Grama Shakthi People’s Movement to be implemented with vigour in 2019 to free people from poverty

• Grama Shakthi People’s Movement spent Rs. 1,000 million to develop the livelihood and infrastructure in 1,000 Grama Niladhari Divisions
• Many programs across the country for the economic revival of the country

President Maithripala Sirisena says the Grama Shakthi People’s Movement, which was implemented as a prime project of the Government to free the people from poverty will be launched next January with new energy and outlook.  

At present, the Grama Shakthi People’s Movement is being implemented successfully across the country and the President said that this project must be launched in a more comprehensive and efficient manner to build a citizen with dignity, who will be able to stand on his or her own feet as well as to provide more facilities for low-income families. 

23 to 30 January will be declared as Grama Shakthi week and during that week, several programs will be implemented to enhance the awareness of the public and to bring together the people. 

He made these remarks addressing the Grama Shakthi People’s Movement’s action committee of the North Central Province, at the Anuradhapura Urban Council Auditorium, Thursday (20). 

Gramashakthi, which is a concept of President Sirisena, is one of the key initiatives implemented to eradicate poverty. Instead of being a program that brought people and the state together in the attempt to eradicate poverty as in most programs implemented hitherto, Gramashakthi People’s Movement brings together people, public and private sectors as essential stakeholders of poverty eradication efforts. The aim is to ensure that the produce of the people constantly gets a better price, and access new markets while bringing in new technology. The movement helps people to get organised into people’s companies in order for them to negotiate with large private sector organisations on equal terms.

At present there are over 1,000 villages under this project and it is expected to expand the number of villages to 4,000 by the next year. So far over Rs. 1,000 million has been released for the Grama Shakthi Samithi units and companies. The confidence placed on this project was evident through many prominent companies in the country entering agreements with Grama Shakthi Samithi. 

During this meeting, the progress and the way the project is being implemented in the North Central Province was discussed in detail and it was also discussed the future plans of the project in this province. 

Currently, the poverty rate of the Anuradhapura district is 3.8% while it is 2.2% in Polonnaruwa district. President Sirisena advised the officials to create new plans to deliver more benefits to the people who live below the poverty line.  

The Gramashakthi Organisations in North Central Province and private organisations have signed four Memorandums of Understandings. That is regarding buying the productions of Gramashakthi People’s movement.

Apart from that, the President participated in several activities in the Central Kandy region. He donated Rs. 2 million to the Divisional Secretariat of Viharaganviya Divisional Secretariat to buy a yoghurt sealer machine and provided Rs. 1 million to the Kebithigollawa people’s organisation.

The President also handed over Rs. 66 million and Rs. 21 million to District Secretaries in Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa respectively for the distribution to people’s organisations of Gramashakthi people’s movement.

Minister P. Harrison, former ministers S.M. Chandrasena, Weerakumara Dissanayake, Governor of Northern Province Reginald Coorey, public representatives, and district secretaries of Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa districts and other government officials were present in this event.

Then the President engaged in an observational visit to the Anuradhapura, Palugaswewa Asirigama village where Gramashakthi People’s Movement is quite active.

The people welcomed the President warmly where the President was inquiring about the conducting of the Gramashakthi project in areas where low income families live and areas with least facilities. Then the President engaged in meeting the representatives of Gramashakthi movement and the public at the Asirigama Isipathnarama Vihara.

The people made the President aware of certain fundamental issues, including the problems of drinking water, the issue of wild elephants, housing problems, sanitary problems and land issues. The President instructed the officials to provide immediate solutions for these problems and said that Rs. 25 million will be allocated within the next week for the first phase for solving these issues.

The President was informed on certain deficiencies that prevail within schools by the college Principals and the President promised to find solutions to them. He instructed the officials to obtain the assistance of the Tri forces for reconstruction of buildings and roads.

The President also mentioned that he is expecting to obtain the assistance of a private project to build new houses to replace old dilapidated houses.

The President would engage in an observational visit within the next two months to inquire into the progress of the projects

President Sirisena engaged in providing funds for constructing ‘Sewa Piyasa’ to develop two preschools of the area while funds for the Gramashakthi Samithi of Palugaswewa, Asirigama village were also provided.

The Mahasangha of the area appreciated the services rendered by President Maithripala Sirisena to accomplish the long term development that they were expecting through these practical measures.