The Independent Commission for People’s Rights & DevelopmentThe Independent Commission for People’s Rights & DevelopmentThe Independent Commission for People’s Rights & DevelopmentThe Independent Commission for People’s Rights & DevelopmentThe Independent Commission for People’s Rights & Development

NEWSLETTERIssue No. 7 June, 2007

CITIZENS’ REPORT CARD ON DEVELOPMENT

Challenges of Governance

Citizens are concerned today ever than more aboutthe "Challenges of Governance". Be it the"pol i t ics of development" , the"industrialization versus agrarian" debate, thedynamics of the cit izens’ role in monitoringgovernance are transforming dramatically. With a9% growth rate but 830 million living at Rs. 20 aday (Mega Survey by National Commission forEnterprises in the Unorganized Sector (NCEUS),a government-affiliated body), growing inequitiesand parallel growth process seem evident. Nolonger is the citizen a bystander. She wants avoice and a voice that can be heard loud andclear by the powers that be, with solutions.

The Independent Commission for People'sRights and Development ( ICPRD) i sspearheading a unique concept of "Citizens'Interface" with a Report on Governance throughits MPs/MLAs’ Exposure Visit Scheme that isbeing initiated by an NGO for the first time in thecountry. Through Round table meetings, itbrings citizens' concerns from the backburnerto the fore . A mechanism wherebygovernment’s mid-course correction can bepossible. Four such Citizens’ Interfaces havebeen successful ly held s ince 2005 inBangalore, Rajasthan, Orissa and Pondicherry.Over 70 MPs/MLAs have participated in the roundtables. In the current Parliament, around 10%have been part of the activities. Over 100 media,80 eminent citizens/NGOs and 22 MPs/MLAs haveparticipated in the 4 interfaces in 2 years.

Thus, the Governed and the Citizen are togetherforging a platform for interface "on solutions tothe new challenges that coalition democracy

and globalization are throwing up." The 2007in ter faces which were he ld in Or issa andPuducherry have been popular and burgeoned withboth MPs and citizens pressuring ICPRD for "aspace to participate". The time of reckoning forthe Indian Citizen has indeed come!

Objectives of the interfaces

• To explore the possible mechanisms toins t i tu t iona l i ze Par l iamentar ians /Legislative/civil society interactions onbehalf of the poor/women/vulnerable.

• Assessment by MPs/MLAs and Citizenstogether on the Cur ren t S ta tus o fGovernance.

• To rev iew the cur ren t s ta tus o fdevelopment programmes with relevanceto progress, innovation, outcomes andchallenges.

At the Orissa Citizens’ Interface (April 2007),the Mayor of Bhubaneswar Munic ipalCorporation (BMC), Mr. Mihir Mohanty, held aninefficient bureaucracy as one of the biggesthindrances for development in Orissa, terming thebureaucracy as a “burden inherited from theBri t ish”. Mrs. Kamal ini , Chairperson, StateWomen’s Commission, Puducherry, in thePuducherry interface observed that the talent ofwomen shou ld be tapped fo r the overa l ldevelopment of society. She was of the view thatempowering women would go a long way inpromoting social justice and harmony. Mrs. SayeeKumar i , Pres ident , Puducher ry Women’sConference, in the Puducherry interface opined

Citizens’ interface: Building aNetwork of Parliamentarians/Legislators for Development - MPs’Exposure Visits

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS• Citizensí Interface ñ 2007• Public Expenditure and Investment on Women:

Outcomes in Bihar? ñ Nandini Azad• Trailblazing Micro-finance Movement of Tribal

Women in Jharkhand ñ Preventing AgriculturalDistress and Stemming Naxalism

• Social Audit of National Rural Employment GuaranteeScheme (NREGS) in Jharkhand

• ABOUT US

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day time, did they become partners vs citizens?An interesting intervention was the request for aSenior Citizens’ Home for which the sitting LokSabha MP agreed to pay for the building, if theyhad the land. On the devolution of Panchayats,the issue was very clear. The third tier had beendenied a constitutional right in spite of havingbeen elected with powers/resources as theMLAs felt that they would lose the above(Pondicherry having tiny constituencies) dueto conflict of interest. The Rajya Sabha MPfrom the Congress agreed alongwith the otherMPs to take it up with the Union Panchayati RajMinister. On sex tourism which was growing,the women activists had an effective interfacewith the MPs, who agreed to speak to the seniorpolice officials and the GOI for resources forrehabilitation of trafficked women. Duringdeliberations the point was brought out thatGovernment needs to have greater consultativeprocess with other parties/MPs, State Citizens inall departments on major issues (ports/tsunamirehabilitation/satellite towns etc.). Mr. Auro Fillio,CEO of the Crafts and Associates PondicherryAction Network observed that “Port Developmentprogramme should be considered only afterstudying the outcomes, strength, opportunities andthreats of the project.”

that muscle, money power and male dominationprevent women from taking active part in politics.Mrs Nami ta Panda, Cha i rperson, S ta teCommission on Women, Orissa in the Orissainterface spoke on the impact of natural disasterson women, emphasizing that women were usuallythe worst sufferers during and after a naturalcalamity. Ch. Lal Singh, MP from Jammu andKashmir (INC) in the Bangalore interface said thatIAS and IPS officers have put India in the docksince they often plan with little basic or practicalknowledge. Somet imes they are p laced asreturning off icers without understanding theelectoral process.

Dr. Nandini Azad, Member-Secretary, ICPRD,speaking at the workshop.

Outcomes

At the Jaipur Interface, Mr. R. K. Poddar fromConfederation of Indian Industry (CII) raisedvery basic questions on “the outcomes”, suchas, ‘Are we getting our basics right?’ And wouldindustry want to be part of public/ privatepartnership if it’s funds are not reaching desiredoutcomes? He raised a very pertinent point – “If Iam going to give something to the govt. and I knowthat not even 10% of it is going to percolate to thepeople, do you think I have a will to spend thatmoney. May be not.”

Evolving Interfaces

The Pondicherry interface was a maturing of thecitizens’ mechanism into a real interface. Thesitting Lok Sabha MP, Shri M. Ramadass, RajyaSabha MPs Shri V. Narayansamy and Smt.Prema Cariappa, Leader of Opposition, andfour parties were represented. A citizen decriedthat while MPs discussed issues with fervourdifferently from varied political standpoints in the

Citizens’ interface with MPs/MLAs at Puducherry, April 2007.Seen are participants representing a broad spectrum of

society: Civil Society, NGOs, Government officials,Intellectuals and Media alongwith visiting MPs/MLAs.

Dr. Nandini Azad, Member-Secretary, ICPRDemphasized that Governance is about citizens’involvement, if we believe “Governments are bypeople.” She added that as a public citizenspodium ICPRD in ter face was d i f ferent , aninteractive platform. We can express to eachother, learn from each other, strengthen eachother. This is a new trend that is emerging.There is no MP versus citizen, but together “fordevelopment” - interactive and cooperative

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effort where we can understand each otherbetter – start communicating, petitioning,caucusing, and using each other. Very rightly,a young Member of Parliament said - Yes,outcomes. This is the beginning of an interface– outcomes will take time, and delivery is somuch in one’s mind”.

THIRD MPS’ EXPOSURE VISIT: REPORT

ICPRD Citizens’ Interface at Bhubaneswar,Orissa – April 16, 2007

Issues that emerged for discussion at theOrissa Citizens’ Interface were:

• Industrialization in rural/agrarian society• Women in a transitional society• Governance issues including Challenges

of Fifth Schedule areas

Welcoming the MPs/MLAs, academicians, civilsociety members, media and others during the thirdInterface of ICPRD, Dr Nandini Azad, Member-Secretary, ICPRD said that the growingmarginalization of the poor and other vulnerablesections of the society on development issuesnecessitates joining of hands of both MPs andCitizens for good governance such as politicians,media, public and civil Society to strengthendemocracy.

Stating that poverty reduction continued to be apolitical challenge in India, Dr Azad said that allefforts should be made to make the lives of thevulnerable, bearable. Like Orissa, various other stateslike Jharkhand, Bihar, and West Bengal etc. are facingsimilar problems like Naxalism, poverty, gender-

based violence etc., she said. She concluded bystating that the expected outcome of thediscussion was to chalk out developmentsolutions and strategy, which are enforceable;and make Governance accountable to the poorand citizens.

The Meeting of Minds: Morning Session

Eminent citizens representing a wide spectrum ofsociety - media, social sciences, government,presented their views on various governanceissues in the state of Orissa.

Mr. Nageshwar Patnaik,Economic Times, Bhubaneswar

Orissa: A State of Paradoxes?

‘Though Orissa is rich in all kinds of resources,yet it remains one the poorest of the country.Though Orissa topped the growth rate at 8.5%in the year 2004-05, higher than the nationalaverage of 8%, the number of people below thepoverty line (BPL) is the highest in the State.Despite Orissa having the richest mineralresources in the count ry on ly 1% of i t sresources are presently being used!’

Mr. N. PatnaikEconomic Times

Mr. Nageshwar Patnaik s ta ted tha t theGovernment had fa i led to fo rmula te anappropriate Natural Resources Managementpolicy. According to him, though the StateGovernment has been propagating the mantra ofindustrialization in the recent years, it has beenneglecting the agricultural sector where thecompound growth rate is negative. A specialagricultural policy needs to be adopted here too,he stated. Although four-lakh crore investmentshas been proposed in Orissa so far, yet megainvestment projects have been meeting stif fresistance, said Mr. Patnaik, mostly because theaffected people have never been considered asequity holders in their own land.

