SDC-CapDecK : Projects

Projects

A Brief Report On The Status Of Interventions
As on December 2005

1. Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences Studies

Panchayat health system development
Project Title	Friends of Health
Period	October 2004 - September 2005
District	Trivandrum
Focus	It is being implemented by Achutha Menon Centre for Health Sciences Studies of Sree Chitra Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology. It is in Venganoor gram panchayat. AMCHSS has developed a larger project covering the whole block area. That has clinical and other medical components where as the project we support is focusing on how gram panchayat could manage the health systems at that level itself.
Intervention process & Milestones	Developing a panchayat owned health system. A health resource team formed at the panchayat level, which will act as a resource group for panchayat level health system planning Primary Health centre as a resource centre for health system planning Health awareness classes conducted A booklet prepared on rural health

2. Avard

Working through CBOs and panchayat committee to strengthen gram sabha and panchayat processes
Project Title	Empowering People for Local Self-Governance
Period	September 2004 - September 2005
District	Thrissur
Focus	The intervention was at Kuzhoor gram panchayat in Thrissur district. Ownership and cooperation of the panchayat was ensured. Another feature was the way project got approved by the gram Sabha and later by the gram panchayat.
Intervention process & Milestones	The intervention was to develop gram panchayat as a local self-government. Efforts to build awareness on Panchayati Raj among CBOs at the local level. Problems in the conduct of gram Sabha and panchayat functioning identified Helped to strengthen gram sabhas Facilitated the process of formulating development perspectives through discussions among elected representatives and people Prepared a conceptual framework for strengthening Panchayati Raj

3. Card

Working through CBOs and SHGs to strengthen gram sabha and panchayat processes
Project Title	Citizen Education on Panchayati Raj
Period	August 2004 - September 2005
District	Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta
Focus	The intervention was at Malayattoor-Neeleeswaram gram panchayat in Ernakulam district and Kulakkada grama panchayat of Pathanamthitta district.
Intervention process & Milestones	Micro plans for women development in the wards of the panchayat Formation of sthree jagratha samithi Capacity development of CBOs Training was given to panchayat elected members

4. Centre For Rural Management

Panchayats being developed as local self-governments, academic and research institutions brought in to support panchayats, empowering civil society to strengthen Panchayati Raj
Project Title	Strengthening Panchayat Institutions: Search for Allies
Period	July 2004 - September 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Idukki, Kottayam and Alleppey
Focus	It is being implemented in the 17 gram panchayats of three block panchayats of Azhutha in Idukki (high land), Ettumannor in Kottayam (mid land) and Thycattussery in Alleppey (Low land). The intervention is not in the campaign mode and takes gram panchayats into confidence. The built up is through a slow and steady process where stakeholders internalizes the activities and then implements.
Intervention process & Milestones	To provide need-based support to gram panchayats and to bring in allies for Panchayati Raj by way of academic and research institutions Collaboration established between panchayats and academic institutions for various local level studies and situational analysis Trained the panchayats to establish accounting system based on the billing system Family get together concept (joint meetings of elected representatives and officials) as part of the development of panchayat management system Jagratha samithies established Ashraya, the anti poverty programme of the panchayats were analysed and brought to the notice of the panchayat committees who were ready to make necessary changes Linkages and integration between various systems and Panchayati Raj brought into the agenda of panchayats Block level platforms formed Panchayat Scouts established in schools to promote the concept of Panchayati Raj among children Citizen education programme on Panchayati Raj in a continual way Code of conduct developed for NGOs in Panchayati Raj

