While welcoming the government's initiaUve under the new budget to seriously tackle the problem of a speedy development of the rural infrastructure network in the country, it is hoped that the new central coordination agency will not allow the project to be turned into another old sherbet in a new bottle.

The exercise is not new — we have become a veteran of failures.

Successive regimes for decades have been grappling with this complex and basic foundation work, which is the very base for poverty alleviation. to pull up half the population from below the poverty line

What were the weaknesses of the previous plans? The new project outline may be published and debated at specialist seminars and workshops The detailed planning will take quite some time (without stopping the ongoing projects), and the Initial commencement of the work will not get off the ground easily, as many agencies are involved (the Dhaka City Corporation has similar prob lems)

The implementation of the first phase is critical for motivation and morale bulldlntf Without the minimum take-off speed, the project may once

again bog down. Hence the number one obstacle is coordination at routine (not emergency) level, in which we are still weak. Administrative systems analysis Is required to overcome the perennial weakness in coordination and team work, based on past experience.

There are several levels: concept and planning; field work, monitoring, evaluation, fast feedback, and updated or revised Inputs. Many ministries, departments and agencies are Involved. Hence the top coordinating agency must have enough authority to take decisions without a lot of paperwork (compare BB. SEC. DSE and DCC).

Then comes another hurdle, the gradation of the priorities involved In each district, sec tor-wise (different priorities at different points) Without a self-government body In operation at the lower tiers, looking up to Dhaka at every step would be frustrating, time—and fund-wise The LG concept is linked with the administrative re forms at the centre The latter programme has been talked— about by all the past regimes, but the real exercise does not get going in earnest Concept and visualisation look attractive before the field work starts — It is one stage before reality.

meaning, the proof of the pudding lies in the eating. But we have enough development experience to be successful.

Another issue to be examined is how the private sector is going to be Involved in this project. It Is a three-dimensional network, with the time factor as the fourth dimension (the fifth is the elusive private sector!) Is there going to be a consortium of consultants for the overall view from the outside for getting the proper perspective to separate the grain from the chaff? How the continuity is going to be maintained in such a complex undertaking? The role of the different local cooperatives may be tapped for closer coordination at the lower and local levels.

The key elements are communication and transport, linked to financial services for marketing and procurement, and storage and transport at the small business level We have developed microcredit systems, but are still struggling with the micro business world Business democracy" has to trickle down, both in the urban and rural areas, to believe In the concept that "small is beautiful '

Anyway the authorities will be apprised with all the aspects of this complex planning to make vital project successful, to break the Isolation of the rural world