Transcript Sri Lanka experience

Sarvodaya
vision for TODAY
“we build the road
the road builds us”
Dr. A T Ariyaratne - Founder ~ President
Sarvodaya Movement
Sarvodaya
Central Thought
“Shramadhana”
“ Shearing work, knowledge, talents & time”
In 1958, a small group of young
teachers and students of a leading
school in Colombo ~ Sri Lanka led by
A.T. Ariyaratne
organized a
Shramadana Camp
"gift of labor"
in an
under-developed village
of untouchables.
From this humble beginning,
this study-service project burgeoned into
an independent development and reconstruction
movement, active in over 15,000 villages
in all regions of the country, commanding the
services of hundreds of thousands of
volunteers and trained workers.
Sri Lanka's social indicators
Infant Mortality Rate of 11.2 per 1000 live births(2002)
Child Mortality Rate(under5) 28.8 / 1000 (2002)
Maternal Mortality Rate of 0.3 per 1000 live Births
Expectation of life at birth of 73 years,
Adult literacy Rate of 91%, etc.
are impressive for a low-income country with
a per capita income of around US$ 800
(average for the last decade),
GDP
GDP per capita
29241 milli US$ (2006)
1395 US$
(2006)
GDP Growth Rate %
5.4 % in 2004
6.2 % in 2005
7.7% in 2006
Share of income
4.8 % lowest 20 %
52.8 %highest 20%
Human Development Index (2002): 0.740
Rank among 177 countries : 96
These successes could be attributed to the social
welfare package, which was introduced in the early
1940s which included
Development of the economy,
Expansion of health and education services
Food subsidies
Creation of community outreach activities
Maternal & Child Health activities,
including the beginning of family planning
activities
However, since 1970s successive governments found
it increasingly difficult to maintain these services at
an acceptable level of quality due to the adverse
economic conditions faced by the country.
After 1977
State controls on economy removed
beginning of a “FREE” economy
New technology flows in
Media turns plural – privately owned print
and electronic media becomes dominant
Major rural development programmes undertaken –
Mahaweli, Samanalaweva, Lunugamvehera
Free Trade Zones established –
incentives given for foreign investments
Private sector moves to new service
and production areas – e.g. Health and Garment industry
An Executive Presidency installed with
new Constitution in 1978 – Proportional Representation
introduced at elections
Structural adjustment programmes in the 1980s lead to
new market economy which
Reduced social expenditure
Increased the income disparities
Widening the gaps in access to social services.
Creating ……..
Social strains,
Changes in life style
Inability for exclusive breast feeding,
Popularisation of fast foods and tobacco ,alcohol,
Early exposure to premarital sexual activity,
Easy accessibility to agrochemicals
Exposure to conflict,
trauma and abuse
Changes in Attitude
Community Centred to Self Centred,
Extended family to Nucleus family
tended to influence the health in many age groups negatively..
Consciousness /Perception of
Community
Individuals - Personality
Community – Perceptions
Is the driving force
Social Ecology – (Eco-Medicine)
“Murray Bookchin” our present ECOLOGICAL ( interaction of organisms with its
environment) problems are rooted in deep-seated social
problems,
 In a separate application of the phrase, this also refers
to the particularly in dominatory hierarchical political
and social systems. These have resulted in an
uncritical acceptance of an overly competitive grow-ordie philosophy.
 It suggests that this cannot be resisted by individual
action such as ethical consumerism but must be
addressed by more nuanced ethical thinking and
collective activity grounded in radical democratic
ideals.
The complexity of relationships between
people and with nature is emphasized,
along with the importance of
establishing Social Structures that
take account of this.
These successes could be attributed to the social
welfare package, which was introduced in the early
1940s which included
Development of the economy,
Expansion of health and education services
Food subsidies
Creation of community outreach activities
Maternal & Child Health activities,
including the beginning of family planning
activities
However, since 1970s successive governments found
it increasingly difficult to maintain these services at
an acceptable level of quality due to the adverse
economic conditions faced by the country.
After 1977
State controls on economy removed
beginning of a “FREE” economy
New technology flows in
Media turns plural – privately owned print
and electronic media becomes dominant
Major rural development programmes undertaken –
Mahaweli, Samanalaweva, Lunugamvehera
Free Trade Zones established –
incentives given for foreign investments
Private sector moves to new service
and production areas – e.g. Health and Garment industry
An Executive Presidency installed with
new Constitution in 1978 – Proportional Representation
introduced at elections
Population and Vital Statistics
Mid year population (’000)
(2004)
19,462
Crude birth rate (2003)
Crude death rate (2003)
Rate of natural increase (2003)
Infant mortality rate (2003)
18.9 per1000
5.9 per1000
12.8 per1000
11.1 per 1000 live
births
0.3 per 1000 live
Births
Maternal Mortality Rate (2003)
Neonatal mortality rate of
12.9/1,000 live
Dependency ratio (2004) :
49.35 %
Average household size (2003)
: 4.31
births
Present dilemma
20 year war against Tamil armed organisation(s) – LTTE is the
main force now has claimed 70,000 lives
Inadequate development in rural economy – inability to absorb
rural labour productively
Effects of Globalization & Market Economy on the Society
Post-Tsunami response not handled democratically & on need
priorities
Sri Lanka’s Poverty States...
Despite the apparent growth in the economy in the recent
past, available data suggest that there is still an
unwelcome degree of poverty in the country.
• Poverty incidence - around 25% in terms of the headcount ratio
of people below poverty line.
(The official poverty line is Rs.2047/ USD18 September 2007 Minimum
Expenditure per person per month to fulfill the basic needs)
– highest in the rural sector - 20.8%
– lowest in the estate sector - 24.3% ,
– urban sector lying in between - 6.2 %
Sarvodaya
vision for TODAY
“we build the road
the road builds us”
Dr. A T Ariyaratne - Founder ~ President
Sarvodaya Movement
Sarvodaya
Central Thought
“Shramadhana”
“ Shearing work, knowledge, talents & time”
In 1958, a small group of young
teachers and students of a leading
school in Colombo ~ Sri Lanka led by
A.T. Ariyaratne
organized a
Shramadana Camp
"gift of labor"
in an
under-developed village
of untouchables.
From this humble beginning,
this study-service project burgeoned into
an independent development and reconstruction
movement, active in over 15,000 villages
in all regions of the country, commanding the
services of hundreds of thousands of
volunteers and trained workers.