Insight from Siraha Visit

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.