EDITIONS: | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |   [ MANRECAP ] Bulletin No.3 JULY 2004 No. 3 Article #1: Official Message from Mr. M.S. Jayasinghe Official Message from Mr. M.S. Jayasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconciliation   It is with great pleasure that I send this message to the official web-site of ‘Mannar District Rehabilitation and Reconstruction through Community Approach Project’ (MANRECAP) funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). This is one of the many projects implemented in the North East under the purview of this Ministry. The area covered by the MANRECAP projects is Mannar D S Division and Manthai West AGA Division in Mannar District. This project will support the rehabilitation of basic infrastructure and capacity building of the community on socio-economic activities that have been decided by the communities themselves and incorporated in the action plan spread for a period of four years i.e. from 2004 to 2008. In preparing this action plan holistic approach has been followed with consultation of all relevant stakeholders.  Among the targeted construction are a multi – purpose hall, roads, community water supply, minor irrigation systems such as agro–wells, pre–school and marketing facility. The main goal of the project is to educate the community so that it can act independently to develop their own community with assistance provided by JICA and coordinated by the Ministry. With this view in mind this web-site has been launched giving the project details. This is one of the pioneering and community based web-site specifically dedicated for a local project in the North East of Sri Lanka.  Members of the public, Civil society, NGO/INGO Community, Government officials, Sri Lankans abroad and Donor community would be able to find information relating to this project in the web-site and also would be able to communicate with us giving their views towards the successful implementation of the project. I have instructed the project officials to make available the up to date information for the benefit of the viewers.  I conclude by thanking and congratulating the project staff for their commitment in implementing this project with community participation and wish the project every success.  M.S. Jayasinghe Secretary  Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation & Reconciliation   Article #2: Official Message from Mr. V. Visuvalingam, Govt. Agent - Mannar I am honoured and privileged to be the Head of District Administration to elate with the officials of the MANRECAP and share with them the service commitments to the affected community by way of formulating and implementing the community approach projects in Mannar District. I am indeed very grateful to the former Minister Assisting Vanni Rehabilitation and his secretary who were instrumental in proposing this project offered under the Japanese grant through Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to Mannar District. I am also immensely delighted and indebted to the Secretary Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation (Triple R) who graciously  gave his fullest co-operation and support. The presence of the secretary to open the MANRECAP project office by himself have entrenched a precious moment of glory with over whelming Trust and Mandate. This project will give confidence to the resettled families to commence their economic activities, which will lead to sustainable and quality life. The District Administration would co-ordinate the programme and assist in implementation with a goal of achieving the desired results initially in the nine villages selected for implementation in the two Divisions of Mannar and Manthai West with fruitful, rewarding prosperity to the affected community through MANRECAP Projects.  V. Visuvalingam Govement Agent Kachcheri Mannar   Article #3: Workshops in the selected project sites The first workshop was conducted on 10th July 2004 with the beneficiaries at Sewa village. The title of the workshop was MANRECAP awareness and preparation of village action plan. Community representatives, interest groups, representatives from Government Organizations and NGOs operating in the village were the participants. Workshops are being conducted with the objectives of explain briefly the MANRECAP/JICA, Identify village level problems/needs that should be solved to upgrade living standards of people in the village, prepare a work-plan based on the needs identified in the workshop, and form MANRECAP Coordinating Committee (MCC) and explain its role and responsibilities.   Article #4: Workshop at Sewa Village Workshop was conducted on 10th July 2004 with the beneficiaries at Sewa Village.150 families were relocated in 1999 with the support by Sewa Lanka Foundation from Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Vavuniya and other areas. However, most of the families left this village because of the difficult living environment. Presently 42 families live in this area and main source of income is farming and mostly labourers. The workshop programme started by hoisting the flag and lighting the traditional oil lamp. All the village people participated in the opening ceremony and 28 villages selected by participants to participate in the workshop.   