BASELINE STUDY (2008-09)Linking-Livelihoods & Deepening Grassroots Governance for Adaptation to Livelihood Security and Climate Change in Eco-fragile Areas of Orissa In the districts of Balangir, Nuapada, Keonjahr and MayurbhanjOrissaStudy conducted byUDYAMA & Network PartnersAscent Development Services, BhubaneswarSupported bySir Dorabji Tata Trust (Mumbai, India)

Objective of the Baseline StudyHow much informed and enabled are the community to access benefits of government and non-government schemesHow various schemes help to Improve quality of life and reduce BPL level, distress migration of poor families and welfare of economic excludes What are the processes to Enable local community to have economic and ecological gains through self empowerment process anProcesses to track and acknowledge enhancement of social justice for livelihood security, food security and entitlement benefits Identify best coping mechanisms ensured and enlarged at local level to live with dignity, create safety nets for energy conservation and use of adaptive tools for eco restoration and manage disasters like climatic changes and global warming.

Sample Frame for the studyA total of 61 villages were large sampled from 308 villages in 52 gram panchayats form 4 project districtsThe villages were random numbered using random integer assigning software and villages were renamed as S-1, S-2 and S-3 as per permissible sample number of villages to be studiedNearly 20% of the villages were sampled to moderate mean errors from 10% sample) From each village, fixed 20 number of households (proportionate sampling would be exhaustive) were selected on interval-based stratified sampling. This ensures representation of all households from all hamlets, from all caste and religion groups and from all welfare groups whether rich or poor

Actual Field Implementation of SampleDuring actual implementation of the randomly drawn sample as in table above, the number and names of village was aligned due to more number of hamlets (141 villages and hamlets were surveyed in place of 61 revenue villages)

Meeting with Partner NGOsMeeting at Balangir and Keonjhar: In separate 2 meetings at Balangir and Keonjhar which was conducted for 2 days each, all the partners attending the meeting discussed on the understand the project and its purpose. The PNGOs discussed the proposal and its objectives and outcomes in detailed manner. Need for assessment of the current situation (Baseline assessment): All the participants emphasized that various parameters should be assessed for its current situation. These important parameters if assessed and recorded were thought to be a benchmark to select/ guide our intervention with priority and can be used as a comparison scale to assess the effectiveness of our activities.

Broad parameters assessed in the study:List of Developmental interventions (Livelihood, Environment, Education, Health, Infrastructure etc)Schemes and interventions in operation in the project areasBenefits and norms for operation of the schemesAccessing the schemes: process, comfort and beneficiary satisfactionEffectiveness of the ongoing and available schemesAwareness and satisfaction level of the community on various schemes beneficiariesEmergency needs of the community and targeting of potential schemesPrioritization of activities and schemes to be taken up to yield outcomes as desired in the proposal

Participatory Listing of developmental Schemes (Flagship Schemes)PDS: Public Distribution SystemMadhubabu Pension (Old Age Pension-OAP)Calamities Relief GrantNRHM- Pregnant Women Care/ Janani Surakhya etc)MDM (Mid-day meal)IAY (Indira Awas Yojana)WATSAN- RWSSPani Panchayat (WUA- Water User Association)Agro-Forestry, Social Forestry etcNHM (Hort Mission)Basundhara/ Mo Jami Mo Diha yojanaFRA scheme (Forest Rights Act)R&R (Rehabilitation and Resettlement)NREGS (National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme)SSA (Sarv Sikhya Abhiyan)TRW (Tribal Rural Welfare) SchemeSGSY (Swarn Jayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana)PMRY (Pradhan Mantri Rojgar Yojana)Agriculture loan/ subsidy schemes/ Dairy loan/ subsidy schemes/Goat/ Poultry loan/ subsidy schemes/ Fish culture loan (Pisci-culture) schemesBiju Kutir Jyoti (for villages with 100hh))

Lead questions implemented with sample respondents Do you know about the scheme?From whom you got the information?Which Office & Officer, you need to go to avails benefits of this scheme?How many in your family are eligible to get benefits from this scheme?If you have scheme related document or a card? (Verify the doc/card)Steps you have to take to get benefits of the scheme? Steps.?Do you get benefits as per norms? Gaps in Benefits (vs norms)Various problems you face to get benefits of the scheme?What you should do to solve the problem?Describe 2 merits of the schemeSatisfaction level for the scheme (Bad-1, Medium-2, Good-3)

General Findings:

Key Questions

General Finding

1. Do you know about the scheme?

Yes- 34%

No- 52%

No Response- 14%

2. From whom you got the information?

Teacher/ Anganwadi Worker/Govt. Staffs- 36%

NGO staffs- 24%

Neighbors/Friends- 27%

No response-13%

3. Which Office & Officer, you need to go to avails benefits of this scheme?

Assertive (Named Correct persons)- 28%

Non-Assertive (Incorrect)- 53%

No Response- 19%

[72% lack awareness on the issue]

4. How many in your family are eligible to get benefits from this scheme?

Assertive (Correct)- 13%

Assertive (Incorrect)- 59%

Dont Know- 17%

No Answer- 11%

5. If you have scheme related document or a card? (Verify the doc/card)

Qualitative analysis

6. Steps you have to take to get benefits of the scheme? Steps.?

Qualitative analysis

7. Do you get benefits as per norms? Gaps in Benefits (vs norms)

Qualitative analysis

8. Various problems you face to get benefits of the scheme?

Qualitative analysis

9. What you should do to solve the problem?

Qualitative analysis

10. Describe 2 merits of the scheme

Qualitative analysis

11. Satisfaction level for the scheme (Bad-1, Medium-2, Good-3)

Bad (1)- 36%

Medium (2)- 38%

Good (3)- 17%

No Answer- 9%

Recommendations:Need of intensive village level scheme education to address Gross illiteracy of the community about the developmental schemes vis--vis their problems that can be solved through these schemesNeed of facilitating agency to support and handhold them for reaching to the departments implementing the schemes, helping the beneficiary to make necessary discussion with the office bearers in charge, and taking necessary steps for convergence/ accessing these schemes.Priority for Convergence with schemes: NREGS, Land and Water Management, Horticulture Mission project and PDS, Old Age Pension, FRA implementation, SJSY and Livestock development schemes need more emphasis involving community groups like VDC and SHGsNGOs and implementing agencies need to develop Micro-plan for each village at household level to identify basic livelihood issues and plan for linkages. The project should be planned with specifically set targets rather than generic plan for facilitation

Accountability Indicators for the implementing agencyRegular Village Development Meeting with reference to various such schemesEach household participating in the Village Development Meetings and putting his/her problemsParticipation of Scheme and Development Officers (govt/ non-govt) in Village Development meetingsWeaker Section Participation planning and decision making Visit to departments and offices and claim for schemesImprovement in General Wellbeing

Scheme wise Efficiency and SHPI FeedbackGroup work

District wise NGO working on the HandoutsPresentation of District Wise Group WorkSummary

Presentation of District Wise Group Work