5. Grameena Patana Kendram

A panchayat administration and management system developed. Library cum documentation and communication centre established for Gram Panchayat Association
Project Title	Responsible self-governance- a management development model and developing a Doc.com centre for Panchayat Association
Period	November 2004-September 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Trivandrum
Focus	This project was implemented in two gram panchayats of Trivandrum district - Karakulam and Nellanad. There is an implementing committee for the project under the leadership of the panchayat presidents. In addition, each subject area is discussed in the corresponding standing committee of the panchayat and later presented in the panchayat committee. The activities are implemented under the leadership of the respective standing committees of the panchayat. There are key faculty members and panchayat level faculty members who facilitate the process.
Intervention process & Milestones	To develop gram panchayat as a local self-government A panchayat management system was developed to help the elected members in managing the affairs of the panchayat Manuals were prepared for each of these institutions and offices through a participatory process Local self-government order (LSGO) released In each office and institution, an office management committee constituted with the local people also in the committee A comprehensive citizen's charter prepared through a participatory process and published and distributed them Discussion classes held in various CBOs on citizens charter so as to make people aware of the citizen's charter Notice boards, attendance boards, services information board, and suggestion and complaint boxes placed in all the offices and institutions of the panchayat A panchayat level women theatre formed to bring women to the forefront of public sphere Children's gram sabha was organized which led to children's panchayat Government has approved an initiative under Decentralisation Support Programme to adopt this process and system in another 20 gram panchayats Library and documentation centre for Gram Panchayat Association established. Activities as part of it to continue

6. Kairos

Micro projects in panchayat plan and participation of all sections of the people in panchayat process
Project Title	Capacitating the people towards Strengthening Decentralisation Process
Period	September 2004-October 2005
District	Kannur
Focus	The project was implemented in Aralam gram panchayat of Kannur district. A major highlight of the intervention was the total ownership of the panchayat committee in the implementation of the project.
Intervention process & Milestones	The focus was to empower the civil society so as to strengthen Panchayati Raj Organised several rounds of trainings to elected members, officials and working group on latest developments and scope of local governance Trainings on Panchayati Raj at ward level Training at the local level to develop micro projects Mark boards on various aspects of gram sabha were placed in 13 wards of the panchayat Training was given to students of higher secondary and +1 students on Panchayati Raj 10 day camp for NSS volunteers, focussing on Panchayati Raj A booklet was prepared and published on various schemes and projects, which could be made use of by the panchayat

7. Kizhakkumkara Mahila Samjam

Strengthened gram sabhas through empowerment women and CBOs
Project Title	Empowerment Of Mangalapuram Grama Panchayat Through Women Headed CBOs
Period	July 2004-September 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Trivandrum
Focus	The project was implemented in Mangalapuram gram panchayat in Trivandrum district. There was a joint committee with panchayat and KIMS representatives as members. The organisation is a women's organisation and the focus was to empower the women CBOs so as to strengthen Panchayati Raj.
Intervention process & Milestones	Panchayat empowerment through empowerment of women's CBOs Formed a women resource team of 17 They were given six training programmes on different aspects of Panchayati Raj and related topics These training programmes were continued at the local level A booklet on Panchayati Raj and its scope was published Impact seen in qualitative improvement in gram Sabha discussions especially by women Training was given to panchayat elected members In the beginning, need assessment was done and at the end an evaluation Management training was given to the women groups Helped the gram panchayat in integrating various schemes available to the panchayats

8. Loyola Extension Services

CBOs on Panchayati Raj, panchayat level master plan being developed
Project Title	Panchayat Empowerment Project
Period	July 2004 - September 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Trivandrum
Focus	The project was implemented in Sreekariyam gram panchayat. A joint committee with gram panchayat and LES monitored the intervention. There was acceptance and ownership by the gram panchayat.
Intervention process & Milestones	Aimed at bringing in people more closer to the Panchayati Raj system through empowerment processes in the CBOs Orientation and awareness programmes for CBOs in the gram panchayat area Facilitated the process of strengthening gram sabha and development seminar under the leadership of the gram panchayat Initialization of Jagratha Samithi Panchayati Raj became part of the curricula of Loyola College of Social Sciences Listed the problems faced in strengthening gram sabha A local resource team owned by the gram panchayat was formed and trained regularly Training programmes for newly elected members New panchayat committee has decided to seek the help of LES to prepare a development vision for the panchayat in a participatory manner

