Village Development Model Experience sharing by IRCDS 1 st March’13

Area of operation

About IRCDS … Integrated Rural Community Development Society (IRCDS) is a development organisation established in 1986 to facilitate Community-Based action among the poor and marginalized communities in Tiruvallur district. It is a value-based organisation building capacity of the people to be responsible for their own development. The programme areas are: women empowerment, child development and empowerment of persons with disabilities

Mentoring RIM SS IRCDS functioned as a Mentor Organization for RIM SS during 2006 – 2009 Out of 5 SS mentored 3 continued for all the 3 years

Village Development Model (VDM) with the support of Give2Asia Like RIM SS, Give2Asia supported a fellowship Programme called VDM. The SS will work on entitlements. The fellowship will be gradually reduced and the clients are expected to pay a nominal service charge Duration : June 2011 to Sep 2012 No. of Panchayats: 15 No. of Villages: 65 No. of Families: 3331

Structure of the Presentation Process undergone Socio economic profile of clients Profile of SS Impact of the VDM Initiative – three levels Cost effectiveness Difficulties faced in Implementation Difficulties faced by the clients in accessing the entitlements Learning

Process undergone Identification and appointment of SS Training to SS Develop a household baseline data format Collection of data through family visits Develop a data base of the clients Compile a Resource Directory on convergence of Govt. schemes and provided to SS Exposure visit to district level and block level offices Awareness raising and facilitation to submit applications Monthly RPT (Review, Planning & Training) with SS

Socio economic profile of clients Total Number of Families3331 (11939 persons) Total family members Male % Female % Literacy rate Male - 62 % Female - 49 % Community SC- 73 % ST- 12% Others – 15 % ReligionHindu – 96 % Christian – 3.5 % Muslim – 0.5 %

Socio economic profile … contd. Total Number of Families (11939 persons) Literacy: Male – 62% Female – 38%

Socio economic profile … contd. 39% (1290) of the families are living in thatched roof house. They need decent housing. 72 % of the target families name not listed in BPL list. It is major hurdle to access most of the Govt. entitlements. 78 % of the widows and 81 % of destitute women are in need of monthly pension 13 % of the old age persons are in need of monthly pension.

Socio economic profile … contd. 67 % of the families not having community certificate which is essential to avail educational, employment reservations and certain Govt. programmes. 18 % of them are in need of Voter ID 37 % of the target families have not received MGNREGA job card.

Socio economic profile … contd. Widow523 Destitute women51 Persons with disabilities99 Widow cum women with disabilities18 Affected by Chronic illness06 Total families are identified as most vulnerable families and need consistent follow up.

Socio economic profile … contd.

Profile of Samaj Shilpis (SS) 10 th to 12 th Std05 Graduate02 Diploma01 Total08 Male08 Caste: SC08

Impact of the VDM Initiative – three levels Changes at 1. Samaj Shilpi level (individual level – molding a villager as a Samaj shilpis) 2. Individual beneficiary level (mobilizing entitlements meant for the poor) 3. Community level (strengthening of CBOs, common initiatives and feeling of togetherness)

1. Changes at SS level The confidence level and articulation skills of SS increased Out of 8 Samaj Shilpis two of them contested in panchayat election and one got elected as Ward member SS realized that they can also act as Change Agents / Development Agents Respect from the family and village enhanced Understood the situation of vulnerable families and social consciousness increased

SS level … contd. The Fellowship programme provided an opportunity to build rapport with the local PRIs and Govt. officials. Their awareness level and knowledge on Govt. entitlements and welfare schemes and skills for accessing the scheme enhanced. Satisfaction that “I am instrumental to improve the living conditions of the most neglected and below poverty line families”.

Quotes of SS “Whenever I do some thing for the vulnerable families I start thinking that, service to humanity is service to God. This is inspiring me more than money I received” - Mr. Amos, SS, Velliyur village “I am better man today than last year in all aspects of my life” - Mr. Palani, SS, Sendranpalyam village

Quotes of SS “Though I am living in the village for the past 43 years, I did not know about the facts and situation of poor people in my own village. Now with in a period of one year, I have understood their problems and needs. This experience as Samaj Shilpi is an eye opener for me to understand my own fellow villagers. Now I feel that I have also responsibility to bring the vulnerable families to above BPL” I will extend my support what ever possible whether receive remuneration or not” - Mr.Murugan, SS, Meyyor Village