The State has also fai led miserably to usetechnology required for agriculture. ModernTechnology can have a tremendous impact onforestry, food processing and other allied industryin Orissa. Value addition can be easily done toagriculture products by introducing the latesttechnology. The environment and human rightsissues have also been neglected, Mr. Patnaikadded.

Citizens’ interface with MPs/MLAs at Bhubaneswar, Orissa,April 2007. Seen are Shri A. Ravichandran, (MDMK) Lok

Sabha MP from Tamilnadu, Dr. Girdhar Gamang, (Congress)Lok Sabha MP from Orissa, Dr. Nandini Azad, Member-

Secretary, ICPRD, Smt. Sugnana Kumari Deo, (BJD) MLAfrom Orissa, Shri Narasingha Mishra, (Congress) MLA andLeader of Opposition in Orissa Assembly, Shri Tathagata

Satpathy, (BJD) Lok Sabha MP from Orissa.

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He concluded by saying that a paradigm shiftin the development approach is needed for astate like Orissa to prosper, despite beingendowed with abundant natural resources.

Tribal Development in Orissa : A Synoptic ViewProf. L. Mahapatra, former Vice Chancellor andAnthropologist

Prof. L. Mahapatra traced the history of the tribalsin Orissa and noted that earlier there was noconfrontation between the tribals and non-tribalpeople in Orissa. However, due to “non-governanceand mis-governance,” one finds the tribal-non-tribaljuxtaposition since the colonial times.

No Safeguards for Tribal Displacees

‘Neither the government - nor the bureaucracyimplement the very principles they have devisedfor safeguarding the interest of the tr ibaldisplacees. For example, the declared 2000policy of bestowing ownership of land rights in5th Schedule areas and sub-plan areas up to 30slope of the h i l l would benef i t the t r iba ldisplaces. However, these rights have not beengiven as the revenue settlement rules had notbeen finalized and implemented even in 2005.’

Prof. L. K. Mahapatra

Former Vice Chancellor and Anthropologist

Most of the anomalies could be sorted out eitherby instituting fast courts or Gram Nayalayas asprovided in the Bill passed by the Central Govt.recent ly which would fol low summary legalprocedures for criminal and civil cases in tribalareas, he suggested.

Mr. S. B. Mishra, former Chief Secretary ofOrissa

Speaking on the nat ional issue of Specia lEconomic Zones (SEZs), former Chief Secretaryof Orissa, Mr. S. B. Mishra said that since MPshave passed th is law, they should also beanswerable to the people of its implications.

SEZs: Boon or bane for IndustrialDevelopment?

Giving a comparative profile of SEZs in Chinaand in India, Mr. Mishra said that although theIndian SEZs have been modeled after China,they seem a total distortion of the Chinesemodels. While China has only six massive SEZswith state-of-the-art technology and modernfacilities, India has proposals for 765, out ofwhich 17 have been functioning and 234 caseshave been cleared, he informed.

It’s a free for all kind of situation in India, whereindustrial houses and builders are competing toown SEZs, he said. While China has sixspecialized SEZs with modern infrastructure andfacilities, in India the location could be anywhereand also could go as low as 10 hectares for ITrelated ventures. Also, in China the SEZs area conglomerate of several industries, but inIndia it is given to single companies, which doesnot even have the capabi l i ty to developinfrastructure needed in the areas. Whereas thetax concession in China is for only two yearswith 50% discount in the next two years, in Indiathere is 100% tax concession for companies forfive years and 50% for the next five years.

Mr. S. B. MishraFormer Chief Secretary, Orissa

Mr. Mishra said that the ser ious problemsassociated with land acquisition for SEZs whichhas been causing human deprivation needs to bedebated or discussed by the government beforepassing the law. He also spoke on the colossalloss o f revenue fo r the s ta te w i thoutcommensurate benefits due to the formation ofuncontrolled SEZs. Mr. Mishra suggested that onlya very few, large-sized SEZs with all the moderninfrastructure should be allowed by the governmentat the eastern and western coasts.

Mr. Ashok Das,senior media person

Elaborating on the importance of media, Mr. AshokDas said that media has the power to affecteveryday life. Besides providing the much requiredsupport for large-scale social changes, it alsoprovides information, generates public opinion andcreates awareness, he opined. However, with thechanging socio-economic scenario, there has beena visible dip in the coverage of development issuesin the media.

Media Activism: Shrinking space

‘A survey by an Orissa based NGO, CYSD in1999, on the coverage of development issuesin the print media of the State shows that Oriyadail ies gave 4% coverage to developmentissues. The English media performed evendismally devoting even less than 1% space todevelopment related articles and issues. Mediaseems to be obsessed with coverage of politics,sports, entertainment, advertisements etc andconcentrates on development issues only aftera disaster has struck or something drastic

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occurs. Dissemination of welfare schemes,impact of a development project etc are seldomgiven space. Stories need to be covered on asustained basis to have the desired impact.When the voices of 40% of India 'smarginalized sections remain unheard, thenhow can we talk of their development?’

Mr. Ashok DasSenior Media Person, Bhubaneswar

Narrating an example, Mr. Das said that state newsand current affairs programmes in the regionalchannel had to be discontinued due to a policydecision by the Prasar Bharati. Govt. Policiestoo have an impact on the coverage of developmentissues. He appealed to the Parliamentarians thatmedia related policies have to be amended andframed in such a way as to promote and encouragethe coverage of development programmes.

Status of women in OrissaMrs Namita Panda, Chairperson, StateCommission on Women, Orissa

Giving an overview of the Status of women inOrissa, Mrs. Panda said that literacy, especiallyof the disadvantaged women, was a prerequisitefor their development. Observing that nearly 50%of female population in Orissa were illiterate, Mrs.Panda said that the literacy rate was even lessthat 21% in backward districts like Nawrangpur,Malkangiri etc. Speaking on the impact of naturaldisasters on women, Mrs. Panda said that womenwere usually the worst sufferers during and aftera natural calamity. Poor access to information, risein vulnerability to sexual crime, exploitation andlack of space make their position more vulnerable,she observed. However, development has to becustomized for women living in interior and tribalareas in their own cultural context, she reiterated,adding that such women should not feel alienatedand receive education in their own language.

Development & Displacement: An alternativemodelMr. Balaji Pandey, Director, Institute ofSocio-Economic Development (ISED)

Mr. Pandey spoke on his research experiencesspanning a decade on displaced people due toindustrialization. Stating that a sensitive and pro-people system was highly required to look intothe Resettlement & Rehabilitation (R&R) policy,Mr. Pandey said that the state should notcont inue being obl iv ious to the people ’sproblems and the ground realities. Based on his

experiences and research on displacees in 14development projects in Orissa, he said thatnone of the promises made by the governmentto the affected people in providing education,employment, health, drinking water facilities etchave been fulfilled. If the present problems ofthe affected people are not rectified, it will resultin a bigger crisis.

Mr. Balaji PandeyDirector, ISED

Orissa was not the only state where people havelost faith and trust in the state, Mr. Pandeycontinued. Displacees throughout the countryseem to have little faith in government’s rehabmeasures. Lamenting the lack of genuine andauthent ic in format ion, Mr. Pandey said noinformation on the impact of mining and otherindustrialization process exists, based on whichpolicies can be formulated in the future. It's hightime that the impact has to be assessed and thedata needs to be monitored.

Babudom and development bottlenecks inOrissaMr. Mihir Mohanty, Mayor, BhubaneswarMunicipal Corporation (BMC)

An inefficient bureaucracy is one of the biggesthindrances for development in Orissa. Thebureaucracy is a “burden inherited from theBritish”. Instead of changing with the times, theadministration is proving to be one of the biggestbottlenecks in the development process, saidMr. Mihir Mohanty.

He accused administrators of having an upperhand and not providing adequate support topolitical representatives. Speaking further onadministrative reforms, Mr. Mohanty suggestedthe following:

• He suggested the practice of appointingprofessionals in top jobs rather then seniorbureaucrats, so that a healthy competitionpreva i ls and des i red resu l ts can beachieved.

• "Reform, perform or per ish" was themessage given by Mr. Mohanty for theinefficient bureaucracy. Education andtraining of bureaucrats is highly necessary,he said.

• Centers o f good governance wherebureaucrats can be trained should bepromoted.

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• Reduction in red tapism, accountability etcshould also be propagated among thebureaucrats, failing which they would betaken to task.

• Besides, the proactive role of civil societyorganizations and the creation of an urbancadre , med ia ac t iv ism in c r i t i ca l l yanalyzing the inefficient bureaucrats is alsoimportant.

Mr. Mihir MohantyMayor, Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation

Adivasi Rights: Literacy movement in KBKdistrictsMr. B. B. Patnaik, eminent Oriya writer

Speaking on the literacy movement among tribalwomen, Mr. B. B. Patnaik said that despite severalattempts by the govt. and the civil society, a largenumber of Adivasi or tribal women continue toremain illiterate. Emphasizing the role of educationin development, he said that in Bolangir districtnearly 4000 nominations papers from women wererejected because the applicants were not literate.As a suggestion, he proposed an appropriatemethod for frequently used tribal words to beintegrated in the mainstream Oriya language sothat it can be perceived better by the tribals. Heconcluded by saying that none of the developmentpolicies can be successfully implemented unlesspeople are educated.

Politics of Development in OrissaMr. Prafulla Das, The Hindu, Bhubaneswar

Mr. Das remarked that it was unfair to say thatthe media was only responsible for highlightingdevelopment issues, because i t is not theirresponsibility alone. Moreover, the media has itsown constraints and compulsions which is hardlydebated, he said. Adding that rather than holdingthe media accountable, the role of governmentshould be critically analyzed. Mr. Das said thatthough 45 MOUs have been signed for steel plantsso far in Or issa, of which 20 have star tedproduction, yet no guidelines or policy frameworkhas been prepared by the government. A separateR&R Directorate is yet to be established despitethe government's assurance, he added.