9. Maithri

Natural resource management and productivity in panchayat agenda and strengthened relations and linkages of CBOs, gram sabhas and panchayats
Project Title	Local Level Natural Resource management
Period	September 2004 - August 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Palakkad
Focus	The pilot phase was implemented in three gram panchayats (Erimayoor, Vadakarapathy and Eruthempathy) of which one was covered fully while in others started on watershed basis, but later went in for full coverage due to demand from panchayats and people.
Intervention process & Milestones	The question was on how Panchayati Raj can lead the way in natural resource management Helped the formation of the neighbourhood groups registered with the gram panchayats These NHGs were motivated and empowered to utilize the platform of gram sabha more effectively in natural resource management The areas of intervention being drought prone, the project helped in conducting panchayat level participatory water balance studies and developed software which can be used by the NHGs Panchayat level Resource centres for NRM Water has become a major agenda of the panchayats Panchayat plans prepared from inputs from NHGs in the gram sabha and later gram panchayats accepting the NHGs to implement the panchayats projects Camps, trainings and activities for school children on Panchayati Raj, natural resources and panchayat development

10. NOCER - India

Built awareness on Panchayati Raj processes among linguistic minorities
Project Title	Panchayati Raj Empowerment in Manjeswaram Block Kasargode
Period	June 2004 to September 2005
District	Kasargode
Focus	The project was implemented in 11 gram panchayats of Manjeswaram block in Kasargode district. Cooperation of the gram panchayats was ensured.
Intervention process & Milestones	The intervention was to bring Panchayati Raj closer to the linguistic minorities Booklets on various aspects of Panchayati Raj were prepared in Malayalam, Kongani, Thulu and Kannada and distributed to the concerned population Resource teams were formed in the panchayats and were trained Local level classes and awareness programmes were organised by these teams Schools, colleges, women's groups, arts and sports clubs, other CBOs etc. were addressed and quiz and essay competitions on Panchayati Raj were organised in the languages mentioned Special sessions were organised in panchayats where 100 days programme was launched by the government

11. RASTA

Developed methodology for an effective gram sabha
Project Title	Strengthening Decentralised Governance in Gram Panchayat through the Capacity Building of People's Organisations
Period	September 2004 - August 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Wayanad
Focus	The project was basically concentrating on elected representatives and CBOs. It tried to find out the gaps and also strengthen gram Sabha. Focus was also on empowering tribal population.
Intervention process & Milestones	It was intended to develop Panamaram gram panchayat in Wayanad district as a local self-governmen Three rounds of trainings and follow up programmes for elected representatives A local level resource team developed Various participatory rural appraisals were organised centred on Oorukkoottams (tribal gram sabha) and gram sabhas Training to tribal promoters on Panchayati Raj and their role and scope in tribal development Women empowerment programmes A model gram Sabha organised, methodology developed Training programmes in all the wards Was able to bring together most of the local organisations and associations

12. SAKHI

A methodology for panchayat level women status study evolved, the process by itself caters to women empowerment initiatives
Project Title	Mainstreaming Gender in Local Self-Governance Institutions
Period	June 2004 - November 2005
District	Trivandrum, Kollam, Palakkad and Kozhikkode
Focus	The projects were implemented in four gram panchayats - Kollayil in Trivandrum, Alappad in Kollam, and Vilayoor in Palakkad and Olavanna in Kozhikkode. Sakhi was able to get panchayats own the programme and the status reports aware published by the gram panchayats.
Intervention process & Milestones	To develop women friendly panchayat through an initial intervention of preparing women status study Panchayat level women status study conducted which itself was a women empowerment programme Special gram sabhas organized by gram panchayat to discuss women status study report Political parties adopted the major suggestions from the study report to be included in the election manifesto Newly elected panchayat committees declared these as key areas of the panchayat activity thus bringing women and gender issues as political and panchayat agenda Established panchayat level women resource centre, where classes for women SHGs conducted, counselling for women organized etc. This was especially useful in the case of Alappad where Tsunami had struck

13. Socio Economic Development Service

Panchayat level Dalit status studies leading to dalit development plan
Project Title	Dalit Empowerment through Panchayati Raj
Period	June 2004 - November 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Kottayam, Alleppey, Pathanamthitta and Kollam
Focus	The project is implemented in 20 gram panchayats of four districts, Kottayam, Pathanamthitta, Alleppey and Kollam. It tried to bring together all categories of dalits to fight for their rights in the Panchayati Raj processes and system.
Intervention process & Milestones	Dalit empowerment envisaged through Panchayati Raj processes Panchayat level organ sing committees in all the partner panchayats Training on Panchayati Raj and how dalits can find a real space in the processes Trainings were up to the grass roots level Dalit status studies conducted in panchayats and reports prepared Special gram sabhas organized to discuss the dalit status study Special programmes for youth and women on Panchayati Raj Organized effort to improve the participation of dalits in the gram sabhas

