1. Project Context:
1.1 Partnership and Aim:
The present action ‘Enhancing Good Governance Parameters and Ensuring Socio-Economic Empowerment in Sixty Gram Panchayats of Jharkhand State’ is a start-up development partnership of Dept. Of Rural Development and Panchayat Raj (RDPR), Government of Jharkhand; Youth Leadership & Training Programme (YLTP) Of The Art of Living; and the Deptt. of Good Governance & Public Policy (DGGPP) of the Sri Sri University (SSU), India.
The action aims to create a replicable model of grassroots governance in sixty select Panchayats of Jharkhand State as ‘Beacon GPs’ approximately 350 revenue villages impacting 3.5 lakh population- An exemplary model of the social-economic empowerment of the rural communities in through effective governance changes at the ground. The project will demonstrate a scalable and cost- effective model of good governance well integrated with the social life and economic wellbeing of the community. To this end, the action will employ a robust and powerful ‘social mobilization approach’ – based on the principles of Participatory Learning & Action (PLA) to engage communities in a critical process of planning and action for social and economic gains through improved grassroots governance mechanisms. The project thus, will create a governance model at the ground (that is) of immense multiplier value for its Pan-India replication. It will effectively showcase grassroots good governance practices as demonstrated in valued community cohesion, enhanced community participation, sustained social-economic gains, human and personal development; and access to basic amenities and services needed to lead a dignified life.
1.2 Project Context:
Two underlying principles – ‘Sankalp Se Siddhi’ and ‘Jan Bhagidari’ underpins the core purpose of this project that is expressed in a ‘Statement of Principal Objective’ – that this noble and ambitious project desires to accomplish over a specific timespan of five years. With the expressed Statement of Principal Objective, the project commits itself to partner with the national/ state government(s) and the communities at the grassroots to strengthen vibrant participation, and negotiated positive actions for - sustained economic gains and changed amenities position and social behavior – both prerequisites for building a financially independent and thriving village economy.
The project thus sets out to create a ‘strong and vibrant social platform’ for particular participation of the socially excluded communities and individuals in the governance process. A well capacitated and socially committed group of YLTP Yuvacharyas (hereafter ‘Volunteers/ Social Change Agents’ at village level), with the active support of the committed Panchayat Volunteers, will lead a robust social process to engage the larger community, social groups and individuals in the process of development planning and action; and capacity enhancement for fuller representation of communities in all tiers of Panchayat.
The project through this pilot Beacon GP initiative aims to demonstrate measurable governance parameters, resulting in sustained and positive economic, civic and social gains. Such positive governance changes will create and nurture a favorable social environment for positive people’s participation in governance and negotiated action for change. In essence, the project crafts out a path for itself to partner with the Government, the Panchayat and the community to contribute towards the national goal of building ‘Gram Swaraj’ – The Village Republic – As envisaged by the father of our Great Nation – Bapujji and Spiritual Master and Humanitarian Poojya Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar ji.
2. Beneficiaries
The action will benefit the entire population of 60 GPs in various different ways and will include approximately3.5 lakh with improved community awareness, participation and representation in village governance; resulting in negotiated community action for improved service provisions for sustainable livelihood means and basic amenities at household level and support infrastructure at community level.
3. Project Objectives:
3.1 Principal Objective
The Statement of Project Principal Objective as expressed is as under:
Enhancing resilient grassroots local self-governance towards fulfilment of commitments of substantial economic and social gains of the poor families through a very well-linked and vibrant administrative response at all three tiers of Panchayat
3.2 Specific Objective:
For the initial first year of this project three specific objectives are drawn out for action, each reinforcing a robust grassroots social mobilization and capacity enhancements process to progressively build towards the core project purpose – the Project Principal Objective – thru ‘Mutual Commitments’ and ‘Popular Participation’ between the people and the Panchayats. The action in the initial year to be referred to hereafter as ‘Start-Up Action’.
