Almost every Sri Lankan has met his or her ‘GN’ or Grama Niladhari every few years, they are one of the most underappreciated, yet long-standing state service providers, who are close to each community. 

Irrespective of your relationship with the Grama Niladhari of your locality, it is undeniable that  they are the closest source of authority and State-linked help for a majority of Sri Lankans, be it to fell a Jack tree in your property, or to help the coroner find your home and explain what’s going on, when a loved one passes away at home. In this day and age of digital platforms and e-governance, the colonial concept of Grama Niladhari, remains an invaluable asset.

While the position of Grama Niladhari can be traced back to the 1960’s, it was built on a concept developed by colonial powers to keep a tab on and manage villages, especially in rural areas. The duties of a Grama Niladhari include the reporting of issuing of permits, gathering statistics, maintaining the voter registry, regularly verifying social welfare and pension payments of senior citizens,  and keeping the peace by settlement of personal disputes. Grama Niladhari are responsible for keeping track of criminal activity in their area and issuing a certificate of residence and character on behalf of residents when requested by them. These certificates are vital ‘proof of address’ and act as authentication means when applying for many government services. Grama Niladhari may also arrest individuals if sworn in as a Peace Officer, while this rarely happens now, it is also part of their duties. Grama Niladhari are entrusted to establish and coordinate administrative policies and procedures for required community members and officials of the Divisional Secretariats. 

The Grama Niladhari is not without its critics, many find fault with them for slow action, or absence when in need, or for being involved or complacent regarding corruption. With over 14,000 Grama Niladhari divisions, they are likely one of the largest local government networks that cover the entire island.

The role Grama Niladhari played during the Covid-19 pandemic has been largely admired. As members of the community, they played an instrumental role in managing and sustaining communities, while gathering data which was vital for medical specialists to predict growth areas and take countermeasures. The Grama Niladhari were also instrumental in coordinating relief during the lockdown periods.

For a long period, the Grama Niladhari have not been well compensated nor provided the resources needed for them to effectively discharge their duties. At present, most Grama Niladhari officers receive Rs. 600 for fuel per month, approximately Rs. 400 for stationary per year, and Rs. 5,000 for uniforms. As such, it is clear that they are grossly under-resourced. The Government has moved to increase the number of Grama Niladhari, and there are plans to reduce the sizes of some Grama Niladhari divisions so as to make them more manageable for the Grama Niladhari. All-Island Freedom Grama Niladhari Union recently claimed that necessary approvals have been granted to increase the fuel allowance to provide 20 litres of fuel per month and Rs. 15,000 for uniforms. However, the trade unions alleged that despite having received permission, these allowance hikes have not materialised. Further they recently launched a ‘work-to-rule’ campaign citing lack of consultation when the Government is drafting new Legislation relating to their work. The Grama Niladhari trade union has stated the amended Service Constitution for Grama Niladhari, which was approved by the Public Service Commission following the approval of the Cabinet Ministers, does not reflect their sentiments, and has called for it not to be gazette.

However, Grama Niladhari officers from across the island have planned to stage a protest today (12) in front of the Public Administration and Home Affairs Ministry, and plan to continue their strike till tomorrow (13), it is learnt. The Grama Niladhari officers have threatened that they will completely withdraw from all duties.

Given the nature of the services they perform, and that the Grama Niladhari are the first point of call for many citizens to obtain key services, the Government should hold a round of discussions with them and work to deescalate the situation. 

Let’s not forget that the Grama Niladhari have been on duty, every day for a long time, when many other state sector services which are considered ‘essential’ have gone on strike for prolonged periods, and at times at the cost of patients, commuters and students. The Government must also pick their battles, and the Grama Niladhari deserved to be better heard.