14.1. SEWA - Trivandrum

Sustainable settlement norms being prepared approved by the people
Project Title	Towards a pattern of sustainable settlements
Period	July 2004 -October 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Trivandrum
Focus	A local resource team has been developed who are now able to describe and discuss about sustainable settlement at he grassroots level. Equipped the gram panchayat to lead similar discussions and slowly arrive at certain decisions. New elected members have been brought into the mainstream of the project so that the panchayat committee owns the project.
Intervention process & Milestones	It was to develop a sustainable village settlement pattern under the leadership of the gram panchayat Regular interaction with the elected members on the topic Brought in experts, ejected representatives and local people to continuously brainstorm on the issues Handbooks on organic farming and sustainable settlement published and distributed A series of awareness campaigns and classes on sustainable settlement Direct interventions by the people for improving the water levels Low shift to organic farming Linkage established with the city markets for ensuing better process Participatory resource mapping - human and physical Sustainable settlement norms being developed at the grassroots level which will be taken to the gram sabha and then to the gram panchayat Women status study being conducted under the leadership of the panchayat Discussions on gram sabha Orientation programmes for new elected members

14.2. SEWA - Thrissur

Model for Jagratha samithi activities
Project Title	Gender awareness and vigilance committees
Period	July 2004 - October 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Thrissur
Focus	This was implemented in Panancherry gram panchayat of Thrissur district. The high level of ownership of the Jagratha Samithi by the panchayat elected representatives was highlight. Moreover, people's participation in the Jagratha Samithi activities was remarkable.
Intervention process & Milestones	The focus was on establishing Jagratha Samithi under the leadership of the gram panchayat Panchayat level resource team formed Awareness on gender and women empowerment built among the population A participatory women's status study was conducted This lead to the creation of pressure from below for the formation of Jagratha Samithi Organisational form and operational aspects of Jagratha Samithi designed and implemented Established a support group for Jagratha Samithi Ward level vigilance committees came up Counselling, women's library, gender desk in schools etc. came up as part of the Jagratha samithi activities Jagratha samithi developed into a women empowerment platform

15. SHREYAS

Tribal development plan prepared
Project Title	Capacity Building Training to Tribals
Period	September 2004 - August 2005. The project was extended, the details of which are available
District	Wayanad
Focus	The intervention was in four gram panchayats of Wayanad district and the focus was only on tribals. The activities were conducted through already existing tribal NHGs formed by Shreyas. Kudumbashree SHGs and others were also brought in during the present project.
Intervention process & Milestones	Effort was to bring tribal population to the fold of Panchayati Raj Organised training programmes, both centralised and decentralised, for the various sections of the tribal population like youth, children, women, CBO leaders, general population etc Impact seen in various interventions by the tribal groups in the respective panchayats for their rights Tribal development plans were prepared using participatory methods

16. Others

State Women's Commission

Jagratha Samithi activities under the leadership of Women's Commission in five gram panchayats completed. Orientation on Jagratha Samithi to all new women elected representatives being given through district level one day workshops by the Women's Commission.

Kudumbashree Mission

Support to Kudumbashree Mission continued with the provision of eight Social Development Consultants for the initiative on Self-sustainable, Self-sufficient and Self-reliant panchayats by formulating and implementing the anti poverty sub plan.

Local Government Association

It has been possible to assist the Gram Panchayat Association (Village local governments association) in some of its activities. A beginning could be made to initiate efforts to make the office of the Panchayat Association an Information Centre that can help the Panchayats strengthen their activities. As part of this, a library and a computer facility have been provided. Activities like collection and documentation of all relevant government orders, state as well as centrally sponsored schemes and their details, etc and furnishing of related information are currently going on.

CapDecK extended support to the Gram Panchayat Association in its efforts to submit a comprehensive memorandum to the Third State Finance Commission. This support facilitated the services of an expert team under the chairmanship of Prof. M.A.Oommen for preparing the memorandum, organisation of the required studies and investigations and organisation of workshops to ascertain the views and suggestions at the local levels. Such an initiative on the part of a Panchayat association could be the first of its kind in the country.

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