Three specific objectives drawn out from the Project Principal Objective for the initial year is as under:
• Good Governance: To initiate robust social processes to mobilize communities for their active participation/ representation in local self-Governance as supported by an equally receptive and open administrative response towards fulfilling needs of the community in 60 Beacon Panchayats
• Economic Empowerment: To facilitate and create capacity strengthening opportunities for substantial economic and livelihood gains of the poor communities and most vulnerable households in 60 Beacon Panchayats
• Improvement of Civic Amenities: To create a favorable environment for sustainable improvement of Civic Amenities and escalated social awareness and changed community behavior towards building a ‘clean village’ through cashless social actions
4. Approach To The Project:
The Start-Up Action of this project will adopt a comprehensive, integrated and full-proof ‘social mobilization approach’ split into five strategic intervention areas for realization of project specific objectives:
1) Youth Mobilization for Leading Governance Change Processes: Pursuing the core YLTP strategy of sustainable personal and human development, the project will mobilize a dynamic cadre of local youth Volunteers across the select 60 Beacon Panchayats and train them to become social change agents; and assume the key leadership role in mobilizing their home community towards democratic participation in Panchayat governance as demonstrated in sustained social changes in community and individual life
2) Community Mobilization for Costless Development & Social Change: The well capacitated Volunteers together with the elected representatives, Panchayat volunteers and relevant Government functionaries will lead social mobilization inputs on health awareness, sanitation, de-addiction, Yoga and pranayama programs for adults, adolescents and children. Such costless engagements in the community will help build strong social connect, and expand community harmony and belongingness in long-run to support implementation of subsequent phases.
3) Sustainable Livelihood Creation: Mobilize and train communities, farmers and women groups on various traditional livelihood skills with specific focus on natural/ organic farming; and, formation, strengthening and effective market linkage of village Self Help Groups (SHG) and Farmer Producers’ Organizations and their gradual linkage with government development/ welfare schemes and institutional financing.
4) Enhanced Grassroots Participation in Governance of Development and Welfare Schemes: Mobilize inputs for strengthening capacity of the 7 GP level standing committees and one GP level executive committee in each Gram Panchayat to underpin their active role and participation in monitoring of Panchayat development/ welfare schemes/ programs and reporting back to Panchayat office on the performance and outreach of schemes/ programs
5) Exploration of Strategies for Improved and More Effective Service Outreach to the Poor: Conduct a participatory Micro Gap Analysis (n=60GPs) to understand the gaps in community outreach of government schemes/ services and highlight potential strategic interventions to be taken up in the second phase of this project to improve outcome in the sectors of Human Development, Economic Empowerment, and Good Governance in sixty GPs.
5. End Results:
The Start-Up Phase desires to see results in four concrete outcome areas each contributing to enhance grassroots governance mechanisms through active engagements of the Gram Sabha in village governance:
• Enhanced, productive and empowered participation of the members in the Gram Sabha affairs as envisaged in the PR Act as demonstrated in enhanced village governance mechanisms and community development
• Enhanced participation and ownership of the seven Panchayat level standing committees in discharging their mandated responsibilities in monitoring and management of development and good governance inputs at Gram Panchayat level
• Enhanced representation and the ability of poor and excluded families in standing committees to work as a committee of Gram Sabhas.
5.1 End Results Summary
The project closely aligns the 5H strategic approaches of YLTP (health, hygiene, human values, harmony in diversity and home for homeless); and the Holistic Development Model of SAGY that envisages – positive and sustained change in Personal, Economic, Human and Social facades of community life. Thus, this Start-Up Action will install the community software elements – including increased community participation in planning and decision making; and enhanced capacity and skills – that form the central prerequisite to nurture a demonstrable model of representative grassroots governance, well represented through the Gram Sabhas and integrated with SAGY development model. Towards this end, the present Start-Up Action will yield the following observable social and development outcomes, mutually contributing to the fulfilment of the five- years objective plan of the project.
Increased Gram Sabha Sittings and Empowered Representation of Members: The Gram Sabha is the constitutional vanguard for devolution of governance power to the people at ground with legitimate governance authority. An empowered and well-represented Gram Sabha with legislative power and in some PESA areas with some judiciary functions and stated rules and regulations for governance and village dispute resolutions, can actually become the key moderator for empowering communities to demand their entitlements for sustainable social and economic gains.
