Annual Report 2010 - Ministry of Finance and Planning

1 | DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVESSince 1 December 2009, theGovernment has converted thesewelfare villages into “open camps”ensuring “freedom of movement” ofIDPs.The Government incurredRs. 3,421 million to provide the abovefacilities. At the initial stage, thewelfare activities were conducted byusing domestic funds, which weresubsequently complemented byassistance by development partnersand other stakeholders.Demining ActivitiesThe land mines and other UXOsbecame the main challenge inthe next step of the process, i.e.resettling the IDPs. Hence, deminingbecame an immediate priority ofthe Government. Accordingly, thedemining process targeting publicplaces, farm lands, schools andhospitals etc. was accelerated with thehelp of development partners as wellas domestic and international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs).About 60 percent of the land had beencleared from land mines by the end of2010 due to these efforts (Box 1.2). Theexpenditure on demining in 2010 wasabout Rs. 3,696 million.Resettlement andRehabilitationThe resettlement was continued inparallel with the demining programme.From an original 295,136 IDPs at thetime of ending the internal conflictin May 2009, only 17,785 persons (6percent) remained in IDP villages byApril 2011, reflecting the strong efforttaken by the Government to resettlethem with the help of developmentpartners and other stakeholders.The first phase of the resettlementand rehabilitation concentratedon the provision of humanitarianassistance required for the successfulresettlement of IDPs. This wasachieved through the provision of apackage of humanitarian assistanceconsisting of cash disbursements, andvarious other support, such as foodrations, non-food relief items, sheltermaterial, agricultural assistance anda cash grant for land preparation.Provision of livelihood assistance tocreate income generating activitieswhile concentrating on shelter, foodsecurity, water and sanitation wasalso a part of the process. In thesecond phase, continuation of theabove measures was stepped up andconcentrated more on the livelihooddevelopment. Accordingly, enhancedattention was paid on other areas suchas health, education, creation of asupportive environment for agricultureactivities by providing required inputsand services as well as providingnecessary equipment and support forsea, lagoon and inland fishing.Reconstruction andDevelopmentThe resettlement and rehabilitationactivities in the Northern provinceis complemented by a massive fullypledged infrastructure developmentinitiative to reconstruct socialand economic infrastructuresthat have been devastated dueto the conflict. It includes short,medium and long term projectsaiming at creating an environmentconducive for a decent, peacefuland active life for people in thearea with intra and inter-provinceconnectivity. These include therehabilitation and rebuilding ofroads & rail network, highways,housing facilities, water supply,irrigation schemes, sewerage,hospitals, school buildings, otheradministrative buildings, bridgesand culverts, electricity facilities,livelihood improvement support,vocational training, and industrialzones to restart industries.Under the infrastructuredevelopment initiatives, theGovernment has launched 21large scale projects with a totalinvestment of Rs. 95 billion ofwhich the investment in 2010 alonewas about Rs. 27 billion (from2006-2010 the total investment inNorth and East provinces is Rs. 183billion). Most of these projects willbe completed by 2011-2013. Table1.3 gives the major projects thatare implemented in the Northenprovince.The ongoing and proposedinvestment will contribute to theacceleration of the growth of theNorthern province economy aswas experienced in the Easternprovince after its liberation in 2007.36