1 MID TERM REVIEW MEETING RESA PROJECT Overall Progress: Phase I RAJESH KUMAR, CUTS INTERNATIONAL

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3 Independent Regulation: Consumer View Support & Watch Dog REGULATOR SUPPLIERS Participation & Watchdog Regulations Policy Guidelines Functional Support Proposals Suggestions Progress Report Services Supply Protection CONSUMERS GOVERNMENT REGULATOR SUPPLIERS Participation & Watchdog Regulations Policy Guidelines Functional Support Proposals Suggestions Progress Report Services Supply Protection

4 Activities Concluded Launch meeting and training seminar Local inception workshops Base line consumer survey Reference group meeting I Territorial trainings Grassroots interface meetings - Phase I Mid term review meeting

5 Activities Scheduled Reference Group Meeting - II Grassroots Interface Meetings - Phase II Advocacy Seminars Regional Meeting

6 Launch Meeting and Training Seminar Conducted at Kolkata, March 2008 Two days event 50 participants from policy makers, regulatory bodies, media, CSOs etc. Presentations on behalf of all project partners Major issues and problems in the sector were discussed Simulation exercises were conducted for active participation

7 Local Inception Workshops Conducted in all project territories RG, local CSOs, regulators participated participants in each territories Local CSOs took keen interest in the project activities Structured questionnaire was circulated to access the capacity and willingness of local CSOs in the RESA initiative Base line consumer survey methodology was finalised

8 Base Line Consumer Survey Draft methodology was finalized in consultation Training session was conducted to train the investigators Methodology was discussed with partners as well local CSOs Sample size of 700 consumers representing all categories including households not having access to electricity Structured questionnaire translated into vernacular was used Nodal persons traveled to fields to maintain the quality of survey

9 Reference Group Meeting - I Composition Comprising former regulators, economists, lawyers, utility representatives, CSOs etc. Discussion Draft territorial base paper (TBP) capturing the base line survey findings Draft territorial training manual (to be used for GIMs) Outcomes All RG members observed the project objectives and proposed activities very useful in the context of respective territories. Comments received form RG were incorporated in the final documents

10 Territorial Training Objective: train the CSOs on regulatory and policy issues Participation: local CSOs and consumer activists Resource persons: regulators, utility representatives, researchers and academia First Training Programme (Two days) Covering some general issues such as power reforms, complaint redressal and reduction of power theft etc Second Training Programme (Two days) More technical issues such as electricity tariff regulation, energy auditing and product labeling

11 Grassroots Interface Meeting (Phase I) Objective: Make the consumers aware of their role and responsibilities in reforms Participation: Grassroots consumers, households, good women participation Resource persons: Project staff, utility representatives, local CSOs Outcomes: –Improved communication channel between utilities and consumers –systematic problems of consumers were recorded –good media coverage

12 Outputs Territorial base paper (TBP) Territorial training manual (TTM) Local vernacular handouts Event reports E-newsletters Synthesis base paper Project poster Articles and policy briefs Media reports

13 Mid Term Review Meeting Review of the project progress and activities Achievements and outcomes Challenges and opportunities Review of implementation strategy Suggestions and way forward

14 Thank You