Government pumps Rs. 28 bn into rural economy
The Government is set to pump billions of rupees into the rural economy during the COVID- 19 near normalcy period through ‘Sapiri Gamak’, a new community-based Rural Development Programme (RDP).
It has replaced the Gamperaliya- Rapid Rural Development Programme (RRDP) of the previous regime which has already spent Rs. 20 billion out of Rs. 48 billion allocation made during the latter period of the previous regime, official sources revealed
Gamperaliya rural work has incurred a sum of Rs. 7.1 billion unsettled claims of construction contractors and huge overhead costs compelling the new government to terminate the massive rural development project, an official document revealed.
A sum of Rs. 200 million has been allocated for each electorate and they have been distributed to Divisional Secretariat.
However, the inefficiency in the public service has created a situation where most of these funds are not used and returned to the Treasury at the end of the year, the sources said.
Although state funds of millions of rupees have been received for the purpose, most Divisional Secretariats do not have any programme to implement the rural infrastructure development projects and to finish them before December 31, sources further said.
A senior Finance Ministry official said that some of the allocations left over from the RRDP of the previous regime would be used for the newly launched ‘ Sapiri Gamak’ programme.
“But the expenses will be minimal and it will be about Rs. 2 million a project with the consumption in the countryside hitting a very low level and other worrying signs of an economic slowdown,” he added.
The new RDP initiative also complements the government’s programmes to improve the quality of life of its people, by improving the small infrastructure facilities in the 14,021 Grama Niladari divisions (GN) with total value of Rs. 22 billion in Grama Niladari divisions (GN), and each GN division being allocated Rs. 2 million.
37,862 projects have been commenced in almost all the GN divisions at present. The activities undertaken include rehabilitation of access roads, drainage systems, improving facilities for village fairs (Sathi Pola) etc.
10,717 projects worth Rs. 8 billion have been completed up to now and 2,158 new rural roads are among them.
This programme mainly focused on linking the rural market with the city by interconnecting village and town, has given priority to develop rural roads.
Accordingly 2,158 km of rural roads have been developed by now. 240 bridges and culverts have been constructed trough these roads.
Eight weekly fairs and economic centres were developed aiming at creating self- employment and also 24 agricultural storages and 10 agrowells that directly contributed to agriculture have already been completed by now.
Further, 14 minor irrigation projects with an extent of 73 kilometres were completed. 122 drinking water projects have been completed to supply potable water to rural people and this will also help to prevent water borne diseases.
With the aim of enhancing health condition and education level of the rural community, 126 health centres and school sanitary projects have been vested in the people in the area.