Ek Raj Sigdel
While
visiting Sindhuli, Mahottari and Dhanusa in 23-25 May 2016, it was noted that Livelihood
Improvement Program (LIP) grant and Small Infrastructure Support (SIS) grant extended
by LGCDP-II have been reached in all visited six Citizen Awareness Centers (CACs).
While interacting with CAC members in different locations, it was noted that
they have invested SIS and LIP grants in undertaking various income generating
activities such as livestock rearing, agriculture production, off farm
activities like running of small retail shops, purchasing tents and catering
facility, engaging in sewing and knitting business, among others.
Moreover,
while reviewing the available database of LGCDP - II in Janakpur Municipality,
it was revealed that about 43% of the total SIS and LIP activities of CACs were
related to livestock rearing such as buffalo, goat, pig and poultry farming
(Table 1). Another 35% of the total activities under LIP and SIS were off farm
activities such as running small shops, purchasing tents, and promoting
paintings. The other 18% activities were related to agriculture mainly
vegetable farming. Less than 4% activities under these grants were invested in natural
resources based income generation activities mainly small scale firewood
business and ponds rehabilitation & maintenance.
Promoting
natural resource such as forest and water based income and micro-enterprises could
be a sustainable source of economy to the CACs on the one hand and on the other
could contribute to sustainable management of environment as it encourages
local knowledge and technologies based management that was not promoted visibly
in the visited areas.
TABLE
1. LIP and SIS investment patterns in Janakpur Sub Metropolitan City
Support Sector
|
SIS (Frequency of CAC Groups)
|
SIS (%)
|
LIP (Frequency of CAC - HH)
|
LIP (%)
|
Remarks
|
Agriculture
|
6
|
22
|
17
|
13
|
Vegetable farming
|
Livestock
|
12
|
44
|
53
|
41
|
Buffalo, goat, pig, poultry
|
Natural Resource
|
1
|
4
|
4
|
3
|
Firewood and pond conservation
|
Others
|
8
|
30
|
54
|
42
|
Painting, tent, small shops
|
Source:
Database of LGCP, Janakpur Municipality,
While
interacting with different CAC Groups it was realized that the CACs were well
empowered socially as well as economically. As said, untouchability events decreased, issues of social discrimination minimized,
child marriage discouraged, and incidence of women violence reduced considerably
due to CAC’s activeness. Due to effective social mobilization, basic services
like vital registration, senior citizen allowance, citizenship certificates and
community mediation programs were being implemented very effectively. Moreover,
CACs are engaged in public auditing, participating in local level planning and
monitoring process and being represented in Ward Citizen Forums.
During the field consultation, CACs have raised some
environmental issues such as drying out of water sources in mid-hills and
lowering of water level in terai regions. The other issues brought out by CACs include
river bank cutting
due to flooding in Terai and increased frequency of landslides due to
degradation of environment in mountain areas. Due to poisoning fish catching is
decreased substantially in Sindhuli. Towards health and sanitation front, affordability
of toilet was difficult to poorest of the poor members of CACs in Terai and
inadequate water supply even for drinking purpose was one of the major hindrances
for maintaining toilets in mountain areas.
The best practices that we were informed that transparency and accountability
exercise of CACs are being gradually replicated in their respective Community
Forests User Groups. Moreover, REFLECT class in a CAC of Mahottari covers
environment management, disaster risk reduction, and health & hygiene
subjects.
To ensure sustainable development
of the society it is imperative to bring the inclusive socio-economic
development and sustainable environment management agenda together.
Socio-economic empowerment component of the Sustainable Development was far
ahead than the environmental consideration in the visited CACs. Therefore, it
is high time to put priority on engaging CACs in managing sustainable
environment and thereby contributing to sustainable development of the CACs. Engaging
CACs in sustainable environment management could be an entry point for
integrating climate change, environment and disaster considerations into local
development planning and budgeting process. The following activities are need
to be implemented to ensure sustainable development society.
1.
Put priority on investing SIS/LIP grant in natural resources based
income and employment generation activities. Further, put efforts to strengthen
the entire value chains such as production, promotion and marketing of the
natural resources based micro-enterprises.
2.
Social Mobilisers should establish linkage of CACs with District
Forest Office, District Soil Conservation,
and Watershed Management, Drinking Water
Supply Office, District Agriculture Office and District Veterinary Offices and
private sectors mainly Chamber of Commerce to ensure sustainability of the
natural resources based micro-enterprises.
3.
Integrate poverty, environment and climate change consideration into social
mobilization tools such as REFLECT courses, income generation activities, and
planning and monitoring processes