A Community development programme for inner city areas: a case study of Gintupitiya in the city of Colombo

Abstract

This is a document recording a process - the evolution of a Community Development Programme for the people living in the inner city areas of Colombo, The process begins with the identification of these areas where conditions of living are worse than those elsewhere in the oity* The identification and selection of action areas lead to an in-depth analysis* The synthesis of data that follows, highlights the problems and the potential of the community* At the end a programme of community development is formulated drawing lessons from similar approaches. The constituent parts of the study are^-in^six. 1, The objectives of our study are stated here in the light of the living conditions of people whose life in deprivation in the inner city fereas. call for attention not from the state alone but from concerned individuals and professionals. 2* Major problems of the City of Colombo in general and a detail analysis of such problems in the inner oity areas, relating to the socio-economic and physical functions and problems of the areas in the overall urban context* This part of the document describes the methodology of identifying the problem areas of poor urban communities and at the end locates the action areas for further study* 3. Action areas, are then studied in detail. The survey and the outcome are presented here in quantativo terms disclosing, the acuteness of the major problems of the area and also records their aspirations and the abilities of the members of the community* 4, Needs, resources and constraints, as observed during the survey and expressed by the people, are brought to a common format and the significance of such a format are discussed* Further investigation and research which are necessary to maximise the efficacy of the system and the necessary data basis to strengthen the resourceconstraint data of the survey*

With a satisfactory collection of necessary information, observations and studies on. Projects for Community Development^ carried .out in other parts of the world and attempts made in that direction here* in Sri Lanka, are presented. This part of the document states the goals and objectives of the envisaged community development programme and operates on a three tier system. This comprises of long range goals statements, programms objectives and the projects to meet the community's needs. Projects are presented with reference to proceeding resource-constraint analysis« the projects are seen as work plans and as documents of public discussion with the community.