Author: A. A. Milton Amarasinghe
AIT Library Call Number: AIT Thesis no. HS-91-34
Year: 1991
Academic Program: Human Settlement (HS)
Type: Thesis (M.Sc.) – Asian Institute of Technology, 1989
Examination Committee: Hiran D. Dias (Chairperson); Karl E. Weber, Jayant Kumar Routray (Examination Committee Members)
Abstract: The key area approach of Ratnapura Integrated Rural Development Project in Sri Lanka is a part of its reduced planning effort . It aims at preparing comprehensive, resource based key area plans with well defined localised projects. The planning and implementation capacity of the Project Office and implementing agencies does not permit an equally intensive intervention in all areas. Therefore more integrative participatory planning approach is needed for benefitting the target groups in this key area app roach. This study was undertaken as an impact evaluation to see whether rural poor, target group of IRD strategy , have benefitted through this approach. The impact depends on the nature of the development objectives, programmes undertaken and se lection of key areas. The study is confined mainly to aspects of planning and implementation with special emphasis on integration, participation and coordination which are most important for target group and target area approach of the project. The study found that the selection of key areas conforms to the criteria used for their selection despite deficiencies in available data. The study also reveals that the target group is not benefitted as much as expected by the project due to lack of proper integration, coordination and participation. The survey shows that the integration of activities in the key areas has not been emphasised much till recently. This also had affected inadequate coordination among the line agencies. The methods applied to coordinate the activities of the project through line agencies are found to be ineffective. The study findings indicate t hat the low level of people’s participation was the other reason for the limited benefits to the target group. This was due to organisational deficiencies and shortcomings on the part of the intended beneficiaries. The necessity of t he Assistant Government Agents level institutional building in support of Grama Sewa Niladhari divisional level people’s participatory approach has no
Scholarship Donor(s): The Royal Netherlands Gove rnment through the ISS/ AIT Project of Cooperation on International Education and Research in Rural and Regional Development Planning
Note: A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the degree of Masters of Science
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