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A top down delivery based model of development
without empowerment or participation of people creates conditions for poor
governance and lack of initiative for local planning. But with increasing
presence of self help groups, the situation begins to change significantly, as
observed in selected project villages in Sitapur.
In several SHG villages, the
Participatory Rural Appraisal technique of social mapping was used to identify
local problems with people's help. Some of these were:
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1. |
Areas of water logging
in the village and the place where a drain
should be
made to allow water to flow out. |
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2. |
Location of place for
installation of hand pump. |
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3. |
Figures relating to
school drop out among children as well as infant
mortality in the village. |
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4. |
Widows in the village
needing assistance of widow pension from the
government. |
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5. |
Identification of
families owning less than one acre of land and
living in a dilapidated home and hence qualifying
for housing assistance under Indira Awas Housing
scheme of the government. |
It was realised that conducting
a PRA exercise is important, but it does not help unless it
is followed up with the process of either building pressure
on the village head to take action or to apply with details
to the administration for assistance. The process has to be
facilitated from outside as the leadership for such tasks
does not emerge on its own. In a way, people still do not
believe that they can make it happen. Yet, when the effort
is made and problems are resolved, it gives a new direction
to the collective effort in self help groups.
For case studies
click here. |