Thus the present action, as a central function, will make consorted efforts through the accomplished and competent YLTP Social Volunteers to enhance the number of sittings of Gram Sabha with adequate representation of the most-poor and marginalized members of the village in Gram Sabha to represent their issues and claim action for change by the Panchayat office. The action thus envisages to expand the present four annual sittings of Gram Sabha to twelve sittings in a year – to be conducted more regularly to improve community monitoring of government schemes/ development services as well as to discharge other mandated governance functions more effectively. Moreover, the Gram Sabha and all the 3 tiers of the Panchayat members during the Start-Up will receive number of capacity enhancement training on Gram Sabha governance elements and role of individual members. Such efforts are expected to increase frequency of meetings, and representation of all members in the Gram Sabha proceedings and harmonize Panchayat functions at all levels in the interest of the community.
Enhanced Participation Of Panchayat Committees in Governance:
Panchayat Standing Committees: There are eight village Standing Committees with 5 members in each committee in each Revenue village; 7 GP Standing Committees for 4 members in each committee; and then the GP Executive Committee comprised of the Mukhiya and Ward members to guide all committees. As appointed by the Panchayat office, these committees have the legitimate responsibility to monitor the development programs and good governance parameters at GP and village level in terms of community practices, outreach, and impact; and, reporting back to Panchayat on gaps in program outreach and performance.
These nascent committees would require more knowledge, awareness, necessary capacity and right motivation to discharge their duties effectively as envisaged in the Panchayat Guideline for the benefits of the communities.
Thus, the action envisages making these grassroots Committees of governance more functional, vibrant and effective; further brace the capacity of the individual committee members and provide them with hand-holding and on-the-field mentoring support to make them more effective, proactive and resilient in their function. The trained Social Youth Cadres (Volunteers) will work closely with the Standing Committees to make those more functional. The Government has given mandate to converge our plan in consonance with Panchayat level.
6. Core Social Mobilization Strategies (Phase – I)
The action will employ a robust social mobilization approach during the Start-Up phase to install the ‘project software elements’. During the Start-Up, the project will accelerate social action to sensitize the community on village governance parameters, generate awareness of Gram Sabha and village Standing Committees on effective governance of development programs and service outreach to the poorest families.
YLTP Volunteers – Grassroots Social Change Agents: The YLTP Volunteers supported by the trained Panchayat Volunteers will play a central role in mobilizing the Gram Sabha and village sub- committees for their effective participation in discharging of their mandated responsibility for the interest of the community. To this end, the Start-Up Action will employ the powerful social processes of Participatory Learning And Action (PLA) to absorb communities in an intensive and engaging process of development analysis and planning; thus to enable people to assume the ‘front actor’s role’ in the ‘Gram Sabha’ in pursuance of their development plans. Gram Sabha thus will emerge as a social space for collective endorsement of people’s plans; collective monitoring of development processes and social actions in demand of sustained community development.
Village Development Plan & GPDP: The entire process – to be facilitated and guided by the trained YLTP Volunteers, and supported by the Panchayat Volunteers – will assume a longitudinal action oriented planning process spread over 2 – 3 months, in which communities as ‘co-researchers’ will participate in local village development planning; gain critical awareness of their life realities, and be motivated to take social action through the Panchayats to change situation in ground. Each of the 350 villages will prepare development plans for their villages in micro planning principles in which each individual household will form the unit of intervention and action for social change. The Village Development Plans, endorsed by the Gram Sabha will be submitted for integration in the GPDP and form the basis for the Gram Sabha and its sub-committees to monitor performance of development outcomes and social change impacts.
Establishment of Grassroots Monitoring Mechanisms: The PLA process will also outline the project Monitoring & Evaluation mechanisms for the Gram Sabhas and the village sub-committees to track development processes, measure services outreach, and impact of development programs in social and economic gains. The Gram Sabhas and their sub-committees will be trained on ‘social audit’ for enabling community monitoring of all public work meant for village development. The Village Development Plans will also suggest a baseline as well as indicators of change to track project progress and outcome on continuous basis.
