Effective Social Mobilization in Dumarwana

I was happened to visit Dumarwana Village Development Committee (VDC) in Bara District on December 1, 2013. During the visit, I had a chance to meet Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD), Local Governance and Community Development Program (LGCDP) Social Mobiliser (SM) and Community Facilitators (CF) Ms. Lila Nepal and Mr. Nabaraj Dhungel respectively in the VDC premises. Having interest to know their initiatives and achievements, I spare a few minutes talking about their activities and achievements in Dumarwana VDC.

Dumarwana VDC is located just about 4 KM North from Simara Airport. There are 21,000 people and 3,500 household in Dumarwana VDC. The SM supports a total of 65 Saving and Credit Groups, which were formed through Decentralization Local Governance Program (DLGSP), preceded project of the LGCDP, nine Ward Citizen Forums (WCFs) and one Citizen Awareness Center (CAC). In addition, they together with the VDC Secretary undertake regular monitoring of various VDC supported development activities. Ms. Nepal was also involved in educating voters during the recently completed Constituent Assembly Election.

According to them, the VDC has extended support for the CAC with bridge construction, bio-gas installment and toilets construction thus far. However, space has been appeared as a major limiting factor for adopting biogas with attached toilets for many of the CAC members. Despite realization of the greater need of co-ordination and collaboration with sectoral offices mainly forest and agriculture to complement development demand of CAC members, no remarkable progress has been made so far to this end. Moreover, they were of the view that the proportion of beneficiary communities with respect to the given human resources capacity (One SM and one CF) was not matched.

Ms. Nepal with smiling face  said that with their s sincere efforts, a mandatory provision has been made in the VDC to bring local development plan in the VDC Council only through WCFs. Political parties are realizing higher importance of WCF in designing and implementing local level plans and programs and showing interest to be included in the WCF now. In recognition of her outstanding contribution to the local communities, the VDC has topped up with Rs. 2,000 in her monthly basic salary. With the concerted efforts, it has been realized that capacity of CAC members has been strengthened greatly through REFLECT Classes together with infrastructure development supports. An arrangement has also been made to introduce children and maternity health education to the CAC members through Village Women Health Workers.

Now, almost 100% CAC members have initiated timely registration of child birth in the VDC. Also, people are applying for certificate of citizenship immediately when they reach 18. Further, perception of local people has changed towards using common toilets by father-in-law and sister-in-law these days, which had been a cultural barrier since immemorial times. Because of the SM initiative, the VDC has done Council meeting last year within the stipulated time framework said, C.P. Sigdel, Hetaunda Cluster Coordinator of LGCDP.

I am sure that there must have many more similar successful initiatives across the country that needs to be captured in a book so that the lesson learn and best practices helps guiding successful implementation of social mobilization component of the LGCDP – II in the coming days. Further, role of CCU should be focused more towards reporting, monitoring and undertaking studies on how LGCDP interventions have been contributing towards deepening the democratic practices and strengthening the local governances.

Case Report Prepared

by

Ek Raj Sigdel