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Pahal: Shaasan Sudhaar Ki Ore
 
Pahal: Shaasan Sudhaar Ki Ore in various states of India
Rationale behind the Project :
Transparency International India launched its grassroots initiative, Pahal: Shaasan Sudhaar Ki Ore on 5th of October, 2009 in Orissa and 11th of October, 2009 in Jharkhand. Pahal has been running in Chhattisgarh since April, 2009.
The initiative Pahal is the next logical step taken after the TII India Corruption Study, 2008 carried out to measure the extent of bribes paid by the rural below poverty line (BPL) households to avail the eleven basic (PDS, Hospitals, School Education, Electricity, Water Supply) and need based services (Land Records, Housing, Forest, NREGS, Banking & Police).  The findings revealed that the total bribe amount paid by the BPL households in a year was Rs. 883 crore which does not include operational irregularities or corruption not involving rural citizens directly. TII hopes to work towards transparent and accountable governance structures along with the rural masses, village leaders, government officials and civil society groups to better these conditions and empower the poor and marginalized rural people to demand and access their entitlements and public services. It is expected that with this kind of initiative, there would be increased use of RTI and social audit as a tool to access information and entitlements. It is also expected that Government would be more responsive to formulation and implementation of citizens charter and incorporation of citizen friendly e-Governance for ensuring greater transparency.
The key idea behind the initiative Pahal is to disseminate knowledge about tools of good governance like RTI, social audit, revived gram sabhas, citizen's charter, e-governance, etc to the rural masses, especially focusing on BPL families, tribals, women and youth. The project aims to nurture cordial relations between various stakeholders in governance like villagers, their elected representatives and related government officials through positive partnership and participation to promote these tools for realizing the dream of good governance in selected Gram Panchayats of Orissa and demonstrate them to others as a model.
Special features of the project : Setting up of model Gram Panchayats
Create a model Gram Panchayat that uses all major tools of good governance
Nurture a group of village leaders, trained on using tools of good governance like RTI, citizen’s charter, social audit
Establish a community information centre called RTI clinic in each model GP
Facilitate the inclusion of marginalized groups (wome, tribals) into the governance processes
Expected outcomes :
Awareness generation about the various tools of good governance and demonstrate their use in selected areas
Engaging the local self-government institutions like Panchayats more actively in bottom-up planning and monitoring of the key rural development and social sector programmes.
Increased responsiveness from district and block administration towards Gram Sabha (primary level meeting of local self government) making them more accountable to people
Greater involvement and participation of women and disadvantaged sections like BPL poor, women and tribals in this process of local self governance
Monitoring of the project :

Monitoring of the project is being carried out at three levels. At the grass roots level project is monitored by the district coordinator, appointed by TII from the local targeted community in each selected district. At the state level, state specific policy advocacy and monitoring is done by the state coordinator, while at the organizational level, project director handles overall planning, monitoring, capacity development, facilitation and documentation processes of the project.

Chhattisgarh
Training & Awareness Generation on RTI
Selection & training of 25 volunteers for working on RTI related issues completed in 20 selected Gram Panchayats from 4 districts of Chhattisgarh
The village volunteers have further trained 1289 villagers in these GPs on RTI related issues, 1073 of them are from BPL families and 937 belong to SC/ST category.
Training on social audits was organized in July in District Coordinators’ meeting in Raipur.
More than 100 RTI applications have been filed in selected GPs to solve problems related to service delivery under government schemes or to get correct information from various government departments.
Communication material like posters and pamphlets on RTI & social audit are developed, printed and distributed in selected areas, wall writings done in local language.
Model Gram Panchayat Mochh
Mochh Panchayat of Bilaspur selected as a model Gram Panchayat to demonstrate good governance practices.  All tools of good governance were propmoted in this Gram Panchayat like creating awareness about use of RTI, information display in govt offices, citizen’s charters, etc for proper service delivery under various government schemes, conducting proper Gram Sabhas and social audits to make government departments accountable.
 
