(Supported by VHAI and Development Alternatives)

Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Programme envisages contributing towards the millennium development goal of poverty reduction world over by 2015, by working through civil society organizations in India on issues of governance, empowerment and entitlements of the poor.

The project aims to strengthen civil society organizations to work as effective catalysts, implementation agencies and nodal points for the convergence of backward and forward linkages to ensure the success of various anti-poverty programmes.

Goal:Poor people in the most backward and poorest districts of India are empowered to realize their entitlements more effectively and in ways in which it can be sustained.

Purpose:Civil Society Organizations in the most backward and poorest districts of India more effective in helping poor people realize their entitlements.

·         Civil rights

·         Political rights

·         Economic entitlements

·         Social entitlements

·         Cultural entitlements

Thematic Areas

n     Responsive local self-governance in rural and urban areas to promote articulation of the needs of the poor and access to information about entitlements.

n     Women’s empowerment to make them effective participants in governance.

n     Social cohesion focusing on efforts at raising awareness on entitlements, changes in institutions, discrimination and manage conflicts of interest towards accelerated poverty reduction.

n     Policy advocacy in order to break the patterns of public inertia on critical areas affecting the poor like tribal rights, dowry violence, environmental degradation etc.

n     Self-help to meet the immediate basic needs of the poor (in specified circumstances ) especially if it would provide a platform for developing the longer term approaches mentioned above.

Impact- Rajnagar

n     Availability of information at PRI and its increased use.

n     Improved relationship with Administration-SGSY,RCH, Watershed

n     Member of Block level Jalabhishek committee, certifate of appreciation given by department and CMO

n     Action was taken against Two PDS shops   and one ANM as a result of mobilization by Bundelkhand Mahila Manch

n     70 members from self help groups have filed their nominations for Panchayat elections.

n     As a result of regular visit made by members of SHG, VDCs to ICDS centres 59 centres became regular.

n     132 VDCs and 105 SHGs became active and they are meeting regularly

n     Ghura, Tikuri, Badani, Kurela, Gada, Pathargunwa and Pahirapurawa these are the Sub centers where no health facility was available to the people. Creating pressure by the community and Village level groups the services of these sub centers improved.

n3 PDS shops of Chandra Nagar suspended on the complaint of VDC to SDM.

n550 persons from the community were motivated to participate in Gram Sabha of Pahara purva,Dhoguan, Nayagaon, Pai, Ghunchu, Mahilwar, Bamari, Beniganj,Kurela, Pratapura, Gadha, Para, Vikrampur, Imliha,Akona, Lakheri, Naad, Dhamna, Ghura, Ganj villages.

n   187 Drop out girls were sent back to schools from 29 villages.

Impact- Prithvipur

n     1500 institutional deliveries

n     568 deliveries given payment under Janani Suraksha

n     Dalit and ST women presence increased in PRI meeting-about 2200 women have started attending meetings

n     Untouchability has remarkably reduced, hand pump use is now open to all without discrimination

n     15 villages with history of caste struggle, are now showing accommodation and interaction

n     Visits by ANM and MPW have increased, situation of ICDS improving

n     136 BPL cards were with Sarpanch and Secretary, these have be given back to beneficiaries at the complaints lodged

n     938  additional Antydaya cards were issued

n     In 6 panchayats, machines have been withdrawn from NREGP work as a result of complaints

n     56 laborers were not paid wages for more than one year, these are paid due to complaints

n     282 Old age people are receiving regular pensions, no bribe is now paid to sarpanch and sachiv

n     29 PDS shops were irregular, 13 have become regular due to complaints and press lobbying, information of stack and rate are displayed on all shops.

nSharing with Block development committees on village problems has increased.

nPeople are getting necessary information at village level through village information centers

nSafe delivery and support in Ante Natal Care, Post Natal care has been ensured through TBAs trained under PACS program.

Impact-Talbehat

nPreparation of volunteers at each village

nEvery village has more than two TBA

nWomen aware of FIR lodging

nWomen taking problems to bank, complaint of hand pumps

n     Polio and Immunization coverage increased

n     PRI and PHC staff under pressure of CBO and performing better

n     Sambhav is a member in a 20 members committee formed at CHC Tal Behat

n268 acres land of 56 farmers in Chobara, Vijaypura and Dhangol villages have been demarkated.District Magistrate

n3 PDS shops of villages Dhamkana, Chakai and Kadesarakala- random inspection was done by SDM and cancelled their license. In these villages new sales man were appointed and in these three villages 375 BPL families are getting ration from these shops on regular basis.

nCommunity now questioning village Sarpanch and secretary about the income and expenditure of Panchayat. As a result of which in villages Thana, Bigari, Dhangol, Bamohrisar, Kadesaravasi and Rajavan demand has been made by gram Sabha members and a presentation was done by village Sarpanch on income and expenditure of Panchayats.

Activities Beyond Plans

CBOs Formed

n   Bundelkhand Mahila Ekta Manch

n   Sabhash Chandra Bose Vikas Manch

n   Adivasi Manch

Future Directions

n   Disability

n   Federation of SHGs

n   NREGA, RTI and NRHM

n   Right to food

n   Advocacy for basic entitlements of people