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| Friday, 9 July 2004 |
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Any Government in power implements special projects and performs normal Governmental services to develop the rural sector. The success of those mainly depends on the active participation of the targeted rural mass and they are the beneficiaries. Few examples of the first group are irrigation projects, agricultural extension projects, community forestry projects and integrated rural development projects. The activities of the Dept. of Agriculture and the Dept. of Agrarian Services come under the second group. The rural development also depends on private sector (informal) small industrial activities in villages using local raw material employing rural labour generating income. Our agriculture and rural industries are still labour intensive but to run those enterprises productive labour is the main constrain. As an example in the coconut sector the dearth of field workers, pluckers, huskers and skilled workers in the fiber, DC and oil mills is a serious problem. Even with the available labour the progress of the above activities are mainly depend on the active participation and the high productivity of employed labour. Unfortunately these two factors in villages are deteriorating day by day due to (kasippu) drinking habits of working age males. It is estimated that more than 80 per cent of the males are used to this habit of varying degree. Kasippu is relatively cheap hence affordable to poor and available at two or three dealers in a village and easy to access. The dealers offer credit and barter sales and the liquor is available at any time of the day and any day of the month. The beginners drink only in the evenings then add noon and later three times a day including breakfast drink before starting their work in the morning. Finally they become addicts or alcoholics. Because of this, the most important human resource for rural development exercises and for productive contribution to labour market is affected as follows: Their attendance for work is poor or not regular. They are physically weak, lethargic and productivity is low. They are mentally weak and unable to follow any instructions given at the work place. They involved in unnecessary disputes with fellow workers and the management and can't stick to one place to work for a long period. They spoil their family life and gives a lot of suffering to other members of the family. Ultimately they become frustrated in many ways and for a small set-back they compelled to commit suicide or harm others. They die prematurely or unfit for work due to alcohol related ailments. Hence, if the Government wants any form of development in the rural sector, the eradication of kasippu menace from the village will be the precursor. C. NANAYAKKARA, Kuliyapitiya The deputy Minister of Livestocks and Agriculture has handed over eighty - luxurious vehicles that have been used by the MPs of the previous Government according to Rupavahini news of 30.6.04. It is said that there were nine ministers under this Ministry in the previous Government and he has reduced these posts to two in order to reduce unnecessary expenditure. It need hardly be said that the curtailment of unnecessary expenditure at every level is essential, so that their benefits can be given to the general public on the other hand, import of luxurious - vehicles and other items for luxurious life have to be reduced to the bare minimum in order to get rid of the financial crisis that we are faced with. As far as the good gesture of this deputy minister is concerned, he has set an example for other Government officials to follow. It is saddening to think of some officers who have got used to live in the lap of luxury at the Government expenses. Many have used to imitate the lifestyles of those in the Western countries. However, simplicity should be the order to the day, today. The Minister of Cultural Affairs and National Heritage is said to have restricted his staff to a very few. This can be seen as a good tendency in the field of politics. Therefore, it is not only the duty of the Government Ministers but also that of others to adapt themselves to a new culture of simple life. It is obvious that youths in our country suffer without employment. The farmers suffer without being able to sell their products at a reasonable price. Some people suffer without proper medical facilities in our hospitals. In the recent past, it was reported in the media that the MPs of 'Hela Urumaya' promised to help the poor with their salaries. It can be a good tendency in the history of politics, if we can speak about these promises in terms of their practicality. It is common knowledge that the maintenance of vehicles and posh offices and official residences comes to a huge cost which cannot be borne by a poor country like ours. Hence, the example set by a political group as an initiative has to be appreciated by all patriotic citizens. R. SOMASIRI, Pannipitiya The UNF Government has granted salary increments to Public Servants who have reached the maximum scale by the above circular. It did not cover the Public Officers