRDP was introduced?• In the top down approach the increasing poverty of rural sector was

not controlled as expected• Uncoordinated rural development policies and programmes as well as

external factors affected the rural economy were not identified• Multi-sectoral and multi dimensional nature of the rural development

problems was not identified• The importance of development projects and programmes and

beneficiary participation enabling the flow of full benefits to poorest group of the community

• To ensure people’s participation in planning rural development projects and programmes

• Inefficiency of technical and economic approach adopted to solve the complex problems of rural sector


Two approaches for Integrated Rural Development• Area based sector targeted approach – used by early IRDPs,

In 1979 Kurunegala IRDP and then Puttalam and Matale IRDPs. In this blueprint approach, opportunities for changing plans, activities and structures for different districts were rare. Community participation was very limited

Ex. Improvement of infrastructural development and service supply mechanism

• Target group based poverty reduction approach – target group: rural poor, poorest of poor. Indicators: income level, food stamp receivers, samurdhi receivers, Janasawiya receivers, disabled, unemployed, women etc.

Ex. Supply of basic needs, human resources development, income and livelihood generation, poverty reduction and social mobilization

Although IRD concept is an improvement of conventional community development, following aspects are also considered

• Need of a social change• Reduction of inequalities (groups/ women/ area)• Combined human and economic development• Protection of the environment• Institutional development• Poverty reduction• Role of women in development, optimum resources

utilization, increased integration and coordination with other parallel projects and programmes for maximum benefits


Lesson-2

• Broad objectives of integrated rural development programmes– Income, employment opportunities, increased production,

livelihood enhancement of rural communities– Reduction of inter-district inequalities of socio-economic

development – Reduction of misuse and wasteful use of resources– Removal of constraints believed to be barriers for

development– Strengthening of institutional capacity for planning and

implementing rural development projects– Promoting participation of rural peasants in development


Past experience in integrated rural development1979 – 1986 Kurunegala – the first IRDP of Sri Lanka• Implemented through line agencies• Objective: increased productivity, employment opportunities, income

and living standard through investment for physical infrastructure facilities and strengthening development based services

• Activities:– Rehabilitation of existing irrigation schemes and improvement of water

management– Rehabilitation of coconut cultivation– Strengthening the agricultural extension service– Strengthening agriculture input supply services– Strengthening agricultural credit facilities– Improvement of transport, education, drinking water and rural electricity


Lesson-2

Lessons learnt• Limited capacity of line agencies, shortage of staff and

financial constraints• It was economically sound as the project paid more attention

on agricultural components such as paddy and coconut • Need of the dry zone rainfed farmers was not considered by

the Project• Tank rehabilitation was successful• Water management – not successful

– Yala cultivation ignored– No planning for farmer group participation– Lack of attention on environment and cropping patterns– Cropping intensity not increased as expected


1984 – Ratnapura the 9th IRDP in Sri Lanka• Implemented through line agencies• Objectives:

– Supply of basic needs for selected target groups from backward areas and promotion of income generation activities

– Restoration of the lost environmental balance– Promotion of participatory development

• Project planning:– Through participation of political authority, Government Officers and

beneficiaries• Constraints:

– Attitudes of line agencies– Lack of coordination with other investment sources– Lack of implementation capacity of line agencies


PARTICIPATORY RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Type of Particpation Characteristics

Passive Participation People are made aware of ‘happened and happening’. Top down information sharing is taking place only among external professionals

Participation in information giving

People provide answers to the questions raised by researchers in questionnaire survey. People can not make any changes in these research studies

Participation by consultation

External agents listen to the people. They get advices from them. Generally problems and solutions are interpreted by the external agent. People do not particpate in decision making. Participation for consultation.

What is participation in rural development?

Lesson-5

Type of Particpation CharacteristicsParticipation by material incentives

Provision of resources. Ex. Labour is provided by people then a small payment is made for the particpation like in farming research, community forestry etc.

Functional Participation Formation of groups to achieve pre-decided objectives. This is usually happening after planning the major project. In this process though the plan is decided by outside agents, it will become an independant and possible programme later. Particpation as an organization

Interactive Participation Situation is analyzed, planned and implemented together. New organization is established or existing one is strengthened. People can maintain and continue through skill development and empoverment.

Self-Mobilization Already empowered community makes decision, challenges for inequal distribution of funds and power' particpation is empowered

Participation Theme – 1 • Problem

identification, causal factors, prioritation of solutions, community planning, Project identification and formulation

PARTICIPATORY RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Lesson-5

Participation Theme – 2 • Research and

extension, innovations, knowledge

Ex. Traditional/ indigenous knowledge

iyNd.s;aj .%dóh ixj¾Okh PARTICIPATORY RURAL DEVELOPMENT

Lesson-5

Participation Theme – 3 • Natural resources management


Participation Theme – 4 • Governance and

decentralization


Why rural participation is required?• They know the location situation properly

(history, human activities, functions of service agencies, social status, livelihood and economic condition, existence of resources etc.)

• They have their own knowledge (local, traditional, adopted)

• They know their strengths and weaknesses• They are aware of problems and perhaps

solutions• They have experience on natural disaster

process (preparedness, response, resilience and mitigation)

• They remember successes and failures• Ultimately sustainability of the change depends

on them


Facing a society to development is simply not like a chemical reaction

• Complex and uncertain• Move forward always endlessly• No universal formula. Varies

according to location• All are linked and bound (no

observer or planner)• Personal change is the base of social

change• Change emerges from the system

alone. Not possible to include from out side or to plan

It is clear that carbon and oxygen will react to create carbondiaoxide. It is an eternal truth, but in sociology in social mobilization process, when people get together it will not be the same always.


