© 2023 Dr Margaret Sheppard

Jansaviya Programme

The Janasaviya Trust Fund is a non Governmental organization (NGO) set up to promote development.

In 1989, as a pilot, 7.722 of the poorest families from 125 hamlets and villages in the District were identified. It was decided to assist them to develop themselves and so enable them to break out of the poverty cycle. The Janasaviya Trust Fund  would give these families 1000 rupees worth of coupons every month for two years to take care of their basic needs. The coupons could be exchanged at the local co-operative stores for locally produced foodstuffs and everyday, household goods. A further 458 rupees a month was saved for each of these households in a savings book in their name at their local post office. In addition they had the incomes from their usual occupations that they were encouraged to save. It was made clear that the assistance from the Janasaviya Trust Fund would only last for two years, so the families receiving it knew that they were being given two years to break out of their present cycle of poverty and debt.

(For up to date details see the movement8s website: http://www.wdfsl.org/)

Janasaviya Programme

Village scenes in 1994

Children attending Temple School

Stemping off rice husks before winnowing and then cooking the grains

Fetching water  often from some distance, occupied much time

At the paddy fields water was typically from wells. Household collect on bicycles, carts etc.

Rural bus - so-called “Jungle Bus” Hambantota to Badagariya area 1994 - many roads were then untarred.

Paddy field family home 1994

Major improvement for Janashakthi families in Godawaya - water connection brought much closer. Previously long trek to main road impacting on school children’s homework, time available for business enterprises etc. This water connection achieved by local JBS members and they helped to build the ditches for the water pipes