March 15, 2015
Introduction
A training on Environment Friendly Local Governance Program
(EFLGP) was organized in Siraha for various level stakeholders from 4-7
February 2015. During this time, I have had chance to hold informal interactions
with the available Social Mobilisers (SMs), District Governance Expert (DGE), Urban
Governance Experts (UGEs) and an Information Communication Technology (ICT)
Volunteer. Below are some of the
observation from the field visit:.
Field Staff activities:
It
was noted that the facilitating roles of DGE and UGEs are being valued
gradually by Local Development Officers (LDOs) and Municipality Executive
Officers (Eos) in their respective offices. Social Mobilisers are regularly
attending and facilitating Citizen Awareness Center (CAC) and Ward Citizen
Forum (WCF) Meetings. In an average, a social mobiliser was reported to spend
13 days (9 days WCF meetings and four days CAC REFLECT Classes) in the field
and the rest of the days in their
respective VDCs and Municipality Offices. In office, these staffs extend backup
support to the office bearers on necessary daily office activities. These
technical assistance staffs supported Constituency Assembly Election in 2013 on
raising awareness and making available identity cards to voters. Currently,
they are engaged in poverty mapping, vital registration, open defecation free
campaign, and municipality cleanup movement amongst others.
Key Notes
Ms Dev Kumar Suda, a dalit
representation in School Management Committee initiated Dalit quota
Scholarship: Members of Citizen
Awareness Centers (CACs) are being represented in decision making positions of
various public organizations that have contributed towards attaining positive
results in socio-economic status of their communities. For instance, Ms. Dev
Kumari Suda, Treasurer of Citizen Awareness Center, Fulbariya 4 Bhagawatpur for
the first time represented in the School Management Committee of Shree Baj
Higher Secondary School, Ward No 8 in Mirchaiya Municipality in March
2013. Ms. Dev Kumari Suda’s efforts in
the decision making body has lead to the school having dedicated scholarships
for dalit students. Mr. Jagat Mahara who secured first position in sixth
standard last year and now studying in class seven, has been studying under the
dalit quota scholarship. Prior to this, the dalit quota scholarship was not
being utilized appropriately. The example has lead to understand that the
decision making body such as a school management committee should be adequately
represented by marginalized groups in order to realize the principle of
inclusiveness and equal benefit distribution. “Representation of dalit member
in the management committee was an outcome of CAC activity”, said Shiva Kumar
Mahara, a Social Mobiliser in Mirchaiya Municipality.
Community specially
marginalized group people are empowered greatly: It was noted that CAC
members accessing citizenship certificates, having opinions on target group
based public goods and services, increased ability to write their own names and
signature clearly, registering vital events, are some examples of empowerment. Mr.
Chandralal Pashwaan, a Social Mobiliser in Mirchaiya Municipality of ward 4, 5
and 6, states that regular meetings and use of empowerment tools such as Rapid
Rural Appraisal (RRA), Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) and well -being
ranking taught during REFLECT classes has aided towards empowering women
groups. This in turn has contributed significantly in minimizing incidences of
social evils such as alcoholism and playing cards, said him.
Likewise, Bhogendra Mandal, Social Mobilizer, Mirchaiya Municipality
responsible for Ward No 2, has worked over 4 years as Social Mobiliser in
LGCDP, said CAC members are holding regular meetings and participating local
development planning and council in the community building that was built with
the support of Rs. 10,0000 from LGCDP.
When the CAC members attended planning meetings, their knowledge and
access to local small development activities has increased, stated Mr.
Bhogendra Madnal.
Lahan
Municipality Executive Officer Mr. Krishna Bahadur Karkee in coordination with
local NGO mobilized CAC members of Lahan Municipality to hold regular clean-up
campaign in Lahan Municipality. It was observed during the seventh weekly
cleanup campaign in Ward number 8 of the Municipality on February 7, 2015, all
30 CAC women members along with Municipality Executive Officers, police, NGOs
were involved in the campaign. Social Mobilsier of LGCDP was seen motivating
CAC members in the cleanup campaign.
Impacts:
All Social Mobilisers were of the view that with effective Social Mobilization
Process in LGCDP, women and marginalized communities are empowered gradually. They
have been able to voice their demand in local development planning process.
Some CACs are able to accessing resources from VDC and other line agencies and constructing
community building and implementing other income generation activities. Some of
the women members in CAC groups have got citizen certificates. Target group
based activities are being implemented properly as CAC members are being
represented in decision making process now. Over and above, principle of
inclusiveness and fair benefit distribution are being gradually observed at the
field level. Thanks due to the Social Mobilisers for their hard work to make
the changes at the grass root level.
Issues:
· Despite CAC are empowered and accessing public
goods and services, their level of awareness on environment friendly sustainable
development activities were found low. Therefore, EFLG training participants as
well as Social Mobilisers had demand for further capacity enhancement training
and awareness at local level. Mobile video show programs on environment
friendly development activities at settlement level would be a good strategy
for adopting environment friendly development activities at household level. Of
course, it demands greater resources and time too.
· As said by Social Mobilsiers, they had not
opportunities of acquainting with updated policy issues especially social
mobilization guidelines. Social Mobilisers were of the view that instead of
making requirement for them to attend Municipality Office, they would like to
engage in more result oriented field activities.
· It was observed that UGE and ICT Volunteers were
discharging their responsibilities without having fixed table, computer and
motorbike in Siraha Municipality. Though the authorization letter has already
been reached in Siraha to procure laptop, the computer was yet to be purchased.
Moreover, Lahan Municipality has already procured the Laptop as said by Shekhar
Karkee, UGE, Lahan.
· In the changing context especially when the VDCs
are transformed into Municipalities, Social Mobilisers are discharging their
responsibilities by travelling upto 17 KM from home. Therefore, the workload of
Social Mobilisers may need to be reviewed
· Of course, need regular follow up to field and
enquiring field staff activities encourage them to perform better and many more
social transformation story can be documented.