7. Project Operational Plan (Phase – I): Start-Up Phase - November 2017 – November2018)
a. Action Inception Phase Activities (Month 01)
(1) Half/ one-day inception meeting among the YLTP State core team, Jharkhand and members from DGGPP & DGGPP SSU for very initial rolling out of the project to the core team to gain common understanding of the project as well as to feedback into the preparation of detailed operational plan for Phase – I of the project
(2) Initiate processes for setting up teams and recruiting necessary staff at every level of the project including Volunteers for all 60 Beacon Panchayats.
(3) Rolling out of the detailed Project Operational Plan to the entire team to gain a) clear and common understanding of the project – Vision, goal, approaches, activities, outcomes, b) Individual role in the team effort, c) Awareness of mechanisms of mutual support and cooperation in realization of the vision
(4) Inception Meeting at District level with YLTP district team and key representatives from all three-tiers of PRIs from the project area to roll out the project to the PRI representatives. This process will enhance institutional buy-in (stake) and improve cooperation of PRI members in realization of project goal.
(5) Share proposed action with concerned District Collector’s Office, Block office, and relevant line departments for enhanced support and collaboration in achieving project goal. Responsibility: YLTP State office will be responsible to organize the meeting either separately or together at District/ State level
(6) Launching of the project by the Honorable Chief Minister of Jharkhand State in one district – probably at a village / GP location.
b. Action Core Activities (Month 02 – 12)
(1) Training of GP Standing Committee Members: The GP Standing Committees responsible for monitoring development program outreach and performances across the seven different social sectors will be selected to undergo extensive training on Panchayat guidelines, GP development programs, and personal motivation in fulfilling their mandated role in monitoring service gaps effectively. About 720 Standing Committee members from 60 GP will be trained in an average learning batchof 60 in a training program of 3-days duration spread over a period of 10 months beginning month 3 of the project.
(2) Training of GP Executive Committee: The GP Executive Committee members comprising Mukhiyas and Ward Members in each GP will be selected to undergo extensive training on Panchayat guidelines, GP development programs, and personal motivation in fulfilling their mandated role in monitoring service gaps effectively. About 720 Executive Committee members from 60 GP will be trained in an average learning batch of 60 in each training programs of 2-days duration spread over a period of 10 months beginning month 3 of the project.
(3) Orientation of Panchayat Volunteers: 4 Panchayat Volunteers will be selected from each of the 60 GP to receive initial orientation and motivational training to engage with the Panchayat in support of their functions. About 240 such Panchayat Volunteers from 60 GPs will be trained in batches of 60 in each training program of 2-day duration spread over a period of 6 months beginning month 3 of the project.
(4) Orientation of Panchayat Functionaries: 5 Panchayat Level Department Functionaries – including Panchayat Secretary/Anganwari Sevika/Rozgar Sewak/ANMfunctionaries/ ASHA with a mandated service function will receive 3-days need based orientation on various elements of their job to enhance their job function and motivation. About 300 such Panchayat Level Department Functionaries from 60 GPs in total will receive initial orientation and motivational training in batches of 60in each training program spread over a period of 6 months beginning month 3.
(5) Leadership Training Program for Panchayat Volunteers: 4 Panchayat Volunteers from each of the 60 GP, who have undergone initial orientation, will receive advanced training on leadership development to further boost their knowledge and motivation to engage with the Panchayat in support of their functions. About 240 such Panchayat Volunteers from 60 GPs will be trained in batches of 40-60 in each training program of 5-day duration spread over a period of 6 months beginning month 3.
(6) Gap Analysis Training for Panchayat Volunteers (PLA): 240 YLTP Volunteers (social youth cadres)/ Elected Representatives (ERs) will receive training on PLA techniques to facilitate and guide communities in development of Village Development Plans. The Volunteers selected for this training belong to the same village where s/he has to lead the planning process and have been active since earlier time, in organizing people through health awareness, sanitation, de-addiction campaigns, Yoga and Pranayama camps etc. About 240 such Youth Volunteers from 60 GPs will be trained in batches of 30 – 40 in each PLA training program of 6-day duration spread over a period of 6 months beginning month 3.