Admin is t ra to rs , who are a t the he lm o fdevelopment projects, need to be called to suchinterfaces and be answerable to the citizens forthe failure of govt. programmes.

Mr. Prafulla DasThe Hindu, Bhubaneswar

Response of MPs/MLAs

Dr. Giridhar Gamang, Ex-Chief Minister ofOrissa and MP: He had the following solutions tooffer

• The Government, bureaucracy and thepeople are all parts of a whole. Their roleshould be complementary.

• Displacement and growth should not beconfl ict ing, a single l ine administrativestructure needs to be promoted.

• Politics is the "administration of principles,"and not pursuing one's own interest andagenda.

• It's significant for politicians to understandthat whatever they do should be acceptableto the people. Being elected is not the mostimportant thing, being accepted is.

• Escapism, blaming each other and shiftingresponsibility - have become the norm. Butinstead of pointing fingers at each other, wemust debate on the solutions. It's importantto know to whom the recommendations ofthe interface shall be sent to make it moreeffective.

Mr. Tathagata Satpathy, MP:

Mr. Satpathy declared that the forest cover hasdepleted in a large way and has come down from40% to 13% in Orissa, he informed. We do notwant a repetition of South American and Africanexperience where the societies have becomedisturbed, completely robbed of their naturalresources, he added. Mr. Satpathy endorsed for anatural resource policy in Orissa. But it's importantto know who would draft the policy, recruit theofficials and implement it.

Mr. Narasingha Mishra, MLA, Orissa, Dy.leader of CLP

As a political representative of Bolangir districtfrom the KBK area, one of the poorest in thecountry, Mr. Mishra apprised the participants aboutthe numerous socio-economic problems afflictingthe marginalized districts of Orissa.

How can we think of the development of thestate when people from eight districts inOrissa do not live like humans and wherestarvation deaths, husbands mortgaging theirwives, mothers selling their children stilloccur, he questioned. Displaced people havealways been overlooked. People displaced in theHirakud Dam Project are yet to be rehabilitated,

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• Innovative models of development have tobe developed rather than aping othermodels.

• Bureaucracy is only an instrument in thehands of political leadership who areakin to artisans. Hence, it’s up to thepolitical leaders to utilize the expertise ofbureaucra ts e f fec t i ve ly . But theadministrators have to move with the timesand not be rigid in their way of functioning.

Mr. A. RavichandranMP, MDMK, Tamilnadu

Discussions

Post presentat ions and comments from theParliamentarians and legislators, the interfacewitnessed some interesting discussions anddebate. Some of the observations made by theparticipants are:

• Why large projects in Orissa are being metwith resistance? Mostly because grassrootspolitics in Orissa has failed and politicalrepresenta t ives have been unable toconv ince the peop le and deve lop aconsensus.

• Administrative reforms are required but soalso is social leadership where politiciansidentify the problems of the people and areaccepted by them.

• The Cit izens of Orissa, media and theintelligentsia have to be more vocal. Noenlightened middle class or academician ora very voca l med ia in Or issa seemsavailable. Inspite of economic reforms,poverty has not been reduced in Orissa. Outof the 531 mining leases, hardly 1-5%Oriyas have a stake in it. A vibrant mediaand public should highlight and protestagainst such issues.

• Despite discussions and debates, laws arepassed or not passed. People are notin fo rmed about the i r benef i t s o rrepercussions. But it's up to the politicalrepresentatives of that area to inform thepeople.

• The quality of discussions and decorum ofpolitical leaders has gone down very muchin the Parliament and Assembly. Often,people do not have respect for politicalrepresentatives. Politicians have now to winback the peop le 's respec t , t rus t andconfidence.

• Politicians and media are all mirrors ofsociety and reflect the trends.

• How long we can describe Orissa as a state of

said Mr. Mishra. People seem to have lost faithin democracy and when frustrated people taketo violence or agitate. A new beginning isneeded. In a democracy, it is the people'srepresentatives who have to be answerable tothe people and not the bureaucrats, opined Mr.Mishra.

Mr. Narasingha MishraMLA, Orissa, Dy. Leader of CLP

He concluded by saying that the completeoverhaul of the present system was needed andtha t be fore any th ing can be cons t ruc ted ,something has to be destroyed.

Mrs. Sugnana Kumari Deo, MLA

She said that the lack of basic infrastructure in theKBK areas in Orissa prevented people from servingand investing there. Hence, the government should firstdevelop basic infrastructure for both the citizens andthe government officials. Besides, development ofagriculture is the need of the hour in Orissa, she opined.Various loopholes in the wage structure for dailylabourers should be looked at, and farm labourers shouldbe given adequate wages. She also advocated theformation of Farmers' Clubs in Orissa so that farmersbe given due importance and support. She ended on apositive note saying that the potential fordevelopment in Orissa is indeed high. However,alongwith the govt. the people themselves shouldtake charge, she said giving successful examplesof her own constituency in Khallikote.

Mr. A. Ravichandran, MP

The young MDMK MP from Tamilnadu, expressedhis failure in not being able to comprehend thereason behind Orissa's underdevelopment despitebeing endowed with rich natural resources likeminerals, water etc. The key lies in framing a propernatural resource management policy and utilizingthe natural wealth, he proposed. Speaking onadministrative reforms, he said that managementof administrators was crucial for development ofa state firmly and with accountability.

Mr. Ravichandran advocated the followingsuggestions:

• Development without a human face isbound to create aggression among thepeop le . Hence, a l l deve lopmentprogrammes should be framed keeping thepeople’s interest in mind, he said. Socialleadership is also important.

• Development of agriculture is critical to theprogress of Orissa.

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poverty among plenty? How can there beindustrialization without displacement? Ensurethe participation of people and win theirconfidence and be transparent. Forcefulimposition creates resistance among people.There should not be any resistance or hesitationto talk to the people on the part of theGovernment.

• Why do people's representative fear to becharge sheeted while protecting their ownpeople? The Political culture of Orissa doesn'tallow it: neither are people willing to take it as amass movement. People look up to the leadersbut if leaders express their helplessness, whatcan people do? If you are representing the people,then it's up to you to take it to the people.(observed to MPs/MLAs).

• In ter face is requi red but not po l i t ica lover tones. Ident i fy the shor t fa l ls andsolutions rather than blaming each other.Convert ideas into actions.

gathering of tribals & he told them that thesedams are "the temples of modern India". Healso inv i ted a t r iba l woman f rom thegathering to inaugurate the dam. After thirtyyears of the inauguration of DVC dam, thatwoman has a photograph with Pandit Nehruin her home, but she has not a single bulbof electricity while the DVC power is beingsupplied to West Bengal, Bihar and otherparts of India!'

"The Pipervara Kuleri in Jharkhand suppliedpower to the people of Delhi, but the people whowere displaced from Pipervara Kuleri arebeggars in the streets of Ranchi,” he remarked.

Prof. S. S. SinghXavier Institute of Management

Bhubaneswar

“Those who have been displaced due to thedevelopment efforts, the majority of them i.e. 40%of the displaced persons are in big cities of India,”he added. Thus development must not lead todeprivation and displacement. Deprivation is abet te r te rm fo r the word d isp lacement , ”emphasized Prof. Singh.

He also gave a historical overview of the socialmovements in Orissa. The problem is that theseactivists, action groups, NGOs or say non-profitgroups who are with the people are effective atthe micro level but not often at macro level, hefelt. Besides these, the status factor also playsan important role. Once these NGOs assume thecharacter of elitist groups, they no more associatethemselves with the people’s problems and showlittle interest to come with the people’s issues tothe fore-front.

Health Status of Orissa, including marginalizedsections like poor and tribalsDr. Almash Ali, Senor Advisor, PopulationFoundation of IndiaHe began by saying that the health status of acountry is a reflection of the prevalent socio-economic condition and is influenced by a varietyof factors like the level of income, sanitation, watersupply, nutrition, education etc. It’s also affectedby coverage, access , a f fo rdab i l i t y andaccessibility of basic health services, he added.Giving a summary of the health status of thepopulation in Orissa, he informed that perhaps inno other state in the country it is as adversely

Citizens’ interface with MPs/MLAs at Orissa, April 2007. Seenare participants representing a broad spectrum of society: CivilSociety , NGOs, Government officials, Intellectuals and Media

alongwith visiting MPs/MLAs.

Voices from the Ground: Afternoon Session

In the afternoon session, Civil Society and NGOrepresentatives gave an overview of the social problemsof the state.

Social Movements in Orissa: An overviewProf. S. S. Singh, Xavier Institute of Management

Narrating several instances, Prof. Singh brought to lighthow the "so-called development projects" in certain areashave severely neglected the people of that area andprovided prosperity to the elite population livingelsewhere.

Narrating the experience of an elderly woman,Prof. Singh said: "In the 60s’ when PanditNehru was inaugurating the DVC Mathan Damin present-day Jharkhand, there was a huge

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and lowly placed as that of Orissa in the contextof development. They are the poorest in thecountry (with 39% people below BPL), and themost vulnerable sections are women, SCs/STs,landless and marginalized farmers, artisans andmarine fisher folk. He attributed the poor healthstatus of the people of Orissa to income and humanpoverty, social deprivation, structural inequalitiesin terms of class, caste and sex etc. Other causesof ill health are low levels of education, lessinvestment in health and education sector etc. Dr.Almash Ali emphasized on three aspects of health:Mortality, malaria, and malnutrition. While theInfant Morality Rate (IMR) - at 75/1000 lives births- and Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) are amongthe highest in the country, over one-third childrenare malnourished, he said adding that morbidityhas its roots in communicable diseases in thewhole population. The health problems in Orissaare mostly due to the broad horizontal spectrumof poverty and socio eco inequities which needsto be addressed urgently and holistically, hesuggested.