The Village Information Centre Meeting in the Centre Citizen’s Charter for Rural Development Schemes    
RTI Clinic in GP Mochh
RTI Clinic
Mochh Gram Panchayat is also the place where an RTI clinic has been established that has different information and communication materials and is used as a public library as well as platform for village interaction around use of good governance tools. RTI clinics also generate collective RTI applications from surrounding villages and follow them up for solving village and individual problems.
Learning from the success of RTI Clinic/Village Information Centre concept, TII has replicated the concept in two more Gram Panchayats in Chhattisgarh namely Kora Bhat, Kumarada and all the selected GPs of Orissa & Jharkhand
Preparatory Activities for Social Audits
Mobilisation of villagers was done in Mochh Panchayat of Bilaspur for social audits through a awareness rally on 6th August. A movie on Social Audit conducted by an NGO, Parivartan in another area of Chhattisgarh was shown on 6th night to the villagers to generate interest about the issue and mobilize people for the same.
Information from villagers was collected 15 days in advance.
Verification of records given by Panchayat was carried out with the help of villagers one week prior to the social audit.
Nukad Natak Awareness on Social Audit Sharing govt records with villagers    
Social Audit Gram Sabha (7th August, 09)
TII Chhattisgarh team participated in social audits in collaboration with Government officials and district administration from 6th to 12th August, 2009 in Bilaspur panchayats and 18-25th August in Bastar district.
Social audit conducted with the active participation of district administration representatives, block level officials, Gram Panchayat functionaries, NGO representatives, SHG group members and villagers on 7th August in Mochh GP in Takhatpur block of Bilaspur.
Social Audit Gram Sabha Women’s Participation
Villagers’ turnout in the Gram Sabha was huge (app. 500 people, 25% of the total population, of which app.80% are STs), women’s participation was also very good.
NREGS records were found to be fudged and instances of bribe taken from laborers came to light. Villagers answered to each query in quorum and verified four muster rolls of NREGS works. The information collection and on-site verification of NREGS work sites with villagers, screening of RTI movies and awareness created through TII team members was instrumental in bringing villagers to the Gram Sabha.
No allotment was made under IAY scheme for past 2 years, which also came to light during social audits.
Villagers have given the government officials a notice to solve the issues brought up in the social audits.
Follow-ups by State & Delhi team is being done to ensure proper service delivery of the NREGS in the State of Chhattisgarh.
Villagers being given information on PDS helpline managed by the state govt.
Facilitating Delivery of Government Services & Information Flow
TII, in its 7 months of grassroots intervention, has found many encouraging instances, where in the poorest and remotest village areas, people have used the tools like RTI and social audits and have accessed their rights, government services and nudged and exposed corrupt departments.
For example, in GP Chhingpal Jagdalpur block in Bastar district, the village hand pump needed repair and was not working for more than six months. The complaints were not resulting in any action by the usually laid back PHED department. As soon as an RTI application was filed by a young village volunteer Shri Iravati Baghel, who had attended a TII governance training programme a month back in April, 09, the technician came with his machines and set the pump right within a week. At the same time, he shared his mobile number and assured the villagers that there is no need to complain to the department in future and he will voluntarily come for repairs in future, if villagers called him in need. In the same village, the old age pension was not being given to about 15 elderly people for the last 6 months that were regularized after filing an RTI application.
In a social audit organized by TII in Gram Panchayat Mochh in Bilaspur district of Chhattisgarh, villagers discovered instances of misuse of funds while verifying NREGS muster rolls and came up with revelations against those who hold the power and also cases where simple villagers were duped and underpaid. Some examples were as follows :
Hema Bai W/O Tijram, who was present at the concerned NREGS work site pointed out that the mother and the wife of Rozgaar Sahayak’s brother have not worked, but are shown in the muster roll
Shiva Maali, a dominant personality of the area, didn’t work but his name was there in the muster roll
Sukhin Bai worked for the 34 days but her attendance was registered only for 30 days
Testing Development Pact in Panchayat Elections in Chhattisgarh Pahal Areas
Door-to-door survey and community gatherings are being organized to discuss and finalize people’s agenda in GP Mochh, Kora Bhat, Kumarada before 15th December, 09
People’s agenda will be finalized before 15th December, 09 and be shared with PRI candidates for signing and commitment
Political parties are being contacted for broader adoption of people’s agenda (Development Pact) in their bigger party agenda
Orissa Pahal Launch
Pahal was launched on 5th October, 09 in the 4 Districts of Orissa (Khurda, Mayurbhanj, Jharsuguda, Angul)
TII Orissa chapter is supervising the initiative in Orissa
The government schemes to be focused under the initiative will be National Rural Health Mission, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Forestry, Housing & Public Distribution System in Orissa
Tools of good governance like RTI, social audits, citizen’s charter, e-governance will be used to facilitate the access of the BPL poor communities to the abovementioned rural schemes
Chief Speaker, Mr.Surya Narayan Patro, Hon’l Minister, Revenue at Pahal launch in Orissa
Training Workshop, Bhubaneswar
State, district & village level volunteers have been selected in consultation with Orissa chapter and trained on tools of good governance, details of various government schemes, RTI Orissa Act
50% of the volunteers selected are women and many of them have experience in working with NGOs or for social causes
Due representation has been given to tribal and backward communities, wherever possible
A two day training workshop for 26 volunteers was conducted from 5th-6th October, 09 in SIRD, Bhubaneswar
Training & communication material has been developed in Oriya  
Facilitating Delivery of Government Services
In Khurda district, RTI applications have been filed for distribution of entitlements under the Public Distribution Scheme (PDS). Many neighboring villages, too, have started filing similar applications against ration shops not delivering essential commodities, social pension schemes are being facilitated too.
In Mayurbhanj, applications have been filed for getting info from electricity department regarding electrification work in the villages, getting NREGS work, old age and widow pensions
