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.4 AUGUST 2004 No. 4 Article #1: JCC meeting held at Triple R Ministry The meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee for MANRECAP held on 6th August 2004. The chairman of JCC Mr. Mr. M. S. Jayasinghe, Secretary, Ministry of Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconciliation welcomed the members and stated that this project commenced in April and the progress made so far is satisfactory. He also said that JICA is helping the Sri Lankan Government in a big way by providing assistance which could be expected to continue in future also.   Mr. Harim Peiris, Director General thanked the Government  of Japan in bring forth a project of this nature. He further said that the Triple R Ministry could coordinate the work through the NEPC and the Government Agents. The Ministry is also very keen to expand this project to other affected areas as well. He also said that the performance of this project for the last three months is commendable. Mr. T. Sugihara, Resident Representative of JICA stated that JICA is extending its fund disbursement to MANRECAP project in order to develop the economic and infrastructure facilities for the affected community so that the community of the area would enable to act independently and improve their quality of life. The Government Agent, Mannar while appreciating the project activities, requested JICA that there are still some more affected villages which need to be included and he also requested to consider health and educational development. While Mr. Edward, Project coordinator explaining the project outline, said that the primary objective of this project is to empower the people in a sustainable rehabilitation and reconstruction projects on their own initiative. Mr. Saisho, Chief Advisor explained the committee members about the Project Design Matrix and the Plan of Operation. It was decided at the meeting to organize the meeting in every 6 month and to establish Project Implementation Committee (PIC) with the Government Agent Mannar as a chairman.  Article #2: Japanese Experts’ Visit to Mannar A team of Japanese Experts led by Mr. HOBO Nobuhito, Director General, and General Affairs Department came to Sri Lanka for the survey mission on JICA activities in Northern Sri Lanka during the period of 22nd ~ 27th August 2004. As part of their mission they visited MANRECAP project office and visited the project sites for inspection. They had meeting with representatives of Community Based Organizations and with Government Agent, Mannar. The team was quite satisfied with community based rehabilitation approach of the MANRECCAP project. Japanese had a meeting with CBO’s representatives   Article #3: Workshop at Paliaru The first workshop and it’s opening ceremony was held on 22nd August 2004 at Palirau which is located in Manthai west AGA division. According to the Grama Nilathari there are 379 families at this village. Though they are basically farming due to inadequate facilities for farming their main earning is being casual labour. There is an Internally Displaced People (IDP) welfare center consisting of 72 families. The infrastructure facilities available in the village are in very poor condition. People are using Paliaru river water for agriculture.   Lighting the oil lamp at the opening ceremony Participants at opening session of the workshop     Article #4: Workshop at Kurai & Sethuvinayagarkulam The first work shop opening ceremony was held on 21st August 2004 at Kurai School. In 1970s people started to occupy this village and due to the war in 1990 most of the people were displaced at Thethavadi and India. People returned to their village very recently. Infrastructure facilities (especially roads) are in very poor conditions. Main sources of income are highland cropping and selling firewoods.   Scene of workshop at Kurai Preparation of Community Action Plan    Article #5: Workshop at Shathipuram Shathipuram is situated approximately 1.5km away from Mannar Town and there are 419 families consisting of 2000 members are living in this housing scheme. The first and second sessions of workshop were conducted on 2nd and 17th of August 2004 respectively. The title of the workshop was “Project awareness and preparation of village action plan” and the target community was community representative from Shanthipuram. The purpose of the work shop includes explaining the MANRECAP project, identify village level needs/problems that should be solved to uplift the living standards of the people in the village, prepare the community action plan based on the needs identified and prioritized in the workshop and formulate MANRECAP coordinating committee and explain its role and responsibilities.   Participants at opening session Scene of work shop activity     Article #6: Community Contract Training for CBO’s Training on community construction and contract management for CBO’s representatives was conducted on 30th August 2004 at Vellankulam School. People were trained on construction management such as mixing, shuttering, concrete, reinforcement and compaction of concrete. This training session also included as how the community can plan the contract activities and their participation in construction. People were also given instructions about the community contract agreement and the terms and conditions with which they have to comply with.   Scene of training on community construction management Community representatives at the session   Article #7: MANRECAP Team’s Study Tour A team of MANRECAP staff visited to Dehiattakandiya to learn the Community Based Approach in Mahaweli Upgrading Project for community participatory development activities. The team was first briefed by Mr. Jayawikrama, Institutional Specialist, about the objectives as strengthening of farmers’ organizations and sustainable Operation & Maintenance of project activities and the method of participatory approach. The team members visited Nagaswewa unit for the discussion with the community. The team was able to understand the community participation at various stages of rectification work, how community has organized the contracts, saving and social capital, and social changes. The team also met officers who led the Mahaweli Upgrading Project and they shared their experience and also gave suggestion for improvements to community contract. The team also studied the Woman Bank activities. This study tour was very much useful to implement the MANRECAP project in the selected project sites.   Discussion with Medagama FO representatives Discussion with Nagaswewa FO representatives   Article #8: Financial Management Training for CBO’s Finance Management training was conducted at Vellankulam School for Community Based Organizations functioning in the project sites in Manthai west. Representatives from each CBO’s including treasurers participated in the training. The objective of the training programme was to give them a basic understanding on the need of finance management at CBO’s, the transactions and necessary documents and registers at CBO’s, importance of receipts and vouchers, preparation of cash book and cash summary, and the role of treasurer in finance management.   Scene of training on Finance Management Group exercise on preparation on financial documents   <<<< News in Flash >>>> » MANRECAP Coordinating Committee (MCC) meeting was held at Ganeshapuram and Sewa village. » Discussion was held with A.C.C.D and A.D Fisheries about the services of the respective departments in the MANRECAP villages. » MCC meetings were held at Sewa village and Ganeshapurram. » Trainers from Dehiattakandiya were invited to MANRECAP to conduct a “Training of Trainers” session for the staff of engineering section to carry out their training activities in the project sites.   PREVIOUS MONTHLY BULLETINS | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |