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.14 September 2006 - October 2006 No. 14 Article #1: Rehabilitation of Internal Roads at Santhipuram, Mannar   Santhipuram shows the best practices of utilizing knowledge and skills obtained through Community Managed Rehabilitation works for other developmental works in the village. CBOs in the village sought collaborating agencies, negotiated on the terms and conditions with them, and organized the works. Especially, rehabilitation of internal roads and its drainage system is one of the people’s urgent needs since almost all roads are covered by water during the rainy season. With the initiative of Rural Development Society (RDS), 1.5 Km of Maruthodai Canal was renovated via Food for Work programme, so that rain water is drained properly. 93 families participated for 13 days with each family allocated equal length from the total length of the canal.   500m Internal Roads were also rehabilitated with earth excavated from the above mentioned Maruthodai Canal. The activity was implemented by Youth Sports Club incorporating Community participation. RDS donated Rs.10,000 to supplement the expenditure incurred.   Article #2: Potted cultivation at Puthukkamam, Mannar   Potted cultivation was introduced to the farmers at Puthukkamam. Brinjals, tomatos, lady’s fingers etc were cultivated in plastic bags. People who are doing this cultivation expect to meet the daily needs of vegetables and save money for it.     Article #3: Community Hall at Theththavadi Maruthankulam, Mannar   Community people in Theththavadi Maruthankulam in Mannar DS Division have utilized a newly constructed Community Hall as shelter since the security situation got worse, in order to avoid unnecessary contacts with soldiers at night. The Community Hall, which community people themselves constructed with the support of MANRECAP, is the only public building in the village and JICA’s logo on it provides safety for the people because it indicates that a foreign donor backs the community. They also started revolving loans to community members out of the profit gained through the construction of the Community Hall. 23 families have already got the loans for income generation activities.     Article #4: Training in Mat Weaving at Pali Aru   Women’s Rural Development Society (WRDS) took the initiative to recommence Bulrush based mat weaving which is a traditional cottage industry among women in this region. Last year, MANRECAP supported WRDS to renovate a Mat weaving center which is located in the village, but had been abandoned for a long time due to lack of fund. In August 2006, utilizing the renovated Mat weaving center, WRDS started a "Training course in Mat weaving" with the support of International Labour Organization in collaboration with a local NGO, The Economic Consultancy House. 16 participants are taking the course of three months.     Article #5: Training program at NERD Center   The cost effective construction technology for housing and pre-cast concrete components which was introduced by MANRECAP in collaboration with National Engineering Research and Development Centre of Sri Lanka (NERD) in August 2006 was highly appreciated by the Government Agent (GA), Mannar as a pro-poor and participatory methodology of construction of houses. He requested the Project to impart this technology to Government officials engaged in housing and reconstruction programs in Mannar District in order for them to be able to support participatory developmental initiatives at the field level. Taking the above request and the needs of the Project sites into consideration, MANRECAP has organized a 2-day training program for Government and NGO technical officials on the above mentioned subject in September with 18 participants. The training program was again highly appreciated by relevant organizations and now the plan to construct a yard for pre-cast concrete products in Mannar is underway with GA’s initiative.     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 |