MPRLP UPDATE SERIES NO. 1 ROLE OF THE GRAM SABHA
Strengthening the role of the Gram Sabha in rural development In Madhya Pradesh, the Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihoods Project is working through local village assemblies (Gram Sabhas) to reach two million of the most deprived people in remote areas. When the project first began its work, the Gram Sabhas in Madhya Pradesh were not functioning well. Now, following inputs from the project's various work streams, those that MPRLP is working with are meeting regularly and making an effort to include women and marginalised groups in decision making. As part of this work, Gram Sabhas have now developed microplans and are requesting and distributing funds for purposes decided by their communities. As a result, the Gram Sabhas are becoming more transparent and accountable to villagers.
Planning fair community development The MPRLP approach of building stronger Gram Sabhas is proving to be a cost-effective route to rural development. Most of the 2900 villages that MPRLP is working with are now planning their own development through Gram Sabhas or village assemblies in line with Government of India and Madhya Pradesh policies for decentralised rural growth.
Attending a session of the Gram Sabha. Photo: © MPRLP/Sandeep Khanwalkar
Building skills As part of this work, multidisciplinary teams help the Gram Sabhas fill the gaps in their skills and knowledge, and link villages with opportunities offered by districts, the state and central governments, private enterprise and civil society. The underlying principle is respect for the wisdom and strength of local communities in managing their affairs for the common good through their Gram Sabhas.
Mobilising and motivating MPRLP mobilises and motivates Gram Sabhas in a variety of ways, such as explaining the roles and responsibilities of the state and central governments and the Panchayati Raj and Gram Sabhas, and providing planning and management training. Almost all project villages have prepared microplans and had them approved.
"Building stronger Gram Sabhas is proving to be a cost-effective route to rural development"
The way ahead
Mainstream Gram Sabhas into rural development. Adopt micro-planning as a tool for implementing local development. Select experienced NGOs to help Gram Sabhas learn to plan and manage rural development equitably. Transfer funds for rural development directly to the Gram Kosh. Allocate funds in the rural infrastructure budget to build simple, open-air community spaces to ensure all villagers can actively participate in Gram Sabha meetings.
Managing resources transparently Channelling funds MPRLP also provides a way for Gram Sabhas to act on community priorities by channelling funds to the Gram Kosh or community funds. The Gram Sabha then decides how Gram Kosh funds
MADHYA PRADESH RURAL LIVELIHOODS PROJECT
Achievements
should be used. The Gram Kosh accounts are posted on school walls or at other prominent places in the village. This means that everyone can see how money is spent and that it is being distributed fairly.
Financial services training Training courses help the Gram Sabhas to set up village funds to provide basic financial services – such as savings, insurance, money transfers and credit. An operational manual developed by MPRLP guides Gram Sabhas by, for example, requiring the ring-fencing of allocations for women and poor households.
Transparent accounting More than 90% of the Gram Sabhas in Phase 2 of the project now have financial management systems. Over a third audit their accounts and half voluntarily disclose income and expenditure every quarter. This transparency is deepening villagers' faith that funds are being used properly and that the villagers really do have a say in how funds should be used and who should benefit.
Building financial management capacity To build the capacity of Gram Sabhas to manage resources, uniform accounting records and use-of-funds certificates have been developed and distributed to all project Gram Sabhas, and functionaries have been trained to maintain them. Similarly, continuous financial management training is given to Sachives, Sarpanches, and Livelihood Promoters to ensure better use of funds, transparency and accountability. A bench-marking exercise is also run twice a year to assess the ability of the Gram Sabhas to handle their finances.
Gram Sabhas in nearly all project villages have prepared and approved plans for community development. The majority of of Gram Sabhas in nine tribal districts are responding to the needs of the poorest. A fifth of households below the poverty line regularly participate in Gram Sabhas and Gram Sabha committees. More poor and very poor households and women are receiving benefits through the Gram Kosh. 90% of the Gram Sabhas in Phase 2 of the project now have financial management systems. 97 Gram Sabhas have appointed accountants.
Targeting the poor and women Although all villagers over the age of 18 have the right to take part in the Gram Sabha, women and the very poor often don't take part, and so do not benefit. This is now changing. MPRLP is helping deprived households learn about their entitlements and how taking part in the Gram Sabha can help them access these entitlements. The proportion of Gram Kosh funds targeted to the poor is now more than two-thirds, with over a third being targeted at women. Great strides are also being made in denting the age-old money lending system that has kept the poor in a cycle of deprivation.
Contact Telephone: +91-(0)755-2766812, 814, 815 Fax: +91-(0)755-2766818 Email: mprlp@mprlp.in Website: www.mprlp.in MPRLP is funded by the UK Department for International Development (DFID). This publication does not necessarily represent the views of the Department for International Development.