Planning for Tomorrow

Sewalanka Foundation has completed the Pilot Research on Agricultural and Rural Rehabilitation in the North-East and North-Central Provinces for the Koei Research Institute of Japan. The Koei Institute was conducting the research study on behalf of the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Elder in Akkarayankulam Tank, Kilinochchi explaining the Village Map for Study.

The study’s purpose was to collect primary data for the development of a comprehensive program for the war-affected areas in the northeast and north-central provinces.

The study took 4 months (Oct 03 – Jan 04) to complete and focused on 16 major and medium irrigation schemes in Ampara, Batticaloa, Mannar, Mullaitivu, Kilinochchi, Trincomalee, Vavuniya, Anuradhapura and Polonnaruwa. The activities undertaken through this comprehensive research included:

-	Completing baseline surveys,
-	Preparing Village Social Profiles,
-	Establishing Scheme Development Committees,
-	Completing Participatory Needs Analysis,
-	Preparing Local Frame Works for 16 selected schemes,
-	Preparing Village Development Plans,
-	Institutional analysis of CBOs and preparing CBO profiles
-	Analysis of institutional development needs in the public services sector.

lWomen discussing their problems in Akkarayankulam Tank, Kilinochchi for study.

Over 200 field staff were employed from the villages where the data was being collected for the duration of the study and Sewalanka provided training in how to undertake the above activities. The project was coordinated from the Sewalanka’s Social Development Division, Head Office and conducted with the assistance of the 9 District Offices. Also Sewalanka received the fullest cooperation from the Government Agents, District and Divisional Secretaries and officials from the Departments of Irrigation, Agrarian Services and Agriculture.

Whilst the results are yet to be finalized by Koei Institute, Mr. Tapan Barman, Social Development Division anecdotally suggests that “The survey results may highlight the gravity of social and economic development issues present in the North-East and North-Central provinces and the necessity for a holistic project approach”. The Japanese Bank for International Cooperation plans to develop the study’s findings into a major project to be implemented in 2005.