Human Rights: Missing persons in OrissaMr. Shant i Ranjan Behera , Centre forDemocracy and Human Rights

The White paper on Disappearance was tabled inthe Orissa Legislative Assembly in 2006, whichrevealed that 2984 children and women weremissing in Orissa during 2004 and 2005, Mr.Behera informed the Round Table. In India, 40,000children are missing every year in the country andin Delhi alone, the number is 9,000 per year, headded. Presenting a comparative picture, he saidthat in J&K about 5000-7000 people are reportedmissing today.

Forest ResourcesMr. B. L . Mohanta , Centre for RegionalEducation, Forest and Tourism DevelopmentAgency

Giving an overview of the forest resources inOrissa, Mr. Mohanta said that the state has 43%land mass and forests out of which 17 % is coveredwith dense forests. It's rich in floral diversity andhas several rare and endangered species in fauna.However, there seems to be interdepartmentalgovernment conflict with regard to the collectionof forest produce, which creates problems, hestated. The mafia, many a time, illegally collectthe forest produce and the absence of governmentregulation, control and uniform policy further

complicates the matter of collection and sale offorest resources in Orissa. Proper management,collection and sale of forest resource could resultin better revenue. Instances of conflict betweenanimals and humans have also been increasing inOrissa, said Mr. Mohanta. Unless and until theparticipation of the people in conserving the floraand fauna is ensured, preserving the rich naturaldiversity of Orissa would not be easy.

Gender in Development in OrissaMrs. Shashi Behra, SODA

Speaking about the development of women in India,Mrs. Behera said that it's unfortunate that theNational Women's Reservation in Parliament Billhas not been passed by the Parliamentarians tillnow. Though the decision to ensure 33% work forwomen in employment policies like the NREGAScheme existed, in reality however very few womenwere able to utilize it to their advantage, she said.In Orissa, for eg., it was found that women wereunable to work through the Scheme because theworking condit ions were not conducive, sherevealed. She added that the absence of anycreche in the work area was another issue. Also amajority of marginalized women were unaware ofthe provisions under various government schemes.Irregular and low wage structure also exist. Withregard to health and education sector too, womenare no t cons idered as equa l par tners indevelopment, rued Mrs. Behra.

Child labour in OrissaMr. Ranjan Mohany, Secretary, PECUC

Mr. Mohanty opined that though child labour islinked with poverty, poor education system etc.,he said that there was an urgent need to reviewthe various laws with regard to child labour,especial ly the Child labour, Prohibit ion andRegulation Act. (CLPRA) since there were manyambiguities. Education is a prerequisite to solvethe problem of child labour. Even though Right toeducation from 6-14 years exists, unfortunatelythere is no central legislation. Terming it as a vitalissue, which should not get lost, he urged theParliamentarians to follow it urgently. With regardto Orissa, the state was one of the first to declarea committee that started to spend a certain amountof resources for eradication of child labour, butsadly the present status of the committee is notc lear . No s t ra teg ic ac t ion p lan ex is ts torehabilitate child labourers. Enforcement of CLPRAis also very poor in Orissa, he said.

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Climate Change in OrissaMr. Bimal Pandya, MASS, Sambalpur

In the last 100 years, Orissa has had 91 naturaldisaster years including floods, cyclones,droughts etc, informed Mr. Pandya. Giving anoutline of the climatic changes affecting the state,he said that if the issue remains unaddressed,Orissa would turn into a land of barren mass in150 years. In 13 years, 8% of the state has turnedbarren, he stated quoting a government survey and

at this rate Orissa would lose all its agriculturalland. Speaking on the effect of climatic changes,he said that the agricultural production of all majorcrops, except cotton, has been declining in Orissa.

Concluding Remarks - Dr. Nandini Azad,Member-Secretary, ICPRD

After a vibrant and fruitful discussion, Dr. Azadwrapped up the Citizens’ Interface by saying thatbr inging in the Mayor, MLAs and the SCWChairperson along with MPs, media persons and

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eminent citizens of Orissa was indeed very useful.She opined that the Bhubaneswar Interface hadbeen the most exciting of the three interfaces heldso far yet by ICPRD. Dr. Azad summarized salientissues of the deliberations as follows:

• Historical background indicates tribals andnon-tribals’ peaceful co-existence. But atpresent, conf l ic t is ar is ing due to the"erosion of tribal space".

• Eight per cent growth rate in Orissa, yetafflicted by one of the highest poverty rateof the country.

• Development of agriculture and farmers inOrissa is a necessity at present. Formationof Farmers’ Clubs are essential.

• Creation of a policy on natural resourcesmanagement and environment is vital.

• Are tribals partners/equity holders in theprocess of industrial development? Genuinedata needs to come in.

• Administrative reforms are needed for bettergovernance, as catch phrase by one of theparticipants, "Reform, perform or perish."

• Poverty monitoring and assessment is vitalto analyze the impact of poverty reductionschemes and programmes.

• Deliberating on comparative profi les ofdifferent regions is useful.

• Legislators should bring in norms in PrasarBharti to encourage coverage of developmentrelated stories.

Dr. Azad added that it was significant that theinterface at an individual level brought togetherseveral important persons on to a common platformin this whole campaign for poverty reduction andbetter governance.

Concluding the third exposure visit on building anetwork of parl iamentarians/Legislators/CivilSociety for development, Dr. Nandini Azad,Member-Secretary, ICPRD, conveyed hergratitude and thanks to all the Parliamentarians,Legislators, media persons, NGOs and speakersfor participating in the interface. She suggestedthe formation of a caucus of Governance whereone could express and share inputs with eachother. She also conveyed a special thanks to allthe MLAs of Orissa who highlighted several cuttingedge issues of the state during the round table aswell as the Hon. MPs.

Investment on Women

Public Expenditure and Investment onWomen: Outcomes in Bihar?

Nandini Azad,March 21, 2007

Globalization implies the play of market forces andcommerce and is characterized by the withdrawalof the State from being a major player in theeconomy to that of a facilitator, allowing marketforces to operate. The phenomenon can be viewedboth as an opportunity for poor women as well asone having adverse impact (inflation, kerosene,credit rate, energy, VAT, PDS etc.), depending onthe framework conditions and social safety netsavailable.

The effect of globalization on poor women istermed by NGO activists in the following manner–“with little other possibilities, the only way totrigger poverty reduction efforts is to enhancewomen’s rights to entitlements through communitybased efforts. SHGs seem the mechanism to sharethese responsibilities in this context (withdrawalof subsidies etc.) utilizing “self help” as the catchword. SHGs (Self Help Groups) are really oftenunits of privatization at the grassroots deliveringcredit / health / educat ion / social securi tyservices, etc. Current studies indicate that withouttargeted “empowerment inputs” i.e. gender basedawareness raising, SHGs can at best functionmerely as credit/savings groups.

Pre-entry capital discrimination is a severe andcontinuous phenomenon leading to gender basedsegmentation of the labour markets in India. Poorwomen seem to have little possibilities for mobilityinto the formal sector. Given lack of targetedinvestment on women and specified outcomes, theinformal sector is thus where they are moving intolarge numbers – working as marginal workers(indicating an increasing incidence of feminizedpoverty). Any possible increases into the formalsector seem well nigh impossible without targeted

*1Keynote address delivered at the ìWomenís Empowerment andGlobalization: Challenges for the 21st Centuryî, held on 17-18thMarch, 2007 at T.N.B. College, Bhagalpur.2 Co-organized by ICPRD/ T.N.B. College, Bhagalpur3151 participants participated in the two-day workshop whichincluded Resource persons, Social activists, Economists,Academicians, University representatives and ICPRD staff.

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skill formation or packages to enhance upward the‘magic’ figure of 12% women in the formal sector(for several decades now). Without breaking thisimpasse, increased growth may wel lmarginalize poor women’s employment, ifappropriate security nets are not in place (asthe NCUI has emphasized recently).

The long flogged feminization of poverty in Indiadoes not seem to transform itself into “genderinclusive growth”. The 11th Plan’s call for“gender balancing” needs to be viewed in thecontext of the steady decline of sex ratio in theso-called developed States, calling for immediatereview of macro policies. Gender needs not onlyto be balanced but “invested” on. This needsto be adequately attended to in the specificsectoral chapters of the above plan, indicating thatthe 9% growth may indeed bypass women orwomen will fail to benefit from it (as before) or itmay even affect them (and the poor) adversely inseveral spheres. Illustrations of lack of socialsafety nets leading to conflict and violence duringSAP are available in Bihar, with the BPL and APLprotesting. “The poor in Bihar are protestingagainst their names being struck off the BPL list(Begusarai district), depriving them of benefitsunder a host of poverty-alleviation schemes.Among the Above Poverty Line families (APL) theanger against the new PDS system of coupons isequally palpable (Patna district). It cuts by halftheir access to what’s among the most preciouscommodities in a perennially power-starved State:cheap kerosene”. (Indian Express dated March 20,2007).

BIHAR

In the case o f Bihar as per the na t iona lconsultation title – it would be useful to examinethe macro picture before decid ing whether“globalization or women’s empowerment” inthe current scenario, can be real possibilities. Isubmit few macro level indicators on Bihar beforeyou:

• Every 8th Indian is from Bihar (out of Bihar,it seems their work performance is positivelydifferent).

• Per capita (Rs. 5445) is 1/4th that of Indianaverage (Rs. 17,8233 – (2001 census).

• Rural poverty ratio is 43% while India is 23%.• Literacy for women is 33% while male is

60.5%.