In Angul district, the whole Panchayati Raj members’ team has started training the villagers on RTI alongwith the TII team and, hence, spread the reach of the programme to the whole area.
Jharkhand Pahal Launch
Pahal was launched on 11th October, 09 in 4 districts of Jharkhand (Ranchi, Hazaribagh, Chatra & Koderma)
Nav Bharat Jagriti Kendra (NBJK), a leading NGO in Jharkhand is supporting locally with volunteers and infrastructure in the districts mentioned
The government schemes to be focused under the initiative will be National Rural Health Mission, National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, social pension schemes & Public Distribution System in Jharkhand
Tools of good governance like RTI, social audits, citizen’s charter, e-governance will be used to facilitate the access of the BPL poor communities to the abovementioned rural schemes
Launch of Pahal in Jharkhand Ms.Anupama Jha (ED TII) speaking at Ranchi launch
Training Workshop, Ranchi
State, district & village level volunteers have been selected in consultation with NBJK
50% of the volunteers selected are women and all of them have experience in working with NGOs or for social causes
Training workshop for 21 volunteers was held from 9th-11th October, 09.
Facilitating Delivery of Government Services
In Hazaribagh, a survey of 15 government schools showed that 13 schools were found not be serving the Mid-Day Meals to the children. It was reported in the leading dailies in Jharkhand and complaints were also registered in District Collector’s office that resulted in immediate redressal of the problem and delivery of meals to children from the very next day.   Many neighboring villages are filing similar complaints against schools not serving the Mid-Day Meal to children after reading this piece of news.
96 work applications were filed by village laborers under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme to avail the right to work on public demand in selected Gram Panchayats.
In Chatra, 102 laborers demanded work under NREGS, one RTI application with the sign of 13 women was filed for the pending payment of Rs. 1600 each under Janani Suraksha Yojana and another RTI application was filed with the sign of 19 people about their pending applications for old age and disability pensions.
In Ranchi, 220 job card holders filed application for seeking work under NREGS, 105 people filed application for job card, block office gave 50 forms for making job cards and assured that job card holders will get work within 15 days. Also, 2 IAY, 3 old age, 3 JSY applications were forwarded to the block office.
In Koderma, 51 laborers demanded work under NREGS, 7 applied for IAY, 20 for Widow Pension, 13 for Antyodaya Anna Yojana and 3 for Annapurna PDS scheme. 28 very poor families who never got a BPL card, applied for the same through the village volunteers.
Information about completed NREGS works is being collected as a preparatory exercise for social audits
International Anti Corruption Day on 9th December, 09 being celebrated in schools of the selected districts through arranging competitions for the children
NREGS work has started in total 7 locations (2 in GP Hochar in Kanke block of Ranchi, 3 each in GPs Erki, Pandey Khap & Jaber block Itkhori of Chatra, , 2 in GPs Dhap & Akar Hawa of block Chauparan of Hazaribagh, despite the pressure of conducting elections in the state.
A booklet has been prepared and distributed to all the volunteers, giving information of entitlements under all the government schemes for rural areas in Jharkhand.
Delhi (Advocacy, networking & sharing)
RTI issues from states are being documented and followed up by TII Delhi office and national level issues to be raised through RTI applications, networking and advocacy
Learnings of good practices from Chhattisgarh are being documented and followed in next states: Orissa & Jharkhand
Sharing of experience of different states is facilitated, Chhattisgarh State Coordinator attended Orissa Pahal team’s training workshop in Bhubaneswar, Chhattisgarh & Jharkhand State Coordinators attended National Development Pact Conference in Delhi on 8th December, 09.
Broad Project Outcomes
Strengthening the RTI demand: As a result of RTI training and awareness, villagers have become aware of tools of good governance and are now demanding services and emoluments from government officials and elected representatives in a proper manner through RTI applications in stead of making verbal appeals.
Solving village problems through RTI & other tools: Till August end, most of the RTI applications had been answered state-wide and many resulted in positive action to address/solve the underlying problems.
Strengthening Local Self-Governance: In places, where Gram Sabha was properly conducted with the help of volunteers, villagers have become more and more aware about the local governance processes and come forward to solve their own problems through this platform
Sustainable Information Flow to rural areas: RTI clinic established in Bilaspur is functioning as information dissemination-cum-community action centre for 4-5 Gram Panchayats. Similar centers are being established in Orissa and Jharkhand now as learning from the first pilot in Chhattisgarh.
Creating Village Community Leadership: TII volunteers trained through this initiative act as catalyst in every village and spread the awareness on tools of good governance. They, in turn motivate several others, too, to join the movement for improving governance in villages.
Facilitate Government Services Delivery: The government machinery has responded well in Chhattisgarh to TII efforts. Many departments act and finish the tasks before replying to questions asked about pending services in the RTI applications. TII representative was offered to support the government department and facilitate NREGS social audits in whole state, which was a positive sign. Citizen’s charters have been made for rural development schemes.
Problems Encountered
Problems were encountered in Bastar and Koria in getting information in few cases. BDO office has charged half days wages of a clerk (Rs. 408) from a village volunteer, Mr. Bharat Chalki for preparing a 2-page information, while in Koria RTI applications filed by the district volunteer, Mr. Ramashankar Gupta to revenue department have not been replied properly.
In Bihar, the state government has made some amendments limiting an RTI application to only one subject and making the answer of RTI application free for only upto 10 pages for even the BPL people.
In most of the places, the attitude of government officials as well as of the common people is very negative about governance issues. Many volunteers face threats or resistance from administration and elected representatives, if they file RTI applications or generate awareness about grassroots democracy and self-governance. But, we aim to ward off such instances with continued efforts and advocacy with the passage of time.
Success Stories
Jharkhand

Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Hazaribagh : Immediately after the launch of Project Pahal, the TII, Jharkhand team surveyed 15 primary and middle government schools of Chouparan block of Hazaribagh district. The report of survey was startling. The survey team found that the condition of Mid Day Meal is very miserable. The children of 13 schools were not getting meals for at least the last 15 days. Due to the strike of block education extension officers, MDM was badly affected. PAHAL team shared this fact with the media, too. The next day, popular dailies like The times of India, Hindustan, Dainik Jagran, etc published the survey findings of PAHAL team. On that day home minister Mr. P. Chidambram was in Ranchi. After getting information about the survey report of PAHAL through newspaper, the Home minister took cognizance of the dismal condition of Mid Day Meal in the schools of Jharkhand. A report has been sought by the Ministry of Home Affairs on MDM from the Governor’s House that made the state bureaucracy suddenly turn defensive and efforts were started to patch up the issue. A report on the condition of MDM has been sent to home ministry and MDM has now started in the schools. Now suddenly through this small initiative under TII’s project Pahal, the voice of hungry children of many schools was heard by the government machinery who are now thinking about solutions and  thousands of students are being served food continually. This was also the first grand success of the initiative Pahal in Jharkhand.
Future Plans

TII plans to expand Pahal to new states (Bihar, MP, Rajasthan) in the next year 2010, besides implementing it in the current states of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & Orissa.

 
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