drr mainstreaming through decentralized planning with panchayati raj institution

Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming

Introduction:

The devastating flood of 2000 moved several International Non Government Organizations (INGOS) andlocal NGO/CBOs focusing on disaster preparedness. Than after Aila in 2009 most of the organization aremoving forward to mainstream the DRR into the Development activities.

Most of the INGOs and the local NGOs successes in mainstreaming the DRR, but still than there aresome gaps which need to be identified and develop a common simplified DP Model.

Here I would like to discus and focus on the past experience by the INGOs and the local NGO/CBOsrelated to DRR planning and the role of involvements of the stake holders mainly the PanchayatInstitutions in mainstreaming the process from the past to present situation.

Approach in DRR Projects:

In most cases, the Project deliverables included:A. Situation analysis through participatory:

Hazard Vulnerability and Capacity Analysis Risk Assessment and preparing DRR Plan of Action

B. Community Capacity Building through Participatory approach in situation analysis Forming various community based groups and imparting trainings for knowledge and

skill transfer Promoting attitude and practice through awareness generation Facilitating establishment and strengthening of linkage between community and service

providers/institutionsC. Ensuring stakeholders’ involvement through:

Sensitization Advocacy Capacity building Networking/lobbying, etc.

D. Carrying out other participatory micro mitigation activities as per Plan of ActionE. Putting effort towards Sustainability of the Project outcomes through Mainstreaming with the

Development Plan of the local/government.

Concept Note on DRR Mainstreaming through Decentralized Planning with Panchayati Raj Institution(West Bengal Perspective)


A glimpse at Decentralized Rural Planning by the Panchayati Raj Institution in West Bengal:

Let us have a glance to the mainstream planning process:

Gram Panchayat level:

The 73rd and 74th Amendment of Indian Constitutions have empowered Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI)and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) at rural and urban sectors respectively to plan for and implementdevelopment initiatives like Education, Health, Women and Child Development, Agriculture,Infrastructure and so on.Following a circular/guideline issued by Panchayat and Rural Development Department (P& RD),Government of West Bengal, (vide letter number: 3443/PN/O/3A/3B-1/09, dated 31/07/2009)everyGram Panchayat (GP) has to undergo the following stages of decentralized participatory planning atGram Sansad and Gram Panchayat levels within timeline stipulated for every stage in the aforesaidguideline:Sl. No. Activity Timeline1 Presenting reports of previous year’s achievements and identifying needs

for next year through Gram Sansad meeting(May everyyear)

2 Collecting and updating Gram Sansad (GS) level information through para(area) meetings with the help of Gram UnnayanSamity (GUS)

(10th July everyyear)

4 Assessing area and sector (1. Education, 2. Public Health, 3. Women, Childand Social Welfare, 4. Agriculture, 5. Small and Cottage Industry, 6.Infrastructure and 7. Miscellaneous*) specific problems and resources tochalk out probable solutions and opportunities


5 Holding meeting of the Budget and Planning UpaSamity (Sub Committee) ofGP to

- Prioritize the sector/areas of action- Decide to allocate fund to GUSs accordingly and- Inform all concerned in writing


6 Preparation of area/sector specific Plan and prepare budget at GS levelsand filling upForm No. 34

(14th Augustevery year)

7 Verifying the Sector specific Plans of every GS and combining & preparingUpaSamity (1. Finance and Planning, 2. Agriculture and Animal ResourceDevelopment, 3. Education and Public Health, 4. Social Welfare & 5.Industry and Infrastructure Development) Plans at GP level

(27th Augustevery year)

8 UpaSamity wise Planning, Budgeting and filling up Form No. 35 (15th Septemberevery year)

9 Preparing Gram Panchayat level draft Plan and Budget based upon GS levelPlans and Budgets and UpaSamity level Plans and Budgets and filling upForm No. 36

(1st Octoberevery year)

10 Presenting the GP level draft Plan and Budget in the meeting of Financeand Planning UpaSamity

(10th Octoberevery year)

11 Presenting the GP level draft Plan and Budget in the specially convened GPgeneral meeting

(30th Octoberevery year)

12 Presenting GS level draft Plan and Budget in the half yearly GS meeting (Novemberevery year)


Problems in Mainstreaming:

13 Presenting GP level draft Plan and Budget in the GP meeting (Gram Sabha) Decemberevery year

14 Making relevant changes in the Plan and Budget as per correctivesuggestions received through GS meeting, Gram Sabha and fromPanchayatSamity and getting the Plan approved in GP general meeting

31st Januaryevery year

15 Sending a copy of the finally approved and accepted Annual GP Plan toPanchayatSamity

15th Februaryevery year

_____________________________________________________________________________________* It is important to note that Disaster Management as an important issue has been incorporated in the7th, i.e. Miscellaneous Sector, after the Disaster Management Act 2005_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Panchayat Samity level:Having received the GP Plans, the Finance and Planning Sthayee Samity (Standing Committee) ofPanchayat Samity prepare their own seven sectors wise Plan and Budget and submits to ZIlla Parishad(District lavle).