MANRECAP team lighting the oil lamp Mr. Croos and Mr. Edward explaining the purpose of the workshop Facilitators help a group to identify the problems in their village   Article #5: Workshop at Ganeshapuram Workshop was conducted on 11th July 2004 with the beneficiaries at Ganeshapuram. This village was started as Project scheme for educated youth with high land irrigation facilities in 1976. 380 families are living at present and their main source of income is farming and mostly as labourers. The programme commenced with hoisting of flag and lighting the traditional oil lamp. All the village people participated in the opening ceremony and 28 participants were selected by community to participate in the workshop. The second session of the programme was held on 15th July and at the end of the workshop Community Action Plan was prepared.   Discussions on Village Problems Village level problems are identified Village level problems are identified     Article #6: Registration of W R D S A team of MANRECAP officials visited Sewa village and Ganeshapuram with District Rural Development Officer (DRDO) of the Rural Development Department on 21st July 2004 to organize and register the Women Rural Development Society (WRDS) at both villages and WRDS’s of both villages have been legally registered. Isapuram WRDS’s president reading the constitution for the members   Article #7: Awareness Seminar on MANRECAP for Govt. Officials & NGO Representatives Awareness Seminar on MANRECAP for relevant officers in Mannar was organized on 19th July 2004. Representatives from Government and Non Governmental Organizations were invited to make this seminar a success. The objectives of this seminar were to make a clear transparency among relevant officers about MANRECAP and also to get their cooperation and collaboration during the four year project period. Mr. V. Visuvalingam, Government Agent, Mannar was the chairperson for the seminar and in his key note address to the house said that MANRECAP/ JICA project is a new concept because this project is being implemented through Community Based Organizations, as a result this would help to strengthen the community for a sustainable development. Mr. T. Saisho the Chief Advisor of the MANRECAP/ JICA Organisation presented the overview of the project, schedule of the project and selection of the project sites. Mr. A.A. Edward, Project Coordinator explained the structure of the project and Mr. A.L. Buruhanudeen, Civil Enginer explained about the Community Contract System.   Mr. Edward, Project Coordinator delivering welcome speech Mr.V. Visuvalingam, Government Agent, Mannar is addresing to the house     Article #8: Awareness Programme on MANRECAP for VRC Awareness Programme on MANRECAP for Village Rehabilitation Committee was conducted on 12th July 2004 at Town Hall, Mannar. In this seminar village representatives and Grama Nilatharies of the selected villages were participated. Ms. Moriyama, Project Coordinator, MANRECAP, delivered a welcome address. Chairperson Mr. V. Visuvalingam in his key note explained the village community about the MANRECAP project activities and how to contribute the for the success of the project. While Mr. A.A. Edward, Project Coordinator explain the purpose the seminar, Mr. T. Saisho did presentation about the Overview of the project, Schedule of the project, Main activities of the project, structure of the project and Selection of the project sites. Finally, Mr. A. L. Buruhanudeen ,Civil Engineer explained about community contract   Meeting Attended » Discussion with UNDP representatives on the Devanpiddy village development was held in the MANRECAP/JICA projects.  » Provincial Coordinating Committee meeting for rehabilitation held on 9th July 2004 at Trincomale. Mr. T. Saisho Chief Advisor and Mr. A. A. Edward Project Coordinator attended the meeting. » On 16th July 2004, there was a discussion with UNDP officials about implementing projects at Devanpiddy Village. » Mr. T. Saisho and Mr. A. A. Edward attended the discussion organized by head of US satellite office Mannar with UNDP, UNCEF and ILO representatives to decide the implementation of the Community Approach Project at Devanpiddy. » Mr. A. A. Edward attended the NGO Consortium meeting » Stake holder’s meeting of BAJ-JICA Partner Project was held on 29 July 2004 at 3.00 pm to 4.30pm at Government Agent’s conference hall, Mannar district. The purpose of the meeting was to consensus and approval among stakeholders for the proposed project and the title of the proposed project was uplifting the livelihood of the villages through mechanical skill training and machine rental services in the conflict-affected area.   PREVIOUS MONTHLY BULLETINS | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |