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The equity challenge

The World Bank's US $800 million pledge for this country's 'Regaining Lanka' program is yet another pointer to the high degree of confidence reposed in Sri Lanka by the international community. At a time when feverish attempts are being made in some quarters to question the effectiveness of the current peace process, this pledge of major assistance by a leading donor agency puts the issue beyond dispute.

The international donor community is not only encouraged by the gains made in the peace process, it is also highly confident that Lanka would pull through under the current administration.

Our frontpage lead story yesterday giving out this news indicated that the funds will be disbursed under the new Sri Lanka Country Assistance Strategy to achieve the development objectives outlined in the "Regaining Sri Lanka" vision. The report went on to say that the World Bank assistance is centred around three principal themes: peace, growth and equity.

While much has been pronounced over the past few months on peace and growth by the State and its agencies, the third theme, equity, needs to be emphasized to a greater degree.

For, in the absence of equity, the prime aim of peace cannot be sustained, while whatever development strategy is fashioned for the country must ensure that the benefits of material growth are enjoyed by all sections of the people, particularly the lower income groups. Accordingly, it could be found that these goals are inseparably intertwined.

It is only a growth process which results in the empowerment of the poor which would help in sustaining what is seen as a final peace. In the absence of a development effort which empowers all sections of the people equally, it is unlikely that we would be in a position to ward off conflict and strife for long.

Although a private sector-centric growth process tends to be favoured by most governments, essential public services need to be sustained for the provision of equitable access to and distribution of State resources. It is therefore, gladdening to note that the envisioned Country Assistance Strategy would seek to help in improving people's access to public services such as education, health and water supply, besides aiming to improve the quality of these sectors.

All this is, of course, easier said than done. As to how successfully these State sectors would meet the aspirations of the people would depend considerably on their efficiency and public-spiritedness. Right now, these objectives are difficult to achieve on account of the stiflingly high degree of politicization these State organisations have been subjected to. For, politicization and its ills invariably affect the performance of State bodies. So, there are a number of fundamental challenges to be met before development dreams are realised.

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