SUSTAINABILITY OF COMMUNITY DRIVEN DEVELOPMENT PROJECT- A CASE OF WATER SUPPLY SCHEMES IN HAMBANTOTA DISTRICT

Abstract

Community Driven Development (CDD) is a new approach invented by planners and policy makers during the last decades in Sri Lanka. Government, non government organizations, international non government organizations and private sector launched many development programmes under different development approaches but most of them applied supply driven methods to deliver the benefits for target group. As a solution for the problems arises with supply driven development, CDD mechanism is introduced by policy makers and planners as a demand driven mechanism. Gemidiriya project assisted to develop the villages under 3 separate categories as Capacity Building, Livelihood Improvements and Infrastructure Development. Many researches were conducted to measure the power of capacity building programmes and livelihood improvement while minimum attention was paid on infrastructure development. Therefore this research mainly considered about the sustainability of infrastructure projects’ under five separate aspects as financial, physical, social, institutional and environmental. Three separate water supply schemes (WSS) were selected from Degampotha, Bedigama west and Keppetiyawa north in Weeraketiya Divisional Secretariat Division in Hambantota district. Pre tested questionnaire, semi structured interview and focused group discussion were conducted to collect primary data from WSS’s beneficiaries and operation maintenance committees. Secondary data was collected from Gemidiriya project office, national water board, community water supply and sanitation project (CWSSP) and divisional secretariat offices. Data was tabulated using spread sheet and beneficiaries’ attitude was tested using Wilcoxen Sing Rank Test. Results show, more than 80% of the beneficiaries were farmer, labor or no fixed income community. More than 70% of the community in Bedigama west and Degampotha was less than SLR. 5000/= monthly income. Collection of community contribution played major role during projects’ implementing stage. Bedigama west project was not financially viable project while Degampotha and Keppetiyawa north are viable. Degampotha water supply scheme was under threaten as its yield couldn’t cater the beneficiaries’ requirement. Bedigama west WSS was not physically sustained as degradation of water quality. Bedigama west community was unsatisfied with quality of drinking water and National water supply board had proved it with laboratory test. It affected to financial sustainability. Government and other line agencies contribution were at satisfactory level and it helped for better operations of the projects. Due to vigorous capacity building programme launched by Gemidiriya project, all three projects were socially, institutionally and environmentally sustainable. The attitude of all the beneficiaries of these projects were positively changed with new facility gained. It can be concluded that Keppetiyawa north water project is more sustain than other two projects. Bedigama west WSS should be enriched with water purification system with advanced technical support. Additional water source should be coupled with Degampotha water scheme to cater its beneficiaries’ requirement. Number of beneficiaries should be increased in Keppetiyawa north water project for a better function.