President kicks off Gramashakthi National Week to fast-track benefits to people

President Maithripala Sirisena on Monday pointed out the importance of implementing the Gramashakthi People’s Movement, aiming at uplifting the underprivileged people in the urban areas in the future.

The week starting 18 February has been declared as Gramashakthi National Week to accelerate the distribution of benefits from the Gramashakthi People’s Movement.

The Gramashakthi People’s Movement Western Province Steering Committee met in Wilibula, Henegama, on Monday 18 February under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena.

During this meeting, the President further instructed the officials to reduce the cost of registering small businesses, with the aim of uplifting small and medium scale entrepreneurs.

Gramashakthi is a project implemented in accordance with a concept by President Maithripala Sirisena, to show the path for people to escape the trap of dependency, and to achieve self-sufficiency in partnership with the private sector. This project is successfully operative at the Divisional Secretariat level, targeting the underprivileged.

President Sirisena further pointed out to the officials that a large number of people in the rural as well as urban areas are suffering from poverty, and emphasised the necessity of designing plans of the Gramashakthi project to focus on those target groups.

Meanwhile, the funds allocated for the Gramashakthi People’s Movement to implement in the Colombo District is Rs. 117 million. Another Rs. 117 million has been allocated for the Gampaha District and Rs. 216 million has been allocated to the Kalutara District, which has the highest poverty level in the Western Province. The President said that the responsibility of the relevant authorities is to appropriately utilise these funds to develop the livelihood of underprivileged people in those areas.

The President also emphasised the importance of all parties committing themselves towards more efficient implementation of the Gramashakthi People’s Movement’ in this year, with the experiences gained in the last two and half years.

Discussions were held at the Steering Committee meeting held yesterday on the issues and solutions that have emerged during the implementation of the Gramashakthi People’s Movement in the Western Province. The issue of marketing centres for products, the loss of ideas of the people and their encouragement were discussed.

Gampaha, Colombo and Kalutara District Secretaries presented on the implementation of the programs by the Gramashakthi People’s Movement, and proposed future programs.

Another aim of the Gramashakthi People’s Movement is to increase the availability of new revenue streams by developing partnerships. For the first time, an agreement was also signed between two Gramashakthi societies and private sector companies.

During the discussions, many issues of Gramashakthi societies in Puwakpitiya south, Avissawella were solved. It was stated that about 40 farmers are planting different types of vegetable green leaves, but in some parts of the year, these products cannot be sold. Today, the association with the Lanka Hela Osupan and Gramashakthi Society signed an agreement to ensure continued purchasing of green leaf products.

Former President Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga, Minister John Amaratunga, State Minister Ajith Mannapperuma, Lasantha Alagiyawanna, Harshana Rajakaruna, Western Province Governor Azath Salley, Chief Minister Isura Dewapriya and Ministry Secretaries, District Secretaries, Provincial Chief Secretaries and public officials, and security sector officials were also present at this Steering Committee meeting.

The Western Province’s Gramashakthi Village Movement was launched under the patronage of President Sirisena in Gampaha, Dompe, Walaramba Production Village.

The ‘Abhiman’ society was formed in Walaramba, Henegama in Dompe eight months ago, and seventy-two families out of 185 families joined this society of the Gramashakthi People’s Movement. All by-roads in the village have been concreted, using funds received from the Gramashakthi People’s Movement. Grants for small groups have been channelled through Gramashakthi Movement as well. The main source of income of the village is production and sale of oil spoons and ‘dum kabal’ for repelling mosquitoes. Their productions were improved after joining with Gramashakthi society.

The President met the Abhiman society members in Walaramba and engaged in a friendly conversation with them regarding their problems. The President also donated valuable livelihood equipment worth Rs. 185 million.