Agricultural growth through "decentralization and popular participation": A survey of DDC farm projects in Kandy district, 1971 ..1973

Abstract

Some of the basic concepts of the Divisional Development Council (DDC) programme are found in their embryonic form in the Common Programme and the Joint Election Manifesto of the United Front parties.' The Common Programme declared that "machi nery will be.set up to associate the people at all levels in the drawing up and the imple mentation of the National Development Plan".2 The Manifesto, issued in April 1970, pledged to "transform the administration thoroughly, make it more democratic and link it closely with the people",» The main features of the DDC programme 'Were introduced in a more tangible form by the Minister of Finance when he presented the first budget of the United Front Government in late 1970. He said, "an entirely new structure for planning is being established (within which) each local authority area will be the focus for development planning and plan implementation. Popular participation will be secured through Divisional Development Councils in which the elected organs of the village, the co-operative society, the cultivation committees, the village council, will have a planning and co-ordinating role in the overall development of their area"