Lesson-5

• Go to them• Work with

them• Learn from

them• Serve for them


Mahaweli Development Programme• The Mahaweli Development programme is known as the

largest multipurpose national development programme in the history of Sri Lanka, and is also considered as the keystone of the government's development programme since 1977.

• The main purposes of the programme are:– Generation of hydroelectric power, – Controlling flood, – Making irrigation facilities for dry zone cultivation, – Settlement of landless and unemployed families by

constructing and developing physical and social infrastructure required for human habitation by using the waters of the Mahaweli river.

– Increase local agricultural production and create employment opportunities for the people are among the other expected purposes.

Mahaweli Development Programme• The Master Plan of Mahaweli Development Programme was

prepared with the assistance of UNDP and FAO and recommended for step wise implementation over a period of 30 years.

• The programme, included irrigation development of about 365,000 ha and hydro power development of 470 MW in capacity.

• For the purpose of identification, the whole development area was divided into projects, referred to Systems A to M.

• The first phase of the programme consisted of diversion head works at Polgolla and Bowatenna, 40 MW hydro power plant at Ukuwela and an improved water supply to about 52,700 ha of existing irrigated land.

• The phase I was completed in 1978.

Mahaweli Development Programme

• Accelerated Mahaweli Programme (AMP) was implemented with a revision of the Master Plan in 1977.

• It consists of 12 projects and mainly confined to four head works in initial works of the programme, including the construction of Kotmale, Victoria, Maduru Oya, Randenigala dams and the downstream development of about 60,000 ha in Systems B and C and the Minipe anicut, the Right Bank Trans basin Canal and the Ulhitiya and Ratkinda reservoirs.

• To implement the project plan in the balance areas, Mahaweli Authority of Sri Lanka was established in 1979 by an Act of Parliament with a mandate.

• As the end of 1995, all the head works of the AMP had been completed and are functioning.

1. Total area development

2. Optimum utilization of resources

3. Settlement of families

4. Social cohesion

5. Participation in development

6. Selection of land use classes

7. Research and training

8. Establishment and development of

rural organizations

Eight Mahaweli Settlement Concepts


1. Total area development• In the past, settlements were evolved in areas in the close vicinity

of paddy tracts. It created isolated settlements, which block the access to resources in the area.

• The concept of integrating resources development was introduced by Mahaweli programmes. A broad resources development base was established in a geographical area, where additional water could be obtained through inter river diversion

• Then the settlement was established in a broader area having social and economic activities combined

• As a result roads connected to national road network, cities within and outside the project area, large scale wildlife reserve, forest reserves and infrastructure for governance could be planned

• In the total area subjected to development, whole villages found isolated before were sunk into the Mahaweli settlement culture


2. Optimum utilization of resources• Maximum extent of lands was taken up for the irrigable area selecting

all suitable soils and irrigable portions into consideration. Here shallow and well drained soils were also considered as suitable lands.

• Short distance canals were planned to enable efficient maintenance and monitoring activities

• An extent of about 20 ha of land was planned to irrigate from one field canal. This meant to use a small community for agriculture and irrigation maintenance

• Hamlet was developed in a carefully selected area to facilitate community basic affairs. Economic productivity was found very low in these home gardens due to ignorance of soil fertility, soil depth and drainage conditions

• Adequate provision of infrastructure was considered to achieve settlement establishment and development .


3. Settling the settlers• In the Mahaweli development model, roads, canals,

community centres, wells, power supply etc. were included

• The concept emphasized to provide at least some facilities before the settlers were brought in

• Settlements were located to see that they are actively integrated

• The model includes a close proximity to their paddy lands (walking distance)

• However, this walking distance has increased up to a distance that a bicycle should be used


4. Social cohesion• The settlers had to sacrifice their land, living

environment, sometimes the occupation and income avenues.

• They might had various expectations. They prefer to live and work with their relatives and neighbours and also face the challenges in new situation collectively.

• However, expectations of Mahaweli were: economic based agricultural production in irrigated and rainfed lands, establishment of agri-based industries, multi-service development in order to provide off farm income for the next generation


5. Participatory development• Attitude that ‘the people are labourers’ is induced

(even before they are fully settled) to a community lived in a rural cultural environment for generations

• Importance of giving opportunity for participating in the development activities is that they feel that land , canals and other structures are their own and tend to protect and look after.

• At the beginning only selected people were involved in the development and subsequently other members of the family were also participated once the basic needs are met.


6. Selection of land use classes• First the land use is identified based on the potential

of the land and then development plan is prepared on the basis of the physical, agronomic and economic studies.

• Although the Mahaweli concept was to select irrigable land on the basis of soil characteristics, it was seriously violated in the practice by Mahaweli

• Lands without irrigation facilities were allocated for various purposes such as plantations, fuel wood forest, fodder lands etc.


7. Research & Training• Mahaweli Authority has realized the need of

continuous research on agriculture, environment and community aspects

• Few steps taken by Mahaweli for promoting agriculture research were: • Establishment of Aralaganwila and

Girandurukotte Agriculture Research Centres;• Strengthening the Agriculture Research Institute,

Mahailluppallama• Operation of the water management project,

Kalankuttiya• Among Mahaweli Developmemt Programmes,

farmer training has become a leading programme


8. Formation and development of Community Organizations

• Mahaweli planners have drawn their attention to establish rural organizations through their development programmes

• Such investment was meant to encourage establishment of rural leadership by spreading the membership base of the new settlers

Education

8. past and present rd programmes