Substantial
resources allocated: Lack of coordination hampers development
Surekha Galagoda
Sunday Observer 2006/07/30 |
The 2006 budget has allocated Rs. 46 billion(US$
460 million) targeting poverty alleviation and rural development.
The pro poor programs planned and launched include Gemi Diriya,
Gam Pubuduwa, Maga Neguma, Kiri Gammana, Osu Gammana, Gamata
Karmantha, Pubudamu Wellassa, Rajarata Navodaya and Nenasala.
National program Director Millennium Development Goals (MDG)
UNDP Sherman Gunatillake said that 119 District Secretariat
Divisions identified based on the poverty headcount index prepared
by the Department of Census and Statistics have been given priority
in implementing the programs.
In September 2000 the government and its people joined the international
community in pledging their support for the Millennium Declaration
at the United Nations Millennium Summit. MDGs are the world's
targets for reducing extreme poverty in its many dimensions
by 2015.
The goals are targeted at reducing poverty, hunger, disease,
exclusion, lack of infrastructure and shelter while promoting
gender equality, education, health and environmental sustainability.
Gunatillake said that when reviewing the progress of the country's
achievements towards MDGs the issue of regional disparities
is not being systematically addressed and it hinders the equitable
and balance development of the country.
He said that 51% of the country's GDP is concentrated in the
western province and it has increased alarmingly during the
past decade. Despite an insignificant growth in the GDP share
being reported in the Northern and Eastern provinces after the
signing of the peace accord with the LTTE the share of GDP in
the rest of the provinces remains static at a single digit.
He said that although the central government allocates a substantial
amount of resources annually for a variety of regional development
programs, lack of coordination among ministries and weaknesses
in the delivery channels hamper the development activities and
the targeted outcome at regional level.
Gunatillake said that the MDG cluster and the rural development
cluster under the NCED representing the relevant line ministries
agencies and the private sector have recognised the impediments
in regional development and proposals were presented to President
Mahinda Rajapaksa outlining an effective implementation mechanism
of pro poor programs at regional level.
Approval was given for the cabinet paper submitted by the President
to strengthen the District Secretariat divisions to implement
the Gama Naguma Program.
As per the statistical review 2006 on the MDGs in Sri Lanka
complied as part of the National MDG agenda by the Department
of Census and Statistics, the headcount ratio in Sri Lanka has
declined from 26.1% during 1990/91 to 22.7% in 2002.
Assuming a linear trend, poverty can be expected to fall to
19% by 2015 which is considerably higher than the target of
13%. Therefore Sri Lanka is not on track to achieve the target
of halving poverty as measured by the headcount ratio.
The poverty Gap Ratio is a measure of how poor the poor are
with respect to the poverty line. The target is to reduce the
national PGR by half from 5.6% to 2.8% by 2015. At national
level the PGR shows a declining trend but the country is not
on track to meet the target.
However, the urban sector has already exceeded the national
target. Challenges still remain for the rural and estate sectors,
particularly the latter which has experienced an increase in
the poverty gap, especially in the male headed households.
The percentage of underweight children under five is one of
the two indicators used to monitor target two of MDG 1.
The prevalence of moderate and severe underweight among children
has declined nationally from 37.7% in 1993 to 29.4% in 2000. |
