pri pilot
intervention

Visit of Rupa Mukherji National Delegate, IC to Bonthi

Rupa Mukherji travelled to Bidar on July 14 for a meeting with the CEO of the Zilla Parishad and with the members of the Bonthi Gram Panchayat to take forward the pilot project for NRM interventions with the Gram Panchayat, approved by the GoK vide their letter dated 6, May 2005.

The specific purpose of the visit was:

• To develop the framework for an MoU for project implementation and fund transfer;
• To discuss PSMU’s draft note on roles and responsibilities of different stakeholders, which would form a part of the MoU;
• To meet Gram Panchayat members, local government officials and residents of Bonthi Gram panchayat and seek their feedback on the draft MoU, implementation structures and roles and responsibilities of stakeholders; and
• To meet the local NGO (Dristhi) identified by the district administration and establish their role in discussion with Zilla Parishad staff, GP and the village community.

The details of the visit are:

• Notes of July 14, 2005
• Notes of July 15, 2005
• Other Comments and Observations

Notes of July 14, 2005

1. We met Mr. Anthony Mendonca, CEO, Zilla Parishad Bidar, and I was impressed by his understanding and ownership of the pilot project. He has taken charge a month ago and has constituted a steering committee, comprising the Development Secretary (DS), officials from nine line departments, elected members of panchayats and SDC/IC/PSMU (2 members), for implementing the Pilot project in line with the government letter of approval. All the line departments were asked to visit the panchayat and present their assessment of development needs at the first steering committee meeting. Although most departments developed an action plan for intervention, the process did ensure a visit from all the relevant departments to this remote panchayat and an assessment of the current situation.

2. The project steering committee in its meeting of June 9, agreed that it was important to generate awareness, develop ownership and build capacities for project implementation among the residents of Bonthi for their full participation. Towards this there would be intense focus on exposure and capacity building in the first three months and the panchayat sub-committee that will handle project funds, will be constituted only after this.

3. The Steering committee had approved a local NGO, Drishti to coordinate the capacity building programme. The CEO indicated that this was a local group with a good reputation. We will assess their work in the initial three months and then leave it to the panchayat to decide if they needed any further support or facilitation from this NGO.

4. IC/PSMU shared their desire to appoint a person, on contract, who would be based at Bidar/ Aurad to coordinate activities, support the steering committee and liase between various stakeholders since both the government and SDC/IC seek to draw important lessons from the pilot project.

5. In the evening we met Fr. Karkare, Secretary of Drishti at his office. The organisation was registered in 1991 and has been working on issues of land rights, sustainable agriculture, education and federating women’s groups. They receive financial support from HEKS. They also have a more recent programme in adjoining areas of Maharashtra, funded by Swiss Aid. Small amounts have also been received from CARITAS. It has a fairly gender balanced staff, fluent in both Kannada and Marathi, essential for work in this region. The organisation appears to have good documentation skills and could share with us the records of all their recent visits to Bonthi panchayat.

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6. The DS (second senior most official at the ZP) Mr. Mallikarjun Math, who has taken over charge only last week, the Chief Accounts Officer, ZP and staff from several line departments accompanied us to the meeting at Bonthi village. Fr. Karkare and other staff from Drishti also participated in the meeting.

7. The Sarpanch called the meeting; the other 19 panchayat members were also present. The GP comprises four main villages and 15 hamlets and tandas (settlements of the Lambadis who are listed as a Scheduled Caste here), one of which is almost 6 km away. We had to wait for sometime for members from the more remote tandas to arrive. I cannot estimate the number of people finally present but all the available space was occupied. People heard everyone with rapt attention, asking several questions to each of us.

8. We shared some of the project principles (self responsibility, pro-poor, informed choice, gender equity, mutual respect, faith and trust) and emphasised that this was a very special initiative that could work only with their full participation. The government and NGO would play a facilitative role and each person in the community has to have ownership over the project to ensure that it achieves its objectives.

9. The draft of the roles and responsibilities of the stakeholders was read out and discussed. People were concerned about their ability to plan activities, (`will we have technical support, what role will the government staff have’), composition of panchayat sub-committee (`would it have non-elected members’), establishment of systems that prevent leakages and corruption (`will you help us keep the percentages out’) and the start date. After some discussion, consensus was reached on the roles and responsibilities.

10. Drishti staff said that they would help in planning and organising exposure and training activities and would conduct another gram sabha to identify a suitable time for different kinds of training, taking into consideration the agricultural operations. It was highlighted that a gender balance in the trainees is important and groups would also have a mix of elected representatives, other members of the community and government officials.

11. We returned to the ZP office for a final meeting with the CEO. It was agreed that D-IC will consult its auditors and send a draft of the MoU, which would be signed by D-IC (Delegate – Inter coorporation as authorised by SDC as per the SDC–IC MoU) and the gram panchayat (2 persons), witnessed by a few members of the project steering committee constituted at the district level. The CEO would incorporate certain changes in accounting procedures indicated in the section on the roles and responsibilities, taking into consideration the provisions of the Karnataka Panchayati Raj Act, 1993.

13. Drishti will prepare a detailed action plan for the next 3 months based on a training needs assessment. PSMU will provide inputs and coordinate with IC NGO and ISPWDK partners for this.

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13. There is a high degree of ownership of the project among the ZP staff. The CEO understands the project and its underlying principles very well, his experience with the KAWAD project must be a contributing factor.

14. The DS is new to his post but is interested, familiar with the district having served there for several years and aware of the village level political dynamics as he hails from this region.

15. Being a part of the erstwhile Hyderabad state, land ownership patterns are very skewed with the prevalence of large landowning feudal households in fortress-like dwellings and abject poverty in close proximity. The feudal lord continues to exercise power over the panchayat but PSMU, Drishti and the government are all very aware of this and adequate checks and balances will be designed. The assessment report prepared by IRMA students was a good investment in this direction as it has provided a very clear and honest picture of the existing situation.

16. Drishti staff may be challenged in reaching out to all sections of the village community and the government machinery, given their focus on mobilisation of the landless households in the past. They would need some support and the recruitment of person by IC/PSMU would be helpful.

17. There is potential for a lot of learning from ISPWDK and NGO programmes. Members of the community are keen to do so; we should make the most of this openness and build on the enthusiasm before they start viewing the project as a conventional government programme.

18. The GP is large with 20 members representing a population of 10,000, spread across 19 habitations. Some of the communities such as those living in the Tandas, are very articulate and aggressive. The sub-committee, which will be entrusted with the project funds, has to be constituted with care so as to be representative as also functional. The challenge will be in setting up structures that are representative while not being complex.

19. The steering committee will be an important forum – we have to play a strategic role in empowering the village communities and ensuring that they are not overwhelmed by priorities set by government. representatives.

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