• It ranks last in HDI indicators (15th).

Though stat ist ics al l seem to chal lenge the

development of Bihar, it is clear that there is a

histor ica l perspect ive to the poor agrar ian

development, including

• Bihar being a permanent settlement areaduring colonial times (and 1857 mutinylocat ions) meant discr iminatory publ icinvestment by colonial powers in theseareas. The head start was thus poorcompared to other states.

• North Bihar is in the throes of continuousfloods due to rivers flooding from Himalayas– (geographic poverty). This also had asignificant impact on the agrarian economy.

Gender wise Literacy and Enrolment rates inBihar merit a serious consideration.

Consider the following:6-11 yrs - 35% girls are missing from school!11-14 yrs - 80% girls are missing from school!

North Bihar has the highest amount of illiterates –total of 76.2% illiterate women in Bihar (India’saverage is 58.2%). Patna district has the highestfemale literacy (52%) and Kishanganj has thelowest (18.5%). D is t r ic ts w i th Mus l im/SCpopulation tend to see a drop in literacy.

Sex ratio in Bihar has interesting evidence thatindicates that the girl child is indeed born resilient- 923 per 1000 is Bihar’s female-male ratio (Indiais 933). But in the 0-6 years, Bihar has a bettersex ratio than the country average at 938 to 927respectively. However the poor social attitudesand conditions are manifest in the fact that lifeexpectancy is 64.8 in Bihar to 65.9 years for India.Though gains in sex ratio do not seem to havebeen significantly capitalized, IMR in Bihar is alsoabout the Indian average and not very different.Interestingly, all over Bihar in the last decade(2001 census), sex ratio has improved. Lowerpercentage of development and growth seemto suggest better sex ratio?? This needsdetailed probing in comparison to sex ratiodecl ine, for e .g. in Punjab/Haryana ( theeconomically better developed States).

Health

Consider the following

• Only 14% hosp i ta l o r 22% hea l th

professional support for delivery of children.

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• Only 23% contraceptive use by women(NFHS-II 1998-99).

• Anemia is 60%! for women.

Work and Employment

As far as Gender wise Work Participation Rates,

it is serious that while “all female workers”, are

increasing in Bihar –‘main female workers are

declining’, confirming that females as marginalworkers are increasing and form the large pool of

rural informal sector. Male WPR rate have also

consequently declined. Migrant men leave in

search of work leaving behind de facto female

headed households (FHH) (30-40%). FHH have

h igher burden & pover ty inc idence as isdocumented elsewhere. Food insecurity, time &

asset poverty seems to mark female work pattern

(all female headed household typology). Rural

casual labour is also highest among women.

Social Reform

Seclusion ideology / patriarchal traditions often do notallow women mobility (caste, class, gender variablesintersect to make it more intense in Bihar). Further, dowrycan be seen to be the family’s investment on girls / women.A serious change of the family / male attitudes ininvesting on girls’ / women’s education seems thereal answer to Bihar’s development.

Asset / Time Poverty

Further, land titles need to be in women’s names or useof common property resources. Asset /time poverty needto be dealt with alarming out-migration of males from Biharand ‘the use of rights’ (to fuel/fodder/water) becoming moredifficult (time therefore is in paucity for poor women andmore so for FHHs).

Public Expenditure

Approximately 23% of Bihar public expenditure seemson health / education – but the ground level “outcomes”need further examination in the light of the above status.Delivery mechanisms need tightening (i.e. NREGA, MMA,SSA, ICDS). As a tax payer, the citizen in Bihar needsto generate a demand – not expect the state to deliver allgoods and services (check if the teacher is on time orPHC doctor at work - citizens need to assert themselves).The patronage and dependence on the government hasto move from “a jajmani relationship” (patron - client).

Institutional

A separate Department of Woman & Child is essential.Targeted allocations/investment on female literacy if ”sheor he is to be part of a integrated global market” isabsolutely mandatory.

• Economic opportunities for women have to be inthe areas of skill formation, collective action (microenterprises / groups), credit facilities (SHGs/ thrift),market linkages (design / markets).

• Women in PRI’s need to be strengthened bycapacity building. NGOs need to confront Proxies– including political parties. Mere reservation of50% for women in PRIs is often negated when welook at the figures by a ‘Hunger Project Study’.This indicates that nearly 70% of elected womenmembers in Bihar have spouses/family withcriminal records).

• NGOs have to play a greater role advocating withcitizens, being consumers’ watch dog and/ordevelop SHGs in each village (currently only about20-25,000 SHGs exist in Bihar by rough estimates).

Source: NFHS-II (1998-99)

Share of Women in Different Categories of Postsunder PRIs

Indicators of Women’s Empowerment inBihar and India

Social or Economic Reform first?

Pre-entry capital discrimination requires women areinvested in, for as a major public expenditure. Couldwomen in Bihar currently even integrate into thenational systems, before becoming global? (health /education indicators).

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Conclusions

• Social safety nets in Bihar for poor women needsserious review. Women that live in areas of worstforms of poverty require survival packages duringSAP.

• Strengthening “the rule of law” is essential formarkets to operate - there is a place for politicians/NGOs/academicians and “the market separately”.One must allow these to function as independentlyas possible.

• The ‘SHG’ can well nigh be a interim social safetynet as a transitory measure. The current 25,000SHGs should be enhanced ten fold consideringthat around 25 million rural poor women exist inBihar.

• Campaigns on a war footing through media/indigenous folk forms on “Girl child enrolment” aremost vital.

• Capacity building of women in PRIs could alsoslowly change the mind set. Proxy womencandidates have in the past (as documentedelsewhere) been “an initial phenomena” andcontinuous training could well slowly transform proactive engagement of women members (1,00,000or so).

• Public expenditure and outcomes of publicinstitutions in Bihar need review. The Bihar TaskForce in the Planning Commission should bestrengthened with resources to engage in a pro-active role.

Excerpt from ‘Hindustan’ - 18th March, 2007

Not dowry, Invest on girls’ education: NandiniBhagalpur: For Dr. Nandini Azad, the well-acclaimed crusader of people’s rightsin India and abroad, it was a moment of shock and dismay when she learnt of thedeplorable situation in Bihar, (the ancestral home of her husband’s family),when she came to Bhagalpur to deliver the key-note address for a UGC NationalSeminar on the ‘Women’s Empowerment and Globalization – Challenges in the21st century’ organized by the Bhagalpur University. “In ancient times, Biharwas the center of higher learning, she said, but today 81% of its 11-14 year oldgirls are not enrolled in school. Female literacy in Bihar is a mere 33 per centand per capita income not even one-third of the national average. “Nandini Azad was here to speak on globalization trends, but seeing the groundreality she felt it more pertinent to address the issue with reference to thedevelopment in Bihar. She spoke on several issues concerning this issue withour correspondent on the growth of Bihar with special emphasis on eastern

Bihar and Kosi region. ‘One of the greatest proponents of women’sfreedom a 105 years ago, Sarat Chandra Chatterjee (Devdas, Parineeta),had studied in Bhagalpur University (T.N.B. College) and this was theinspiration for her to accept the invitation of Bhagalpur University’,Nandini Azad said. “A feminist pilgrimage”, she added. But the Bhagalpurof today was no different from the writings of Sarat Chandra in the 19th

century. The women here today are as subjugated as they were in his times. Thestatus of health and education of women here is very low as compared to the restof the country, she added. Kishanganj, the most backward region of the countyin terms of education, is also a part of Bihar (18.5% female literacy). Peoplehave to first change their attitudes: the resources invested on dowry for the girlmust instead be diverted for her education, she insisted. Once a girl is educatedshe will be in a position to “be her own dowry” and if required even get ahusband for her self, she added. Before speaking on globalization, we need toempower the people here, she said. She suggested that the youth of Biharshould not be dissuaded from working in multi-national Corporations- let theiraspirations come true. Only an empowered youth force will change the destinyof Bihar. She suggested further that NGOs be made partners in the developmentprocess as they could help in translating government programmers on the groundin terms of “outcomes”. She further exhorted the people to stop depending orblaming the government but become equal partners in the development process.

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Trailblazing Micro-Finance Movement of TribalWomen in Jharkhand: Preventing AgriculturalDistress and Stemming Naxalism

Introduction

Since 1998 ICPRD has initiated its micro financeadvocacy campaign for the poor and tribal women inthe remote and backward districts of Jharkhand. ICPRD’sintervention in a poor and backward state like Jharkhandis a trailblazer due to the challenges in Jharkhand interms of HDI reflecting structural poverty, systematicexclusion, social disintegration, amongst poor/marginalized groups such as women, tribals in a casteridden feudal economy.

Given the severe field conditions in the macro and micro-environment in Jharkhand and Orissa, projectintervention to be successful required building up of localtribal capacities (not merely infuse outside inputs) asenvisaged and sustained by ICPRD. To build financialsystems, which are alien to their informal culture, theprocess has been extremely challenging. Throughinitiating Self-Help Groups of poor women in the areaand building their capacities through trainings andexposure visits, the ICPRD project has succeeded, toa large degree, in establishing micro finance networksin the project area - a hitherto unserved / backwardagricultural area. Also savings/thrift habits and on-lendinghas been initiated of the savings within groups andthrough banks (30.03%). NGOs have begun to processsystem for accessing revolving credit and bank loans.

The intervention strategies devised by ICPRD has beenproviding a momentum to the micro finance and selfhelp group movement of poor women in Jharkhand andOrissa at the local levels (in Deoghar, Dumka, Goddaand Jamtara districts in Jharkhand and Mayurbhanjdistrict in Orissa) ICPRD collaborated and partneredwith 15 local NGOs, working in these communities tobuild local capacities.

Project Environment: Before

Low levels of literacy (even upto 2% for tribal women),extreme poverty and backwardness, lack of roadconnectivity leading to isolation of the project area, amonolithic feudal system, patriarchy and gender inequitycoupled with naxalism – these were the difficulties andchallenges that ICPRD had to contend with when it firstentered the project area.

The women here were shy of speaking to strangers andcommunicated through sign language, their faces hiddenin veils and could not even sign their own names.

Non-existent or non-functional SHG groups, NGOs notcapacitated to handle these groups, very little accessof these groups to mainstream banking institutions(banks were either reluctant to give loans to these groupsor did so only through middlemen who charged moneyto do so) was the situation that existed.

Braving these impossible odds, the project has madegreat strides forward in the two years of its existenceand changed the profile of the women of the area andthrough them, of the community.

On the economic front, the project succeeded inestablishing micro finance networks and initiated socialentrepreneurship with women advocates striving toestablish institutional stability in terms of mobilizingsavings/credit towards livelihood promotion in remote,isolated areas. About 3400 tribal women have accessto credit and have initiated their own income generationactivities in agriculture / allied activities through micro-credit. Through 110 self help group members’ trainings(3400 members) organized under the project, localcapacities have been built: they have imbibed thenuances of financial management, accessing financialresources, familiarizing with financial system and linkingthem with formal banking institutions.

On the social front, it has emboldened the shy andtimid women of the area to take on the entrepreneurshipmantle and social problems of their communities; standup to any kind of injustice and inequity.

Boosting Agriculture Sector

The project objectives were to strengthen the locallevel agricultural economy, micro entrepreneurshipfor processed foods / households items (fromagriculture and allied occupations including animalhusbandry, sericulture; micro-enterprises relying on landbased activity such as bio-fertilizers / composts and/oralternate employment to boost lean agricultural seasonemployment (puffed rice processing, chick pea flour(i.e. vegetable protein), jaggery or brown sugarsubstitute; cattle, sheep / goat / pigs / hen rearing, fishfarming and so forth). This has helped create smallsavings / thrift, accumulate capital in hitherto pooragricultural families that have very little alternatives tothe moneylenders but to mortgage land in lean seasonsto cope with shocks (young men and women hereare so desperate that choices often were eitherjoining civil strife movements (Naxalism) or often,it was discovered, being trafficked for sexual exploitation

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or domestic labour). Further, farmers’ families distressis also sought to be prevented by this project that “keptsmall credit / capital flow ongoing through developinglocal informal credit funds out of savings in villagesas an alternate credit source.

ICPRD project in Jharkhand / Orissa supported thelocal agricultural economy by building local capacity forproviding timely micro credit (through 260 self helpgroups) to manage credit / thrift / savings, interloaningfor agricultural purposes, processing with value addition,etc. It also showed the way that alternate employmentcan be developed during lean seasons through pettyloans given to women members by SHGs or throughon-lending with their savings - a preventive strategy inIndia where 1000’s of farmers have committedsuicide due to indebtedness, coping mechanismsfor the poor to absorb shocks and lack of quick creditat non-exploitative terms.

Developing and institutionalizing effective marketstrategies

In order to provide an opportunity for tribal hamletsparticularly women to integrate by establishing enterpriseunits in their local tribal belt, ICPRD organized a MahilaHaat or Women’s Fair in Deogarh on 20th September2006. (also to stem Naxalite influence in the area).

The Fair helped serve as a platform to establish linkagesfor capital investment and marketing for the emergingwomen economic entrepreneurs of the project area.

The highlight of the ICPRD Mahila Haat (Women’s Fair)is that thousands of poor tribal women from SanthalParganas and Orissa (project area), transforming intosuccessful social entrepreneurs after projectintervention, gathered at a huge ground in Deogarh

(Jharkhand) in colorful clothes and traditional finery toproudly display their entrepreneurial skills through anarray of products. At the same time, the sweep andmagnitude of the display helped showcase the sweepand magnitude of the impact the project has had on thelives of the economic and social lives of these women.

Through this fair, participating SHG members havebeen exposed to:

• A better utilization of skills through interactingwith other SHG members.

• Interface with govt. officials/various banks andother civil society organizations.

• Exposed to marketing skills and a better displayof products.

• Provided a platform for the emergence of abroader micro-finance federation in the region.

• Stem the tide of Naxalite influence by enhancingeconomic integration.

The women put up professionally sound stalls at thefair displaying an array of products, such as:

• Vegetables and fruits• Cakes and doughnuts• Murhi/Chuda (Processed rice eats/other snacks)• Kitchen spices/lentils/rice• Soft toys• Embroidered bedspreads and pillow covers• Bamboo items• Leaf plates• Decoration items (by tribals)• Scarfs• Iron smithery items, etc.

The fair was a success with thousands of people visitingit from near and far. The women were able to earn 30%

to 40% higher profits than when they sold their products

in the local markets or through middlemen. They were

able to establish linkages directly with bulk buyers. Bulk

orders were received for embroidered items from the

social welfare department. 10% to 15% SHG groupshave managed a fixed shop for selling their products.

Banks are also more open to providing loans to SHG

groups as “Women entrepreneurs’ visibility has been

enhanced”.

“This is a region with immense possibilities forprogress. The area is rich with raw materials forcottage industry and handicrafts.”

Dr. Nandini Azad, Chairperson, ICPRDIn her message to the fair

A traditional welcome dance by tribal women at the Mahila Haat(Women’s fair), July 2007, Dumka, Jharkhand.

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The District Collector of the area, the Chief Guest onthe occasion, in his valedictory address equated theincome generation activities of SHG group members inthe area to cottage industry and agriculture advocatedby Mahatma Gandhi, the Father of the Nation, fordeveloping and sustaining village economies.

“We thank ICPRD for giving us an opportunityof visiting the Mahila Haat organized at DeogharHindi Vidyapeeth on 20th September, 2006.Women came from far-flung villages withproducts which they had made with their ownhands. It is evident from this that these womenhave the capacity to take their lives towardsprogress and prosperity. Nearly 2000 womenhad gathered here from different institutions in aspirit of goodwill and camaraderie. Seeing all this,we felt that if such a Haat is organized every year,then it will give an opportunity for the SHG groupshere to grow and people will become more aware ofwomen’s potential.”

- A Visitor

“I had the occasion to visit the Mahila Haatorganized by ICPRD at Hindi Vidyapeeth, Deogharon 20th September, 2006….Member-Secretary,ICPRD, Dr. Nandini Azad, is to be applauded forher great contribution in uplifting the poor and tribalwomen of these states. Such events shouldcontinue to be organized.”

Chief SecretaryHindi Vidyapeeth

Deoghar, Jharkhand

Impact of the Project

• The ICPRD project has systematized the effortsof the NGOs for micro-finance capacitybuilding programmes by supporting these smallorganizations in terms of experience ofimplementing projects through a close networkingin Jharkhand and Orissa through Training ofTrainers Workshops.

• Acquiring skills that have helped to inculcate in

members the proficiency to handle their SHGgroups as independent units and decrease theirdependency on the facilitating NGOs for theiroperations through TOTs and SHG members’training.

• Women have started taking up variouseconomic activities and through this, theprocesses of economic planning have beenintroduced amongst the SHG members throughskill development workshops and field andexposure visits. Though a bit hesitant earlier, tribalwomen have now started to explore more alternateforms of processing and value addition, whichcan fetch them more profit. This has alsolessened stress on agricultural families.

• It has provided a common platform so as to bringin the best practices to impart technical inputsfacilitated through exposure and field visits soas to strengthen the efforts of integrating microfinance into the economic cycle of the rural poor.

• The training importantly enforced self-esteemamong the women collectives - SHGs. Theyunderstood that economic units could be verywell managed and developed by womenthemselves despite gender-biased ownership ofresources, which characterizes the feudal societyin Jharkhand.

• Strengthened leadership; involvement of groupin village based conflict resolution, regularity inmeetings, attendance, saving and repayment inthe groups.

• SHG Members’ trainings and TOTs havestrengthened the base for loaning towardsestablishing a micro-finance institution in thecoming years.

• Low dependency on moneylenders – (30%) formarriage and death ceremonies. Average sizeof loan intake was Rs. 100-Rs.7000/-.

• Enhanced levels of enterprise, women’s groupenterprise activism, lesser overheads, bargainingpower, diversification of new businessopportunities.

• Enabling a platform for tribal entrepreneurs forpracticing and expanding their current enterprises.

• The repayment capability is showing an increasefrom 50-60% in Phase I to 100% repayment atnominal rates of interest (groups and banks) inPhase II.

• Mobilized women, particularly on gender inequity,gender based violence and their empowermentand resisting these issues including theirsensitization regarding malpractices in availinggovernment subsidized schemes and their activerole in assuring standard functioning ofPublic Distribution System (PDS), government

Mahila Haat (Women’s fair), September 2006, Deoghar,Jharkhand.

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schools, health centers, and anganwadicenters.

Forthcoming Mahila Haat (Women’s Fair) - Dumka,July 2007

As a continuation of its on-going effort to provide aplatform to establish linkages for capital investment andmarketing for rural/tribal women, ICPRD will beorganizing a Mahila Haat (Women’s Fair) on ‘Capacity,Leadership, Skill and Entrepreneurship Developmentamong the Rural Women through Micro SavingsProgramme’ in Dumka, Jharkhand in July 2007.Members from 15 Self Help Groups from three partnerNGOs namely Manavi, Rural Tribal DevelopmentFoundation and Lok Deep would be participating in thisevent. In order to disseminate information regarding thefair and ICPRD project in Jharkhand, posters/pamphletswould be distributed in and around Dumka district; thesupport of local government functionaries, bankofficials, University Vice Chancellor/professors, regionaland national media and other key stakeholders wouldbe sought through meetings and dialogues.

