Planning methodology experience from Karnataka

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Planning methodology experience from Karnataka

• H.S. Ashokanand
• Wilfred D Souza
• ANSSIRD, Mysore

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Our presentation focuses on

• The context
• The initial experimentation and learning
• Building plans in 300 GPs
• The future challenges

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The context

• Karnataka has long history of decentralization
• PRI in place since 1987
• Relevant points in Act and in circulars
• Activity Mapping-2003
• Format of GP plan-2003
• Regular religious pursuit !!
• Dr. M. Nanjandappa Committee Report on Regional
  imbalances

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The context

• Dr. M. Nanjandappa Committee Report
• Deprivation index
• Income deprivation
• Unsafe deliveries
• Malnourished children
• Unsafe drinking water
• Children out of school
• Gender gaps in literacy

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The context

• Dr. M. Nanjandappa Committee Report
• Based on the above 35 indicators were developed
• All the taluks in the state have been classified
  as,
• Most backward
• More backward
• Back ward and
• Forward taluks

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The essentials of the Plan

• Powers to the decentralized structures
• Role clarity within the tiers
• Gram Sabha
• Recent addition Ward Sabha

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The paradox

• It is impossible to conduct ward / gram sabha
• and
• We have conducted Ward sabha / Gram Sabha
  perfectly and this is the output

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The distance within the three pillars

• Community
• Elected body
• Functionaries
• to be reckoned with

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The distance within the tiers

• Gram Panchayath, Taluk Panchayath, Zilla
  Panchayath
• Include the legislature and the Parliament
• All have same / overlapping constituencies

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Dimensions of a plan

• Visualizing perspective plan in public domain for
  5 years
• No. of sectors Services, production, social
  justice
• No. of sectors within each of the above three
• Present status, status desired to be achieved
• Infrastructure and soft components in each
• Administrative, social, cultural and political
  contexts

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The Initial experimentation and learning
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ANSSIRD had to learn (and also enable its
resource persons to learn)

• Understanding the community dynamics and
  behaviour
• Conduct and facilitation of ward / gram sabha
• Presentation of the various sectors and the
  subjects within
• Being impartial and objective
• Noting down relevant points
• Not to get over-awed by the processes
• Documenting the processes
• Handle data gaps and quality issues leverage
  with the local functionaries
• Preparation and presentation of the plan

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Chronologically

• 2004 May Two-hour session on planning during
  4-day satellite training What would you do if
  your GP receives Rs. 50 Lakhs?
• 2005 June Visit to Namma Bhoomi Makkala
  Panchayath experience in plan preparation
• 2005 July Consolidating a one-day training
  session in planning thru satellite with
  facilitation from planning and RDPR departments

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Chronologically

• 2005 September Visit to North-Eastern districts
  to improvise on the day long sessions on planning
• 2006 April Detailed classes on planning / ward
  sabha / grama Sabha
• Conduct of ward sabha and gram sabha for
  perspective plan preparation in four GPs of HD
  Kote taluk the first two on pilot basis while
  the latter two were better
• Conduct of ward sabha and gram Sabha in GPs of
  NREGA districts

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Chronologically

• 2006 July onwards Introduction of one day
  peoples planning exercise for NREGA
  functionaries training programme
• 2006 September Wilfred D Souza prepares simple
  yet detailed outline of plan preparation
  Karnataka model
• 2006 September October Teams of 8 members
  stay in a GP for 6 days and prepare plan
  documents 16 GP plans prepared

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Chronologically

• 2007 March Outline of GP plans polished up
  further and 36 coordinators trained in conduct of
  ward sabha / gram sabha and preparation of plans
• 2007 April 2007 till date 330 1 8 11
  8 358 GP plans prepared (with assistance from
  BRGF and Gram Swaraj programmes)
• 17 in progress

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Adopting two options

• Team of six members stay at taluk headquarters,
  visit GP for 6 days and prepares plans (including
  script and computer work)
• Team of three / four stays at GP / taluk
  headquarters, visits GP for 9 days and prepares
  plan

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Process adopted

• Initial request letter to Gram Panchayath
  indicating dates
• Preliminary meeting district / taluk level with
  officials
• Request to Gram Panchayath with dates for
  preparatory meet, ward sabhas, consultations with
  departments, Gram Panchayath meeting and final
  Gram Sabha for endorsement

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Process adopted

• Preparatory meet includes all members and
  relevant functionaries plus community members
• This meet decides task groups as well as ward
  sabha dates and locations
• Ward sabha is preceded by transect walk and PRA
  exercises

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Process adopted

• Ward sabha requirements are finalised in
  consultation with elected representatives and
  functionaries
• Draft plan is presented to the Gram Panchayath
• Gram Panchayath is then facilitated to present
  the draft plan to the Gram Sabha additions,
  corrections noted
• Final draft plan prepared and handed over to GP

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Aspects to note

• Plan outlay
• Identification from amongst available programmes
  / schemes
• Identification of works / programmes year-wise
  for five years

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Rich experiences

• More than 5 ward sabhas and one Gram Sabha
  conducted in each of the GPs
• Ward sabha attendance ranging from 25 200
• Gram Sabha attendance ranging from 50 1000
• Many local conflicts / disputes / community
  agitations addressed
• The entire populace heralded the process and the
  learning from it
• For most of them this experience of democracy was
  the first

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Rich experiences

• 5 15 functionaries participation in spite of
  detailed notices and personal calls
• Resource persons abilities to write / document
• About 100 sitting GP members participated /
  facilitated
• Many members of the community interested in these
  developmental processes identified
• The word You just cant conduct a Gram Sabha
  reduced drastically in these five districts
• People in various quarters looking up to ANSSIRD
  for scaling up the process

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Some glimpses
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The future challenges

• We are in the process of preparation of a good
  plan
• Emphasis needs to be laid on all sectors and not
  just immediate felt needs (which belong to very
  few domains)
• Emphasis needs to be laid on soft components
  more than the infrastructure / asset based
  approach predominant as of now

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The future challenges

• Enhance the faith of the elected representatives
  and the functionaries in the process
• Enhance the availability and quality of data
• Utilise user-friendly software packages for easy
  assimilation (Plan-Plus)
• Creating a cadre of volunteers / functionaries /
  elected representatives with expertise in the
  process enabling the process to be spread
  across the public domain rather than be an
  expertise of a handful of people

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Thank You