Q1

Whether budgets are released according to annual action plans or not?

Q2

Who operates the bank account of watershed funds?

Q3

How are the activities decided, after release of funds in the first year?

Q4

What is the role played by Grama Panchayati during prioritization of watershed activities?

Q5

What is the role played by Village organization during prioritization of watershed activities?

Before implementing the plans, it is important to decide on priorities and establish proper systems for implementation. In APRLP, Grama Panchayati and Village Organization play critical roles and share responsibilities in this regards. This division of functional roles is expected to improve the collaboration and effectiveness of each institution at local level.

• A bank account for receiving funds is opened in all watershed projects. These accounts are operated by respective office bearers.

• WC Chairman, WC Secretary and WDT/PIA/ MDT (42%); VO President/ Volunteer and WDT (28%) and Sarpanch, Secretary of Grama Panchayati and Other Member of Grama Panchayati (7%) of watersheds. All these case follow respective guidelines. However, in case of one watershed in APRLP, the signatories changed several times reflecting the fluctuations in the guidelines.

• Prioritizing activities did not have problems as the funds are released as per action plan in majority of cases (70%). Action plan itself has detailed priorities to some extent, in these cases.

• In case of Non APRLP watersheds (15% of total sample), the contents of action plan, fund releases and activities implemented are not consistent with each other. Action plans are prepared only after receiving grants. Activities are fine tuned to the available funds.

• Though watershed projects have defined a role for Grama Panchayati, in actual practice these roles are not performed by Grama Panchayati. In majority of cases (78%), Grama Panchayati either did not have a role or have a vague role. They played two types of roles in the selected watersheds - deciding on prioritizing of works (15%) and take up works on contract basis (7%). Non APRLP project did not have any space for Grama Panchayati in decision making processes compared to ARPLP projects.

• Compared to Grama Panchayati, Village Organization had a better say in watershed projects. In 42% projects, VO played some role in decision making and choice of beneficiaries for the project. Remaining cases, either Village Organization is absent or inactive.