(The project will follow a cascading approach to inform decentralized learning. The first batch of such trainees will be identified very carefully from among the group of 240 Volunteers on the basis of their dynamism, motivation and development understanding. These first batch of 30 – 40 Volunteers will receive training on PLA techniques by DGGPP of Sri Sri University, the sister concern of YLTP to initiate Village Development Planning process in 10 pilot Panchayats, where YLTP has a superior presence and higher community acceptance for such process. Within a month, a group of very dynamic Volunteers from this batch who can assume the role of master trainers for other Volunteers will be identified and provided with advanced PLA techniques to lead PLA training for other Volunteers. The second PLA training will be facilitated by the youth master trainers in a closely guided learning environment with human resource support of SSU. From the third training, the youth master trainers will take lead).
(7) Special focused Training for EWRs: 100 Elected Women Representatives (EWR) from all 3 tiers of the Panchayat from each of the 6 districts - drawn from Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zilla Parishad - will receive advanced training on leadership development to address issues of malnutrition, community hygiene and governance challenges before EWR in order to further boost their confidence and motivation to engage with the Panchayat in support of their functions. About 600 such EWRs from 6districts will be provided 3-days training in batches of 60 in each training program spread over a period of 6 months beginning month 3.
(8) Training of GP Executive Committees on Cash Less Transactions: All GP Executive Committee members in each GP who have earlier received governance and leadership training will undergo training on development based on Cashless transactions in the community. About 720 Executive Committee members from 60 GP will be trained in batches of 60 in each training programs of 2-day duration spread over a period of 10 months beginning month 3.
(9) Training of women SHGs on livelihood opportunities: About 600 woman SHG members from 60 GP will receive training on organic farming techniques and livelihood promotion initiatives in batches of 60 in each training, spread over a span of 10 months beginning month 3. The training will be need based and are likely to cover Mushroom Cultivation and marketing; incense stick and paper bags making; Lac production; Horticulture and cattle raising; Medicinal plant raising, tribal art and craft; Market linkage and financing; and Women empowerment through SHG.
(10) IEC/Awareness generation campaigns in Panchayats: The project will generate scores of IEC/ awareness generation materials in support of the capacity strengthening inputs. It will be issue based and used strategically to support Panchayat campaigns in support of their functions.
(11) Documentation in form of Reports and best practice documentary movies: The project from its beginning will invest on documenting the process and impact of the project in form of reports and video documentary to showcase best practices. This effort will contribute to preparation of a robust participatory M&E framework at all tiers of Panchayat and district and State levels of the project - concurrent with the participatory Village Development Planning process. Such documentation to be captured in a robust M&E framework will highlight the project baselines as drawn out from the village planning process to compare with the end line results. Additionally, the project will also undertake sectoral gap analysis on micro service gaps impacting in loss of livelihood. All such inputs will help document best practices and lesson learnt; and contribute to establishment of a robust M&E framework to monitor development processes and outcome in a time-bound manner. The project aims to produce series of reports and video documentary highlighting best practices and lessons learnt for its Pan- India upscaling.
(12) Vice Free GP: Provide 5-days Training of Trainers (TOT) for 20 select YLTP social youth cadres good at social mobilization, to lead awareness drive in their village on Health, hygiene and Ayurveda way of life; Ethics - probity in public and social life; De-addiction aiming to enhance community engagements and leadership for a cohesive social life. These 20 trained and skilled YLTP volunteers through ‘Nav Chetna Camps’ will reach out to about 6000 people in 60 GP under this awareness drive.
(13) Health and Hygiene Awareness Among Children: The20 trained and skilled YLTP volunteers will lead a mass awareness campaign for school children on good health and hygiene practices. These YLTP volunteers through village ‘Bal Chetna Camps’ will reach out to about 3000 school children during the Start-Up phase.
(14) Total Health and Hygiene Awareness in Community: The 20 trained and skilled YLTP volunteers receive 1-day advanced training on health and hygiene to lead a mass awareness campaign for achieving total health and hygiene awareness and practices in the village. These YLTP volunteers will initiate ‘Poorna Swachhta Abhiyan’ in their respective villages.
(15) Natural Resource Management Training: Provide 1-days Training of Trainers (TOT) for 20 select YLTP social youth cadres good at social mobilization, to lead awareness drive in their village to enhance community leadership and involvement in village natural resource management These 20 trained and skilled YLTP volunteers will reach out to about 6000 people in 60 GP under this awareness drive.
