PROBLEMS IN LOCAL LEVEL

DEVELOPMENT PLANNING

06-11-2006, BMICH

S.Rangarajah
Chief Secretary - NEPC

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• Present Scenario

• Possibility

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Present Scenario

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Planning takes place at:
• National Level
• Regional Level
• Sub-National Level
• Local Level

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There are 3 Governance Structures

1. Central Government

2. Provincial Government

3. Local Government

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Local level Social / Economic
development projects and
programmes are delivered
broadly through 4 lanes.

(Due to split Administration at

Local Level)
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Lane 1: Lane 2: Lane 3: Lane 4:

Central Govt. Prov. Council Project Offices NGO / UN Agencies

District Admn. District Line Dept. District Admn. District

District Line Agency District PO Admn.

Div. Secretariat Divisional level Divisional Field Div. Div.

Div. Offices Offices Secretariat Officers Admn. Admn.

P.SS

Community / CBO Community / CBO Community / CBO Community / CBO

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Instead of Multi Level Planning
there is multiple planning with
• Overlaps
• Duplications
• Inconsistent Criteria
• Inconsistencies in Concepts
• Loose Integration
• Inconsistencies in methodologies,
designs and mode of deliveries
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 Conflict between objective
criteria and subjective
judgments (wish list Vs. DCB
Culture)

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Major partners are loosely linked

• Governance Councils
• Service Delivery Departments
• NGOO
• Communities

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 CBOO are for local level
development but generally
not linked to Local
Governance Structure

(Sustainability Risk?)

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Principle of Subsidiarity
not practiced
• Decisions of local in nature are taken
by higher level structures.
• Decisions are taken not by Local
level people representatives.

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Participatory process is only
partial; dominated by
officials. No people planning.

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 There is no link between
Development Planning and
Resource management

(Sustainability Risk?)

(Due to split Administration at

Local Level)

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 Local Level elected members
have no say over the resources

• Natural Resources
• Financial Resources
• Human Resources / Institutional
Resources

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Local projects are not legally
authorised by a Local
Governance structure.

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Pradeshiya Sabhas are the
People’s institution legally
mandated to “Decision
making process relating to
administrative and
development activities at a
local level”
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Legitimate Local Authority
functions are hijacked.

Eg: - Urban Development

- Coast Conservation
- Environment

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Several claim ownership for
planning but no one
committed.

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 Priorities of Local
Development efforts are
Poverty Alleviation /
Livelihood / Community
Development

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 After 50 years of poverty
alleviation campaigns and
programmes, still poverty
persists.

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 Authority lies with local
authorities while power lies
with Divisional Secretaries

(Due to split administration)

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 If this situation continues
poverty will continue.
Poverty Alleviation only a
distant dream.

(Due to split administration)

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Possibilities

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Authority is there.
Assert !

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 Mandated subject areas for
Pradeshiya Sabhas according
to act No. 15/1987
1. Be charged with regulation, control and
administration of all matters relating to the following:
• Public health
• Public utility services
• Promotion of the comfort, convenience and welfare
• all amenities
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Mandated subject areasC.
2. Sectoral activities
• Roads & bridges
• Electricity
• Channels & ferry services
• Marketing
• Tourism
• Maternity, child welfare & training
• Health
• Social service 27
2. Sectoral activities: cont……
• Housing
• Disaster management
• Property trust
• Construction, maintenance & improvement of village
works
• Agriculture experiments, experimental farms & studies
• Animal breeding
• Religious ceremonies & festivals
• Religious schools
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• Culture
Mandated subject areas….

3. Programming for:

• Educational facilities
• Hostels & quarters
• Libraries
• Sports activities
•Amalgamation, upgrading or opening of Schools

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Mandated subject areas….
4. Employment programmes / livelihood
activities
5. Women development
6. Integrated Village development
7. Rural development projects
8. Poor relief
9. Rehabilitation of destitute, physically,
mentally or socially handicapped
10. Manufacturing
11. Other sectors prescribed under national
laws
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Unify the present split
administration at the
Local Level.

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Attach : Functions
Functionaries (Staff)
Funds to Pradeshiya
- Sabhas

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All Local Level Development
activities and plan shall get
the approval of the
Pradeshiya Sabhas.

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Create space for Citizen
participation.

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Four committees according to
Pradeshiya Sabha Act 15/1987:

1. Finance and policy making

2. Housing and community development
3. Technical services
4. Environment and amenities

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 Suggested Space for Citizen Participation
F.L.W. of Sector
Agency
P.SS. D.SS.

Committee 1 Committee 2 Committee 3 Committee 4

Citizen’s
Forum

Village * The number of VDCC will Village

Dev. Com. depend on number of Villages Dev. Com.

CBO / CBO / CBO / CBO / CBO / CBO /

B.G. B.G. B.G. B.G. B.G. B.G.

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C.B.OO. or Village / ward based Beneficiary Groups
For Rational Planning at Local Level:
1. Establish Prerequisites
2. Follow Principles of subsidiarity
3. De-politicization and De-bureaucratization
4. Introduce Peoples planning
5. Make Mandatory integrational aspects
6. Unify methodologies & procedures
7. Adopt catchment concept

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All these depend on
commitment,
attitude change
and
political will.

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Thank you

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