2. Changes at Individual beneficiary level The knowledge and skill level of target families increased on accessing Govt. entitlements. Now most of the families start approaching panchayat representatives and Govt. officials directly. The clients accessed the 31 different benefits to the value of Rupees million. On an average 65.5% of clients from target families received the benefits with in 15 months period and 34.5 % of them are still waiting for the benefit. Participation level of target group in Grama Sabha enhanced

3. Changes at Community level The following issues taken by the community due to the education of SS Collective action to fight against social injustice increased  Dharna against unauthorized way of river sand mining  Demand to ensure minimum wages under MGNREGA

Community level … contd. Collective action to access village basic amenities enhanced  Road facility to connect main road  Shifting of Ration shop ( PDS) to the convenient place of villagers  Drinking water, Electricity facilities  Drinking water facility, Toilets and compound facility made in the school

Community level … contd. Guidance and Counselling to unemployed educated youths Two SS facilitated the target families to participate in the free medical camp and 40 days free residential coaching for 56 children who have attended 10 th and 12 th std exams through NGO

Cost effectiveness of the Project Give2Asia’s funding support is Rs.6,22,819 This initiative assisted BPL families to apply 3724 entitlements/ Govt. programmes Clients access the entitlements to the value of Rs million within a period of 15 months When comparing the value of benefits received by the target families and the financial investment made through the project is 4.77 % only, which is meager than usual developmental projects. This cost effectiveness indicates the value and importance of our Samaj Shilpi approach.

Difficulties faced in the implementation … Attrition of SS : Initially 10 SS were joined and during the implementation 5 more SS had been appointed. In between 7 of them are dropped out and finally 8 could continue The expectations of the clients are high when discussing about their needs and available govt. schemes (matching both) Beyond facilitation support : Clients are also expecting facilitation support (means going along with them to Govt. offices in the initial stages and support in filling up applications) to access Govt. schemes (in addition to awareness education on Govt. schemes)..

Difficulties faced …contd. In some villages, local power agents (petty political affiliations) are seeing the interventions of the SS as a threat to their livelihood opposing the programme implementation. When asking financial contribution the local petty politicians and middlemen misguiding the people about the service of SS. SS says “ we have identified poorest of the poor so it is very difficult to demand them to pay money periodically ”

Difficulties faced …contd. Not all SS are equally good at entitlement harnessing. Three SS could mobilize nearly 65% of the entitlements; the remaining 5 put together could only raise 35%. The success varies depending on the clients’ need, government allocation for that particular village, timeliness with which such program is sanctioned by the government etc., Only % of the expected service fee could be collected from the target families.

Difficulties faced by the clients in accessing the entitlements Inclusion of name in BPL list is very time consuming process. It delayed in getting the benefits in time. Opening zero balance account for MGNREGA job card holders consumes more time than expected. Bribes expected by certain Govt. officials – delayed the processing of application forms for benefits. Old age pension and widow pension are finding difficult to access easily because their names are not listed in BPL list. When target families are not able to access the benefit in time they are cursing the SS

Learning 1.Established rapport with various Government Departments at the Taluk and District levels is very vital. Such rapport helped the SS and target families. 2.SS : It is the selection and not recruitment. Identifying traditional and committed individuals is the crux. 3.Though SS psychologically accept the concept of becoming Social entrepreneur, practically they hesitate to adapt. 4.Shifting the mode of delivery from NGO to Individual volunteers takes time to explain the target families.

Learning 5. The promotion of local volunteers is a sustainable resource for the BPL families. The training made for moulding the volunteers is worthiest one. 6. Regarding cash entitlements 54 % of the clients (939/1743) able to access within a period of 15 months. 7. In respect of non cash entitlements only 77 % (1516/1981) of the clients were able to access within a period of 15 months.

Learning 8. Cash Entitlements : Housing, house site patta and bank loans for individuals are the three top most benefits accessed by the clients. 9. Non Cash entitlements : MGNREGA, enrolment under agriculture labour welfare board, bank account opening and Community certificate are the four major benefits accessed by the target families. 4.77% of resources from Give2Asia, the SS could mobilize entitlements to the tune of %.

Learning 10. A combination of Rightful Entitlements cum Empowerment model will work. A sheer entitlements facilitation model with the service fee will not work. The target families shall be organized into “Vulnerable Group Movement” to ensure sustainability. This Movement to be federated at Block and District levels. The SS should be involved in the capacity building of these Movement representatives.

Thank you IRCDS, Post Box No. 7 Tiruvallur – , Tamil Nadu,India