Conclusion

The ICPRD micro credit programme that covered around260 SHGs and 3400 women in total, has successfully

exposed tribal women in Jharkhand and Orissacollectively at the grassroots about the various avenuesof development wherein they could actively participatedirectly and independently of NGO support inimplementation and monitoring of credit programmes.They are ready to build a micro-finance Institution.

Today, these poor and tribal women in the mostbackward states of India i.e. Jharkhand and Orissa havebecome a powerful force in their villages in SanthalParganas and Orissa by capital accumulation at thebase: They are:

• Rejuvenating the agricultural, allied economyincluding strengthening the processing sector.

• Running successful business enterprises.• Build a grid of grassroots micro-credit delivery

mechanism.• Confronting village problems through a joint

struggle.• Standing for panchayat elections (local self-

government).• Opposing the atrocities of the local moneylenders.• Filling tenders for government contracts.• Even making government functionaries

accountable!• Stemming Naxalite influence.

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Social Audit of NREGA

Workshop on Foot campaign, Social Audit,Public Hearing, Deliberations Camp, and HumanRights Mass Meeting (Hakdari Maha Sabha) -organized by ICPRD and partner NGOs inJharkhand.

Background

Continuous Drought, acute hunger conditions andspiraling corruption have brought the deprivedcommunities of the entire Santhal Parganas to thebrink of disaster in the last three to four years.

The year before, ten people died of hunger, anissue taken up by the local media and coveredextensively in the newspapers.

Regular efforts have been made by the oppressedand exploited Adivasis, Paharias and other TribalCommunities through a collective approach andGram Sabha Empowerment process for theamelioration of their problems.

programmes such as Pad Yatra (Foot Campaign),Social and Public Hearing, Deliberations andHuman Rights Campaign.

• It was then planned to have foot campaigns andsocial Audits in 17 locations covering 6 Districtsof Santhal Parganas which would be followed byPublic Hearings in the presence of Justicecommittee and Government officials. Later, afuture strategy would be evolved based on theoutcomes of these Social Audits and Publichearings through 2 days (29, 30 Oct, 2005), anddeliberations participated by 1000 Pradhans(village Heads). This future strategy would beshared with 10, 000 villagers.

Objectives of the Programme:

• Ensure a transparent and accountableadministration.

• Access and control of Gram Sabha onGovernment and Non-Government Programmes.

• Access and control of local resources by GramSabhas.

• People’s awareness of their constitutional rights,provisions and defined duties.

• Community awareness to ensure the Right toWork, Right to Food, Right to Information andproper implementation of food and social securityschemes in the state of Jharkhand.

• Ensure community feeling and solidarity.• Forming alliances and networks for addressing

above issues.

The following tasks were needed to be taken up for theimplementation of the mass programme . These include

• Analysis, simplification and publication of legalmeasures and directives.

• Ensure a widespread understanding andconsensus of goals and agenda through Folders,Posters, and Pamphlets.

• Preparing and training a cultural team to create apublic opinion on goals and objectives.

• Training for Social Audit.• Thematic discussions with federation leaders and

gram sabha members.• Regional meetings of coalition networks.• Preparation and presentation of detailed budgets.• Formation of a preparatory committee for

organizing the Mass Meeting.

Preparatory Process:

A Pre-conference meeting was organized by the GramSwaraj Abhiyan and related community institutions to

A Padyatra (foot campaign) for social audit of NREGA inJharkhand, October, 2005.

Various events have been organized to highlightthe issue:

• In January 2005, a meeting of the co-ordinationcommittee of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan wascalled which debated seriously on existingproblems and issues and evolved a strategy toresolve them involving Gram Sabhas andcommunity institutions.

• Consequently, a meeting was held in March 2005of the Gram Swaraj Abhiyan involving GramSabhas and community institutions. Theconsensus arrived at this meeting was to expandthe scope of the activities undertaken in the year2004. It was decided to achieve this through

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plan the tentative agenda, Programme schedule andrelated budgets.

Gram Sabhas and village Community institutionsassumed responsibility for their own regionalProgrammes. As it was found necessary that a training,particularly on Social Audit of food for work Programme,Social Security Programmes and also on disabilityrelated programme should be done including the trainingof the culture team, a 3-day training programme wasorganized from 1st to 3rd September, 2005 which wasattended by 125 Participants of Gram Sabhas. In orderto monitor and co-ordinate all the social auditProgrammes and Public hearings at different locationswith their follow ups, a team was formed of 5 NGOleaders. The task of designing of posters / pamphlets /videography was responsibilities of other leaders.

A Committee was formed to organize and guide theHuman Rights Mass Meeting, which was named asSanthal Parganas Hakdari Sabha.

Detailed Program:The following is the detailed Programme Schedule ofFoot Campaigns and Social Audits at 17 Locations in 6Districts of Santhal Parganas.

Workshop Implementation:

As planned, a foot campaign was organized in all the

6 Districts of Santhal Parganas from 14 – 25 October,

2005 and it was followed by Social audits by the local

populace of programmes (Social Securi ty

Programme, which includes Anantodaya Annapoorna

Programme, Lal Card), Food for Work Programme,and Public Distribution System. At five locations, PDS

irregularities and at 10 locations the food for work

Programmes were taken as the main focus for Social

audits. After the Social audits, Public hearings were

organized on fixed dates to listen to the grievances

of the poor tribals and the problems faced by them inthe presence of concerned government officials. The

government officials failed to appear on the appointed

day or even provide the desired information relating

to programmes. A Justice committee was formed to

deal with the related issues and for formulating future

strategies, 1000 Pradhans (Village Heads) wereinvited from different locations to gather at Hijla

Maidan, Dumka for two days (28-29 October, 2005).

On October 28, around 60 Village Heads gathered at

Dumka Mr. Michel Tudoo, co-ordinator of the Mass

Meeting, requested the present Village Heads to

identify the problems of their districts that emerged

at the social audits so that a strategy could be evolvedto address them and openly discussed on the day of

the Mass Meeting.

Thereafter, the Village Heads discussed the individual

problems of their respective districts. At 5.00 pm of

October 29, all village heads gathered in the main

hall and put forward the problems of their respective

districts along with the suggested strategies toaddress them.

The following were the common issues that emerged:

Public Distribution System (Antyodaya, Lal Card,Annapurna Scheme)

• No Food grain available on Lal Card.• Antyodya card holders do not get the exact

quantity of ration at rates fixed by the governmentor at regular periods.

• The dealer making wrong entries on Card.• The dealer forcibly keeping the cards with

himself.• No fixed time schedules of opening and closing

of ration shops.

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• No Information regarding how much food grain issanctioned to a particular ration shop and numberof card holders availing the given amount.

• Beneficiaries of cards are illegally selected bythe Govt. bodies and not by the Gram Sabhas,based on their informal nexus.

• All Pahari communities are deprived of thesecard facilities.

• Distribution of poor quality of rations.

Food for work Programme• Negligence in selection of programme.• No involvement of village communities in

regulating and monitoring at State, District andPanchayat level in Govt. Programmes.

• No public disclosure of the projected budget,related amount expended and employmentgenerated.

• No distribution of ration as per programme.• Only 20 -30 percent work can be seen on the

ground; the rest is only on paper.• No facilities for drinking water, toilets, shelters,

and creches for Babies etc at work place forlabourers.

• In most places, heavy machines have replacedlabourers.

• Implementation of schemes and Programmeswithout any Perspective Plan.

Disability

• Non-availability of proof certificate for thedisabled.

• The disabled deprived of the benefits accordedto them in the schemes.

• The disabled are deprived of all the Govt. runself-employment and other schemes.

Few important points identified for evolving strategies:• Negligence of Gram Sabha in Selection of

beneficiaries in general meeting.• Corruption in all welfare schemes and also in their

implementation.• No Control of Gram Sabha on land, water and

forest.• Increase in Migration.• Resistance in Availing right to information

programme and schemes.• Regular and consistent increase in hunger

deaths.• Non- availability of even minimum wage fixed by

the Govt.• Inactiveness and irregularities of health and

educational institutions.• Traditional Maghi – Harum, Village heads are

deprived of the powers they have enjoyed sincelong.

• Gram Sabhas in scheduled regions are deprivedof their additional power as directed in thePanchayati Raj Act 1996.

• Regular increase in oppression and exploitationof Women.

• Negligence of Rehabilitation of displaced Tribalsduring construction of big dams and setting up ofindustries..

• Even after the expiry of lease, the community isdeprived of its control on land, water and othervillage based resources.

• Illegal possession of tribal land, tribalsdispossessed of their land.

The following strategy and programmes wereplanned thereafter:

• Only Gram Sabhas should be responsible fororganizing public meeting, selection ofbeneficiaries and implementation of programmes.

• All Development funds should directly reach theGram Sabhas.

• Govt. officials, Gram Sevak and other outsiderswill not be allowed to attend Gram Sabhameetings.

• Contract and monitoring of land, water and forestby Gram Sabhas.

• A hearing Committee should be formed at Blockand District level to ensure a responsive andtransparent administration.

• A collective approach and participation ofcommunity should be intensified to create a strongpublic opinion.

• Ensuring of women’s rights and gender equalitythrough involving women actively in all stages ofdevelopment.

• Rallies, Processions and Public Hearings to beheld at regular intervals in order to move theadministration to action and augment itsresponsiveness and transparency.

Thereafter, all Village Heads took a pledge to ensurethe success of the above-mentioned programme:

“We, the members of Gram Sabhas of SanthalParganas, pledge to create a self-governed, self-dependent and self-reliant Jharkhand. We pledge toensure a corruption-free, responsive and transparentadministration. We pledge to wage a struggle for thecontrol of our land, water and forest. We pledge to rootout middle men and corrupt officials. We pledge toestablish gender equality and involve women in all stepsof development.”

