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.5 SEPTEMBER 2004 No. 5 Article #1: Laying of Foundation Stone Ceremony at Sewa and Ganeshapuram Villages After a successive completion of workshops, ratification meetings and walk through survey, the Woman Rural Development Societies (WRDS) of Sewa and Ganeshapuram villages were awarded contracts on Community Managed Rehabilitation (CMR) by MANRECAP. The first priority of both villages was to put up a Multi purpose building for which people identified the land site, and preliminary arrangements with the assistance of MANRECAP engineering staff. People of both villages organized a Laying of Foundation Stone Ceremony for construction of multi purpose building at both villages on 24th September 2004 at an auspicious time of 11.45 am at Sewa villages and 12.40 pm at Ganeshapuram. Villages were well prepared for the ceremony by decorating the hall and issuing a beautifully designed invitation cards with the assistance of Grama Niladari. Lightning of oil lamp by Mr. R. Murata, JICA expert   At this ceremony Mr. T. Sugihara, Resident Representative of JICA Sri Lanka was accompanied by Mr. R. Murata, JICA expert attached Ministry of Triple R, Mr. V. Visvalingam, GA, Mannar, Mr. Iniyavan, OIC, LTTE political wing, Mannar and other officials were present. The invitees were received by the village people and garlanded by children followed with the lightning of traditional oil lamp and the religious functions, the foundation stone was laid by the invitees and village people. Invitation Card designed by Sewa Village Invitation Card designed by Ganeshapuram Village   The leaders of Manrecap Coordinating Committee (MCC) made a welcome speech. The Government Agent, Mannar expressed his appreciation to the JICA representatives for the implementation of this project in Mannar district. He further said that this project will open a new era with community oriented approach and he requested the village people to cooperate with MANRECAP to successfully implement project activities. While addressing to the people Mr. T. Sugihara, Resident Representative of JICA Sri Lanka gave the assurance that JICA will fully support project undertaken in the District by way of releasing necessary funds and Japanese experts required in the identified fields. He also pointed out that this is a community based project therefore community’s full commitment is essential. He thanked the Ministry and Government Agent for their support. Welcome speech by MCC president Planting of tree by Government Agent , Mannar   The OIC of political wing Mr. Eniyavan said, the Sewa and Ganeshapuram located in Vellankulam GN division are surrounded by Kilinochchi, Jaffna and Mullaithivu Districts. Thus, every one is keenly watching the development at these villages under MANRECAP guidance. So, it is important for these communities to be united, active, and alert to participate in all planed activities to bring development. He urged CBOs in these communities to develop and strengthen them for the sustainable development. He assured that all necessary support will be given from his office for the successful implementation of MANRECAP project. The participants were entertained with dances and songs by children and the ceremony concluded with the vote of thanks by S. Vijenthiran, Grama Niladari, Vellankulam. This ceremony was a very good opportunity for the community as it gave them a good experience. Thus, MANRECAP would like to provide several kinds of experience through this project. The Rehabilitation work is not only the construction of buildings but also empower the community and it’s unity with spontaneous activities because, the main goal of MANRECAP is to make people in the project area to act autonomously in order to improve their quality of life and sustainable to develop their own community with out dependency.  Article #2: Introducing Women’s Bank Activities in Project sites The families in rural Sri Lanka are facing a crucial socio-economic situation due to various reasons. Many families in Mannar district live under poverty line due to the past war and specially the resettled and internally displaced families live in indebtedness and the suicides of the breadwinner are frequent due to inability to run the families. MANRECAP has planed to introduce Women Bank who is developing the physical and social environment of the families, in its ten project sites. The Woman Bank was formed in 1989, since then it has developed a credit mechanism for the rural families in Sri Lanka to go head by breaking the vicious cycle for a better socio-economic environment. Women Bank representatives Women Bank representatives and participants at the awareness programme MANRECAP invited five representatives from Women’s Bank in Colombo Branch in-order to conduct an awareness programme on 8th September 2004 at IT Park Mannar. Representatives of WRDS and MCC members from the project sites were participated. The intention of this programe was to introduce the Women’s Bank concept and group activities to new villages. Participants were explained about the formation of a group consisting 5- 15 members, saving of Rs 5/= per week. The group will organize weekly meeting and decide on giving credits among the group members etc. At the end of the awareness programme, the people understood the formation and implementation of the woman bank activities.   