The role of NGOs in poverty alleviation: A case study of Karachchi divisional secretariat division in Kilinochchi District

Abstract

Introduction Poverty has been one of the major social and economic issues in many developing countries. Government of many developing countries attempts to overcome poverty by introducing various state funded poverty alleviation programmes. However, NGOs emerged as a better supplement to the state in reducing poverty. Therefore, a large number of NGOs has been operating in developing countries with the aim of reducing poverty. In some developing countries NGOs claim that they could reach the poorest of the poor and succeed in reducing the poverty. In this regard Sri Lankan government as well as local and foreign NGOs has perpetually attempted to address the problems of poverty even before the independence from British colonization. This poverty alleviation program becomes more serious in Kilinochchi district after 1983. There are several studies which examine the role of NGOs in poverty alleviation locally and internationally (Vinaygathasan and Pallegedara, 2014; Lawson et al., 2009; De Silva, 2008; Ullah and Routray, 2007; Ahsan, 2005; Tek Nath Dhahal, 2002; Kang Xiaong, 2001; Rodriguez and Smith, 1994). Many of these studies found that NGOs are succeeded in reducing the poverty. According to the Human Development Index (HDI) of 2015, Sri Lanka had gradually improved in human development reaching 0.757 in 2014 from 0.679 in 2000 while the world average in 2014 is 0.711 and South Asia averaged at 0.607. Even though poverty level of Sri Lanka has been decreased dramatically from 8.9 % to 4.5 % within five years starting from 2010 (Central Bank of Sri Lanka, 2015) still it is not clear the actual situation of poverty in war affected area in the country. However, according to visual observation, socio economic conditions of peoples of Kilinochchi district are very depraved. Further, beside the state funded many poverty alleviation activities NGOs also are working in this area for a long period in order to reduce the poverty level. However, the quantitative assessment of the effectiveness and contribution of NGOs on poverty alleviation activities are not examined so far in the context of Kilinochchi district.