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After this oath, Mr. Sanjay Kisku declared the DeliberationsCamp closed and said that the above pledge and strategywould be put forward in the Mass Meeting of October 30,2005.

On October 30, 2005, the Mass Meeting began as perschedule, which was attended by around 7000 participants.The Members of the various Gram Sabhas endorsed thestrategy evolved and jointly decided to give an applicationto the Commissioner, Dumka for his active role andintervention. In the application the members have hopefullyrequested the Commissioner to inform the directives within3 months to Hakdari Maha Sabha which will be followedand operationlized by the entire Santhal Parganas region.If there is no directive forthcoming from the Commissionerwithin the stipulated three months, then the Gram Sabhaswould be forced to take direct action.

Forthcoming

NREGA Advocacy Program

NREGS to stem migration in Jharkhand (August -September 2007)

The five districts of Santhal Parganas region in Jharkhand(comprising mainly of tribals) is a migration prone zone inIndia. An assurance of 100 days employment per familyas promised by the NREGA could check migration to alarge extent as villagers could get assured employmentin their locality itself. As per the NREGS, villagers of alocality are entitled to obtain employment in the radius of5 kms.

ICPRD, along with its partner NGO, Manavi, will organizean awareness cum social audit of the Scheme in DumkaDistrict from August to September 2007.

Objectives of the Padyatra, followed by social auditprograms / awareness programs:

• To disseminate information on NREGA programamong targeted beneficiaries through folk culture/local languages/ visual mediums etc.

• Through awareness program/ informationdissemination process/ social audit process – bringthe targeted groups in demand mode.

• To create a sort of friendly/ fearless / transparentenvironment among all stakeholders of thisprogram.

• Increase the participation of target community inthis program and develop a sort of common strategyacceptable to all stakeholders.

• To have a two-way interaction for better learningamong all stakeholders of the programme to makefull use of the scheme for target beneficiaries.

Action proposed to be taken

A team of village headmen along with women self helpgroups (SHGs) leaders will be visiting all panchayats ofDumka District in a jeep along with posters, banners and

other educational materials and educate people on thisscheme and document field based data.

Efforts will be made to organize several small meetingsin the village for group discussion on strategies toenhance participation of the community at all levels ofNREGA. The Plan of Action is to:

• To verify the types of employment generated.• The number of job cards filled in.• Dummy filling of job cards (if any).• Method by which Panchayat Sewaks distribute job

cards (directly/middlemen etc.).• Profile of families deprived of NREGA.• Profile of cancellations in job card process.• Whether families obtained job card after

registration.

Audio-visual aids would be used to impart information.Posters would also be developed in local language alongwith wall writings. Through these various modes ofdissemination, the villagers would be encouraged toassess the ground realities of this program in their ownvillage. A good learning process could evolve so thatthey can become proactive and fearless in demandingthe right given to them by the Act. Efforts would bemade to involve local government officials throughoutthe process as it is perceived that they too may be facinggenuine problems in the implementation of NREGS.

Visit of US Foreign Affairs Delegation

A delegation of MPs from the US Foreign AffairsCommittee visited Jaipur, Rajasthan in April, 2007 for aIFES Gender and Law Program. The entire programmewas highlighted by Dr. Nandini Azad, Member-Secretary,ICPRD.

ICPRD Male Youth Forum Members from Karnataka andRajasthan (Youth Forums Against Gender BasedViolence) presented street play and fusion imagery onissues of Gender Based Violence such as girl childdiscrimination, child marriage, dowry and wife beating.Members of the delegation had a meaningful exchangeand interaction with the youth forum members and werehappy to see young men being sensitized and proactiveon issues of gender based violence.

Male Youth Forums performing street theatre at Jaipur, April,2007. Also seen are members of the US Foreign Affairs

delegation and Dr. Nandini Azad, Member-Secretary, ICPRD

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ABOUT US

The Independent Commission for People’s Rightsand Development, (ICPRD) has evolved since 1997as a national advocacy coalition (non-profit sector)that aims to strengthen the solidarity and advocacybase of Special and vulnerable constituencies forrights and development during the period ofeconomic reform. The process is towards facilitationof resource transfers in an effort to deependemocracy.

ICPRD activities are in the following niche areas:

• Policy Advocacy• Mobilization at the grassroots• Capacity Building• Training Technologies and Aids• Action/Attitudinal Research• Coalition Building and Network Development

About 600 events have been taken up in these areas inthe last 10 years. Over 10000 stakeholders in policyadvocacy from the categories listed below havecontributed to the above advocacy and intermediationprocess through interface & coalescing systems in over21 states of India. These are:

• About 900 small rural CBOs/NGOs from 158districts across 21 states of India have beeninvolved in various activities (around 160activities).

• 60 Senior State Development Managers suchas Secretaries / Joint Secretaries of RuralDevelopment, Such as Planning Commission(Deputy Chairman / Member Secretaries /Member’s), Banking, Small Scale EnterprisesMinistry / Depts. of the Government of India,P.M.O. apart from bankers, financial institutions(NABARD, SIDBI, RMK) Statutory bodiesMinorities Commission (Chairperson), NHRC(Member); Autonomous bodies such as NLI,NIPCCD, NCERT, BIRD, CAPART, CSWB etc.

• 70 MPs/MLAs, in India and 11 SAARC /European MPs.

• 105 Technical experts / Academia, universities• 250 members of the National / local media• Distinguished Police officers, security personnel,

eminent academicians/intellectuals.

In addition:

• 3400 poor and tribal women approximately havebeen trained and their capacities built.

• 30,000 stakeholders have been reached throughour various programmes and activities that includeWomen’s Groups, Panchayat members, Village

Heads, Teachers, Anganwadi workers, YouthGroups, etc.

Interventions

A range of interventions, have been utilized until nowtowards the process. These are:

1. Undertaking coalition/alliance building as astrategy for pro-poor and pro-gender advocacy andmobilization. Linking the national/policy level – withgrassroots initiatives with a view for the poor tocontribute and participate in decisions that govern theirlives (policy changes). (SAARC levels have also beenengaged with) Network and Coalition building as aservice facility for inter mediation of rights /development issues amongst the poor, women, tribals,dalits, minorities etc. or for Human crisis responsemechanisms with different stakeholders to influencethe process. (For eg. Farmers’ suicide victims).

2. Exploring NGO - Governance relationshipsthrough interface Organizing public hearings as pro-poor and pro-gender watch processes to ensure accesstransparency/accountability of public policies andprograms for the poor, recognized and considered aplanning and political necessity. Advocacy and roundtables with MPs/ MLAs on a variety of issues or withgovernments – focusing on deepening democracy,ensuringa ccountability, enhancing the role of civilsociety in planning governance etc. Citizens ReportCards on Development by State is also a niche area- the only civil society Organization to have reached70 MPs/MLAs.

3. Identifying, interfacing and training NGOs at thestate level through a consultative process, thusdeveloping district and state level NGO alliances /socialcapital especially for ‘accessing’ and generating ademand; and building capacity to monitor povertyprograms at village / tehsil / district levels. Training tobuild advocates and groups in unserved areas togenerate a demand for resource transfers in poorcommunities. (or marginalized constituencies)

4. Development of research/ documentation as aninstrument and tool for pro-poor and developmentadvocacy. Designing training modules andparticipatory research through beneficiaries with thesupport of activist theoreticians. The first Self help groupmanual for tribal women in Santhali language has beenevolved by us (for micro – credit).

5. Strategies for reintegration of specificconstituencies such as trafficked women, youth, dalits,tribals (including primitive tribals), bonded child labour,drought affected suicide victims (economic & social).Umbrella federation with over 900 NGOs currently linked

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to poor and remote locations - identified, interfaced andcoalesced (detailed database available for such groupswith ICPRD).

ICPRD niche areas to recap are:

• Training to build advocates and Women’s groupsin unserved areas to generate a demand forresource transfers in poor communities, (ormarginalized constituencies). Pro-Poor Planning/ Gender Training with a practical orientation tomainstream agencies / institutions. (such asJharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, M.P., A.P., Karnataka,Tamilnadu etc.).

• Umbrella federation with over 900 NGOs currentlylinked to poor and remote locations - identified,interfaced and coalesced (detailed database oftenavailable for such groups with ICPRD). (focusedon Central/South/East India).

Editorial Team :Ms. Neelam PrakashMr. Anil TirkeyMr. Rony CJ

Production Team :Mr. Sanjay SamantaraMr. Rajkumar

Administrative Support :Mr. Subramaniam

The Independent Commission forPeople’s Rights and Development

A-13, Nizamuddin EastNew Delhi – 110 013 IndiaTel. : 91-11-24356110Telefax : 91-11-24356570E-mail : icprd@ndb.vsnl.net.inWebsite : www.icprd.orgI

CP

RD

• Training young men as advocates against Genderviolence. (Research/ data base through detailed& latest techniques – action research) (Karnataka/Rajasthan).

• Network and Coalition building as a service facilityfor inter mediation of rights/ development issuesamongst the poor, women, tribals, dalits,minorities etc. or for Human crisis responsemechanisms.) (Andhra Pradesh, Central India).

• Advocacy and round tables with MPs/MLAs ona variety of issues or with governments –focusing on deepening democracy, ensuringaccountability, enhancing the role of civil societyincluding governance, etc.

• Citizens’ Report Cards on Development by State- Karnataka, Rajasthan, Orissa, Puducherry.

• Training tribal women as social entrepreneurs inareas unserved by financial institutions.