Article #3: PIC Appreciates MANRECAP Progress The monthly PIC meeting was held on 20th September at Government Agent’s Conference Hall. The GA Mannnar appreciated the MANRECAP progress in his address. He further said that within a period of 3 months he is able to see by himself the good progress made by completing all the community profiles, workshops and Community Action Plan in 09 focal villages in the DS division of Mannar and Manthai West AGA’s Divisions. MANRECAP project sectional heads presented their progresses. At this meeting it also pointed out that a joint workshop with the UNDP was held at Thevanpiddy village for the joint operation and also to identify the needs of the community. As agreed with the 4R project agencies coordinated by the Head of satellite office of the UNHCR Mannar, the MANRECAP /JICA organisation is awaiting for a discussion to choose the sectors which could be accommodated within the mandate of both MANRECAP and 4R project agencies. MANRECAP explained the PIC members that most of the villages have prioritized the requirement of drinking water and irrigation facilities for cultivation for their sustenance. As a first step, MANARECAP decided to explore the possibility of tapping ground water resources to circumvent this situation. MANRECAP also pointed out that it pays attention on income generation activities in the selected focal villages.   Article #4: Awarding of CMR Contract at Sewa Village and Ganeshapuram Village After the successive completion of the series of workshops, walk-through surveys, ratification meetings and the strengthening of WRDS through relevant training programmes (eg. Financial Management Training and Community Construction Management Training), MANECAP awarded Community Managed Rehabilitation Contract (according to the Government Agent Tender Guide Line) to Women Rural Development Societies of Sewa Village and Ganeshapouram Villages.   Awarding of Community Managed Rehabilitation contract at Ganeshapuram village Awarding of CMR contract at Sewa village This agreement was signed between the Governemt Agent, Mannar and presidents of WRDS’s of both villages. According to the villagers, they expressed that this is an important day for them because they were suffering due to lack of infrastructure facilities for a long time and today their dreams became true, where they started to rehabilitate and reconstruct their villages by their own effort and contribution with the technical and financial assistance of MANRECAP”.   Article #5: Enhancing the Knowledge and Skill of Finance Management among CBO's Proper financial management is the key factor for the progress of an organization and one of the main reasons for the failure of organizations seems to be the mismanagement of finance activities. The sustainability and the progress of any community organization depend on the efficient financial management with sound financial discipline. Understanding this concept, MANRECAP identified that CBOs in the selected focal villages need to be trained in finance management before handing over the Community Managed Rehabilitation on Contract Management and Construction. The Objective of this training was to enhance the financial management capabilities of the community organizations leading to promote economic stability through the proper financial management. The training was conducted at IT Park, Mannar for the CBOs representatives of the focal villages in the Mannar D.S division.   Participants at the Finance Management Training Group is doing a practical exercise    Participants were basically trained to get a basic understanding in finance management. Especially the need of keeping accounts, the role and responsibility of a treasury and the introduction to basic accounting books and records, and general accounting practices. People also trained in banking activities such as types of bank accounts, types of cheques, and deposit and withdrawal procedures.  At the feedback of the session, it was identified that people really satisfied with training programme and they mentioned that this was a very good opportunity for them to learn many aspects in Finance Management and this training was very much useful not only for the CBOs but also for their day to day life.  People also understood that financial stability is required indeed for the progress and sustainability of their organization.     <<<< News in Flash >>>> » At the request of MANRECAP, a group from Warter Resources Board headed by Dr. Atula Senaratne, Chairman, came to Mannar for the investigation of underground water resources to provide drinking water and irrigation facilities the focal villages. » Two facilitators from MANRECAP were sent for a Workshop on Basic Participatory Rural Appraisal organized by Danish Refugee Council for five days at Human Resources Center, Trincomalle. » MANRECAP officials had a discussion with Prof. Nawaratnarajah the Director of TECH on the construction of tube wells.   MANRECAP BULLETIN Editor and publisher: MANRECAP All correspondence should be addresses to: T. Saisho, MANRECAP / JICA, District Secretariat, Mannar, Sri Lanka Phone: 023 – 2250029, Fax: 023-2250067, Internet address: http://www.manrecap.com  Comments and Suggestions: info@manrecap.com  PREVIOUS MONTHLY BULLETINS | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 |