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 29241 milli US$ (2006)GDP per capita 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): 0.740Rank 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.

State controls on economy removedbeginning of a “FREE” economy

New technology flows inMedia 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

After 1977

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 - PersonalityCommunity – 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-or-die 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.

State controls on economy removedbeginning of a “FREE” economy

New technology flows inMedia 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

After 1977

Mid year population (’000) (2004)

19,462

Crude birth rate (2003) Crude death rate (2003) Rate of natural increase (2003)Infant mortality rate (2003)

Maternal Mortality Rate (2003)

Neonatal mortality rate of

Dependency ratio (2004) :

18.9 per10005.9 per100012.8 per1000 11.1 per 1000 live births0.3 per 1000 live Births

12.9/1,000 live births49.35 %

Average household size (2003) : 4.31

Population and Vital Statistics

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

Present dilemma

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.