Zilla Parishad level:Zilla Parishad authority sends the Panchayat Samity (Block setup) Plan to the District PlanningCommittee (DPC) that combines Plans from PRI and Urban Local Bodies (ULB) to prepare consolidatesDistrict Plan and Budget and sends to State authority.

It being the standard process of decentralized mainstream planning, DRR mainstreaming should alsofollow the same process to be integrated into overall development and be sustainable. As a result oflong experience of a number of professionals in West Bengal, there is a plethora of skill in the state sofar as components other than sustainability are concerned. It is true that I/NGOs working in the DRRfield try their best to mainstream the DRR Plan of Action but the ultimate result is not equally gloriousevery time everywhere. It is often seen that the Gram Panchayat authority is officially accepting it in theGram Sabha, but finally the plan is not reflected in the Annual Development Plan of the PRI. Thus, thehopes of sustainability of a sincere effort by the I/NGOs and the community fizzle out. It has been observed that platforms i.e. of Gram Sansad and Gram Sabha meetings are properly

utilized by the I/NGOs in their effort towards mainstreaming, but the preparatory and follow upactions, i.e. intervention into 1st to 15th stage of GP level Planning process, are not taken.

I/NGO level professionals are not always well aware of the detailed modality of thedecentralized planning process right from GS to ZP level and therefore hardly follow up with thetiers beyond GP level

The PRI members/functionaries are yet to realize that Disaster should be a GS/GP/Block/Districtlevel priority

As specific intervention strategy for sensitizing or capacitating or providing handholding supportto functionaries at various levels (e.g. GP, ZillaParishad or District Planning Committee) ofdecentralized planning are not woven into DRR projects, real mainstreaming of DRR remains farfrom being achieved.

The PRI functionaries are not capacitated to take up DRR issues and integrate into overalldevelopment ones.


Priority Action 1of Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA 2005-2015) states:‘Ensure that disaster risk reduction is a national and a local priority with

a strong institutional basis for implementation.’It is true that DRR is a national as well as state level priority and it is equally true that in WestBengal, there is a strong PRI system but DRR fails to be a priority at local level owing to theproblems mentioned above.

Suggestions:

SWOT analysis of the above Suggestions:

1. The DRR professionals presently operative in West Bengal may be- Oriented about the detailed modalities of the standard decentralized planning process- Provided with handholding support in their effort towards mainstreaming DRR

2. Orientation of and advocacy with PRI functionaries and staff at all levels may done to- make realize that DRR has emerged as a GS/GP/Block/District level priority- capacitate to integrate DRR into present schemes like MGNREGA, IAY, NSAP, 3rd FC, 13th

SFC, etc.3. Initial handholding support may be provided to PRI functionaries and staff at all levels to

integrate DRR into development Plans4. Orientation of GP functionaries and staff to identify and refer to higher levels (i.e. Panchayat

Samity and ZP) those actions that can contribute to prevent or mitigate Disaster but are notpossible to be carried out by the GP authority at its level

5. Orient and motivate Panchayat Samity and Zilla Parishad level PRI functionaries to take up suchactions as are beyond the capacity of Gram Panchayat and can contribute to prevent/mitigateDisaster.

6. Incorporation of above mentioned strategies and activities into Proposal of future Projects.

Strength Weakness Opportunity Threat1. A number of I/NGOshave been working inthe field of DRR formore than a year withmotivated anddedicated workforceaptly backed up byproper efficient andseriousleadership/managementready to undertake newchallenge for succeeding

1. Concept and practiceof present I/NGO levelstaff are not acquaintedwith the processsuggested in thepresent document.

1. DisasterManagement Act is inplace2. MGNREGA is being

implemented in thestate3. Indira AwasYojona isbeing implemented atGP level with the BPLfamilies4. International donorslike DIPECHO and

1. Many/a few of theGP/Panchayat Samitymay not accept a neweridea.


in effort towardssustainability2. State level InterAgency Groups arethere to mediate newerDRR initiatives3. There are strong,

motivated andexperienced officialsboth in DisasterManagementDepartment and P& RDDepartment4. There areprofessionals withadequate exposure bothin DRR and in depthknowledge andexperience in PRIfunctions.

USAID are benton/funding for DRR inNorth/Eastern stateslike Odisha, WestBengal and Assam

Notes:

The above concept notes are base on my personal research and experiences and would like to requestall the concern persons to share your personal point of view and experiences feedback on the concepts.

Thank you.

Contact: Mintu DebnathMobile: (0/8472872427)Email: [email protected]

drr mainstreaming through decentralized planning with panchayati raj institution

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