(16) Restoration of Indigenous culture: The proposed Village Development Plan will highlight clearly the level of gradual regression of indigenous communities as a result of their vulnerable social footing and undefended and at times, risky exposure to cultures alien to them. It will also suggest social strategies and interventions in the second phase of the project to restore indigenous culture, identity and dignity. Meanwhile, the Volunteers in the first year will observe such cases of loss of indigenous cultural life and human dignity in one select block of Namgarh to facilitate support for restoring indigenous identity and dignity. The learning of this effort will be documented to craft strategic intervention in this area from second year of the project.
(17) Home for homeless: In the Start-Up phase the Volunteers will work to assess the destitute families in need of a basic shelter provision. On case-to-case basis, the Volunteers will provide support to link these socially excluded families with Indira Awas housing scheme for the poor through the Panchayat. The project will have a clear strategy for intervention in this area from second year, once the Village Development Plans are ready.
8. Monitoring, Evaluation And External Audit
8.1 Monitoring
Activity monitoring, a core management tool, will be carried out regularly as part of this project. The project will develop a set of project monitoring formats conforming Government Regulations and the standard procedures and principles of YLTP’s internal M & E System.
The full time State Operation Head of YLTP will be responsible for the overall effective implementation, coordination and management of the project, who will be supported by a dynamic team at district and block level. At the bottom, the Panchayat Volunteers and YLTP Yuvacharyas (Social Volunteers) will provide support in all aspects of the project activities, while the District Programme Support Officers will provide the relevant monitoring support as based in the field and also follow up on day-to-day activities. A full time accountant will be responsible for monitoring project expenditure and overseeing all financial aspects of the project, including financial compliances. In addition to this regular internal audits will be conducted for effective financial monitoring. Financial reports of compliances and Request of Reimbursements will be sent to relevant Panchayat offices and CTI on a regular basis. YLTP will submit formal progress reports to Deptt. Of RDPR on a quarterly basis and will submit an Interim Report, a Pre-Final Report and a Final Report highlighting the main challenges and achievements of this action.
In addition, the DGGPP – SSU’s Technical Support Team will visit the implementation sites at least six times during the project period, provide technical and managerial advice; and will remain closely involved with the progress of the project. In collaboration with the DGGPP – SSU, the local implementing partner – YLTP will conduct a mid-term review in order to have an accurate idea of the status of the project at the interim report stage.
YLTP will also innovate more participatory monitoring mechanisms, including social audits and participatory review and reflection processes to be integrated in the second phase of the project M & E Framework.
8.2 Evaluation and External Audit
An evaluation and external audit of the project during the operation is not envisaged.
9. Perspective Of this Start Up Action for Pan-India Upscaling & Replication
9.1 This Operation (or a similar Operation) is under way since
Organising communities through health and hygiene awareness activities and, practical Yoga/ Pranayama courses have been implemented since 1997 under the Youth Leadership and Training Programme (YLTP) wing of the Art of Living’s regular programme, with deep social connect with the local villages. This is the core expertise and distinct international USP, that YLTP brings into the project which it considers primary to the success of any project that aim to create sustainable grassroots development model based on positive governance changes at the ground. That said, the operation described herein is distinct, and will be a new initiative.
9.2. Expected Level of Sustainability
Given the applied nature of the social mobilisation, capacity training and participatory planning activities that will be undertaken during this project, including for example the strengthening of local governance structures, the provision of planning, information and services, and the small scale direct economic activities thru government leverages anticipates that the level of sustainability of these activities will be high at the ground.
The project will work with yet existing formal structures like the Gram Sabha and the Panchayat for governance change and development impact. The capacity of these structures will be strengthened and linkages will be established. YLTP will train the Gram Sabha, the village committees, and other Relevant Panchayat representatives at different tiers, and will assist them in making Village Development Plans by mobilizing communities, community level concerns and knowledge, which will be effectively linked with the GPDP. This will contribute to create a platform for sustainability of the project through committed Panchayat budget allocations and effective and transparent resource use plans. Also linkages between the trained social volunteers of YLTP and the Panchayat volunteers will ensure that they can maintain their cooperation and common actions in all programme phases that began during the Start-Up Action phase. The strong emphasis on Training of Trainers (TOT) will ensure decentralised learning and advanced built-in capacity at different level in order to create a multiplier effect of results and benefits.
