Q1

Whether PI(F)A members met Grama Panchayati members?

The responsibility of watershed development program is with Grama Panchayati which is a local governance unit. The Guidelines desire that the PFA takes the Grama Panchayati into full confidence and empower the same in the project implementation. As part of this, initial rapport between Grama Panchayati and PFA is an important requirement and this is a mandatory process.

• In majority of watersheds (75%), the interactions with Grama Panchayati and PFA are fairly high. All members of Grama Panchayati and PFA formally interacted with each other in the context of APRLP.

• In 25% of remaining cases, the formal interaction between Grama Panchayati and PFA (PIA) was not mandatory (as per previous guidelines).

• Interestingly, both NGO and GO PFA (PIA) have followed similar processes in this key event.

Q2

Are special efforts made to target women in awareness camps?

Gender is one of the core concerns of APRLP. It is important that both men and women are aware of the benefits of the project. Generally the awareness camps target men only and no "special" efforts are made to involve women in this process. As a result women are completely in dark about the project and its benefits to them. So it is desired that PFA makes "special" efforts to reach out women and improve their understanding and role in the project.

• Neglecting women during awareness camps is still a common practice (in 40% cases). This practice is more predominant in Non APRLP projects.

• Another common practice is to talk to women who are already organized in SHG and VO. PFA does not interact with women are not members of these groups. This practice is predominant in APRLP projects.

• In limited number of cases, women leaders of the village took the lead role to reach out other women in the village. Women Sarpanch and leaders (of caste groups) organized special events to explain about the project contents to women. These special efforts are made in NGO facilitated projects in APRLP projects.

Q3

What methods are used to bring awareness about watershed program in the village? Where are they conducted? How many times?

Bringing awareness about the program and its benefits is an important first step to make the program transparent and participatory. It is desired to organize several awareness campaigns in the village and target all sections of the village, particularly to women and resource poor families. These special efforts will include those communities, which are otherwise excluded.

• The most common practices to generate awareness camps are - grama sabha, kalajata (folk medium), transact.

• Both NGO and GO PFAs made equal efforts in APRLP projects, while NGO PIA are more active in Non APRLP projects. This indicates special efforts in APRLP projects by project authorities irrespective of type of PIAs.

• It is observed that small group meetings (12% of villages) improved the understanding of the communities to a great extent about the program and developed rapport between PFA team and these groups.

• The most common locations for these programs are Grama Panchayati office, ratcha banda (common place in the village) or school.

• Only in limited number of cases, special efforts are made to interact with farmers in their own fields during awareness campaigns.

Q4

Where are the initial awareness camps conducted? (Location)

Q5

Did men and women discuss together about the issues of watershed project, during awareness / initial phase? How did these discussions happen?

Awareness generation among the communities, particularly women and resource poor is an important first step of APRLP. Special attempts are to be made to reach out to women and resource poor families. Working only with women and giving some part of the project does not complete the gender integration in any project. Addressing the relationship between men and women in the context of projects is an important aspect of gender integrated watershed projects. So it is important that both men and women have common meetings and discussions on the issues related to watershed projects.

• Most common locations for conducting awareness camps are common place in the village, school and near Grama Panchayati building. Village meetings and Kalajataha (folk arts form) are the most common methods for communicating the main message of the program.

• Majority of the villages (50%) do not have common meetings for men and women. Project is not creating collaborative and common spaces for men and women.

• Even if efforts are made by PFA (25%), men dominated in these meetings.

• Only in limited number of cases, where NGO facilitated the project, women and men could discuss issues together on equal plane.

• Non APRLP project have long way to go on gender integration. Even in case of APRLP projects, where GO PIA facilitates there is a wide variety of practices -both gender sensitive and not so gender sensitive.

Q6

Are there any formal agreements / MoU between PFA and GP? How did this happen? Do you know the details / content of the same?

The partnership between PFA and Grama Panchayati is an important step in making both parties accountable to the objectives of the project as well as to each other. This MOU is expected to institutionalize their relationship and give stability to the roles of PFA in the project. This MOU concept is introduced in new projects of APRLP. Earlier this practice was not there. The process of entering into MOU is expected to be a very transparent and participatory. The concerned member would have long discussions and enter into MOU in an informed manner.

• The formal MOU is not signed between Grama Panchayati and PFA in majority of the cases (63%) cases.

• Formal MOU is signed only in case of APRLP projects in NGO and GO PFAs. This is observed in new projects. But the parties of the MOU, particularly common villagers/ Grama Panchayati members are ignorant of the contents of the MOU. Only limited leaders of Grama Panchayati are vaguely aware of this MOU. The administrative requirement of getting an MOU is completed by PFA, without understanding the importance of this requirement.

• There is transparency and terms of partnerships between Watershed Based Institutions (Grama Panchayati and Committee) and PFA are clear only when PFA made special efforts on this theme. Even it is not required as per the previous guidelines, there was an agreement (formal and informal) between watershed committee and NGO PIA. This initiative by PIA gave considerable strength to the partnership between NGO PIA and Grama Panchayati.