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.