It is anticipated, moreover, that successful ‘Beacon GP Model Activities’ may be reapplied elsewhere by the local authorities, or other State Governments – with an institutional commitment for its national up-scaling.
Throughout the project, a high level of community participation will be ensured which contributes to the ownership of the project. Moreover, it will be ensured that all materials that will be used or produced will be of a high quality.
9.3. Continuum strategy
All the proposed project activities will be implemented under YLTP’s long-term development programme, in areas where YLTP is committed to work well beyond the scope and duration of this particular operation.
YLTP believes that it is essential to integrate ‘grassroots good governance’ into regular development programs for its deeper penetration into every aspects of positive social life of the villagers so that human suffering and poverty is significantly reduced within a given and very specific timeframe.
As such, YLTP will continue to work closely with the communities in the project area, even after this project is completed, to follow on from these activities and to ensure that the positive governance changes enabled thru this social action continue to be undertaken at the community level to yield further benefits to the people. In addition, during the course of the project, YLTP will deepen linkages with other stakeholders - both governmental and non-governmental - working on governance issues to advocate for wider development support from the government, bilateral communities, and the private sector.
9.4. Mainstreaming
A participatory grassroots governance systems, which is genuinely representative and pro-poor, has already been identified by the National Government as a core and central cross-cutting area of work for attainment of the goal of sustainable improvement of village economy and management of services for basic amenities at community and household level. The action through a powerful participatory planning process, will place a specific focus on the very poorest and most excluded community members; and will therefore also cut across everything that we do, as will processes aimed at promoting participation and empowerment. This will include particular efforts aimed at bringing women and other excluded groups into activities undertaken in the present project. In all activities, and particularly in the Village Development Plans, specific attention will be paid to specially disadvantaged groups and individuals such as People With Disabilities, widows, widow headed families, elderly persons and homeless and destitute families.
10. Project Visibility and Communication Strategy
Within this project, YLTP’s communication strategy will involve a two-pronged approach to promoting visibility of the project and the Government, as follows:
Basic visibility: At one level, YLTP will ensure that any equipment procured and materials produced under the project are clearly marked with the official logo of the Deptt. Of RDPR and YLTP, thereby identifying them as having been supported by the Panchayats and CTI for governance and development integration. In addition, hoarding boards will be installed at all key project sites where key activities have been undertaken. In addition to key project details, these will also provide information relating to the budget and its transparent utilization for the activities in question.
Communication activities: In addition to the basic visibility activities described above, more interactive communications initiatives will also be engaged in. Project staff will interact with local media for positive publicity, and more specifically will arrange for a number of journalist visits to the project sites. It is anticipated that these will result in the production of a number of feature coverage in printed and electronic media. In addition, film makers will be engaged to visually document the project activities to showcase empowering PLA processes in promoting pro-poor grassroots governance model. One page inside the YLTP India website will be dedicated to this project.
11. Conclusion and Partner’s Comments:
After a period of reflection and drawing from its previous positive experiences of fruitful partnership with the Government, YLTP is now looking forward to engage with the National and State Governments in a more proactive, productive, open and transparent partnership in achieving their aspirational and highly realistic goal of building self-reliant, self-governed, vibrant and thriving units of collective social life through a very well functional local governance mechanism.
Our experiences in India, and elsewhere, have proven that such a partnership can be very rewarding. Together with our local implementing partners and the communities we desire to work on to prevent grassroots governance challenges to be an obstacle for community development. The people of India and Jharkhand, mostly its large indigenous communities inhabiting remote locations, would continue to experience poverty if present grassroots governance maintains an enduring status-quo.
We hope that together, in a proactive, positive and constructive partnership with the Government, we can address these issues at different tiers. Review and adjustments of the plan could be done with the Department if considered necessary to achieve greater cohesion in the programs for effective implementation.