in Corporations, Statutory Boards by Treasury Circular dated 04.08.2003. However, when the pressure for equity rose up, the then Secretary to the Treasury accordingly issued a Circular dated 03.03.2004 at the threshold of the election making effective with an arrears payment from 01.01.2004 to cover those officers. Hence, there is a disparity of treatment for Public Servants in Govt. Departments and those who serve in Corporations and Boards and an anomaly in the arrears for a period of one year, remains unpaid to the second category by the actions of the former Secretary. We hope with the appointment of the new Secretary Dr. Jayasundera to the Treasury the implementation of this policy be reviewed in the interest of equity and the release the arrears payment resulting the above circular be granted to those in the Corporations and Statutory Boards. Public Servants be they working in a Department or a Statutory Corporation or a Board perform duties in allegiance to the Constitution of the Republic and are covered by Acts of Parliament and circulars issued by time to time. It is unreasonable to deprive the legally entitled remuneration by classifying the Public Service at the whims and fancies of the Treasury as it happened under the former Secretary by his own interpretations on Public Administration Circulars. Hope this injustice would be rectified. BERTRAM SERASINGHE, Ratmalana Ministries, Secretaries and their locations With every change of Government, which is occurring in our country at short intervals, the various functions allotted to each Minister are also changed often and at times, are identified under new designations. New Secretaries are also assigned to each Minister as a rule, and the Ministry offices too, often function from new locations, other than the Finance, Public Administration and Education, to name a few. As a result, the general public and other organisations and local bodies are at a loss to locate their situations and the names of the new Ministers and their Secretaries when they have to correspond with them in their day-to-day activities. The authorities concerned should immediately publish an official 'Notice' in the print media (in all languages) to inform the general public, who the Ministers and their Secretaries are, and their official addresses. LIONEL L. LEANAGE, Ambalangoda Ranil Wickremesinghe says that unruly behaviour of MPs in Parliament will bring the house down and end in dictatorship but the ex PM should look back to the occasion when the UNP MPs literally set fire to the House and started fires on their desks with catcalls and hoots that put the Colombo Central rowdies to shame. President Kumaratunga presented to Parliament for its consideration and approval some amendments to the Constitution that was fathered by the late J. R. Jayewardene uncle to Ranil Wickremesinghe. The UNP disapproved and true to their thuggery and murderous instincts commenced catcalls and hoots to prevent the President from presenting the document. Ranil Wickremesinghe pretended to be asleep with his head on his hands but peering through his fingers to observe the embarrassment of the President. That behaviour moves close to totalitarianism. Did not J. R. Jayewardene approve of houses of Supreme Court judges be stoned when their verdict was not in his favour? I. L. P. SAMARASINGHE, Dehiwela Give priority for urgent problems It is heartening to note that the Government during its period of rule has honoured some of its promises to rebuild the nation, but what are the priorities that need early remedial action with a sense of sympathy. Schoolchildren and the sick especially elderly people have to get up early morning walking long distances due to lack of transport. Returning to their homes the situation is worse. See the amount of people living in shanties; some without a roof over their heads, no water, no toilets, with hardly any space to stretch their legs, no privacy especially for females, spending hours to get some water. The few toilets available are in an unsanitary state due to over-crowding. Everywhere one could see, as the shadows fall, thousands of people getting ready for their nights slumber along bus halts, pavements and isolated building sites exposed to the elements of the weather. This pathetic state of affairs prevailing in our land should be exposed to donor countries to arouse their sympathies and obtain generous contributions which could be utilised solely for the eradication of the shanty problem. Therefore, all grandiose schemes designed to show the world that we are an affluent nation like other Asian countries should be temporary suspended until the living standards of our people are elevated without delay. All those leading luxurious businessmen spending their wealth in Casinos and other forms of entertainment should be encouraged to make some sacrifice for the sake of the poor. What about organising a Sweep Ticket draw weekly to collect funds for rehabilitation work. The Government should show the people that they are making every possible effort to expedite the promises made during election time. S. J. N. FERNANDO, Nugegoda |
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