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www.swaniti.in!!

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The$Saansad$Adarsh$Gram$Yojana$places$paramount$importance$

on$ coordination$ of$ scheme$ implementation$ across$ line$

departments$ and$ continued$ monitoring$ and$ review$ of$ the$

progress$on$a$monthly$basis$so$as$to$achieve$tangible$results$and$

clear$bottlenecks,$ if$any.$However,$ in$ the$case$of$Kahatul,$ there$

had$been$no$coordination$meeting$at$ the$district$or$block$ level$

since$ the$Honorable$MP$had$ identified$ the$GP$ for$development$

as$ an$ Adarsh$ Gram$ under$ SAGY.$ As$ a$ result,$ there$ was$ little$

progress$on$the$action$ items$ listed$ in$ the$VDP,$which$had$been$

discussed$and$prepared$by$the$administration.$$

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Therefore,$the$team$worked$to$bring$together$the$concerned$line$

department$officials$at$the$district$and$block$level$on$a$common$

platform$to$discuss$the$progress,$planned$interventions$and$the$

next$steps.$This$meeting$helped$in$pushing$through$a$time$bound$

and$ planned$ agenda$ to$ implement$ different$ interventions$ and$

also$make$officials$accountable$for$the$progress$on$listed$items.$

Moreover,$ it$ was$ also$ decided$ to$ leverage$ the$ existing$ village$

institutions$to$ensure$holistic$and$sustainable$development.$$$

Improving the Human Development Infrastructure in Kahatul – Engaging Officials for Ensuring Development

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Accountabil i ty among Officials Although a year has passed since finalization of the VDP for Kahatul, hardly any intervention had seen the light of day till July. To resolve the issues, it was important to bring all the stakeholders at the District, Block & Village Level on a common platform. Accordingly, the SAGY coordination meeting conducted on 6th August in the presence of Honorable MP helped set time bound targets for execution of action items, as prioritized in consultation with the villagers. Thereafter, the focus has been on introducing immediate change that would result in long-term benefits for the community.

“Without focusing on human development, we cannot develop as an Adarsh Gram and improving the school and health infrastructure is of utmost importance.”

- Kashinath Vitthal Patil, Resident, Kahatul GP

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Kahatul, Nandurbar

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Preparing the Agenda – Catalyzing Development and Ensuring Coordination !

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The Human Development Infrastructure in Kahatul –!The Needs Assessment !

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The$VDP$prepared$by$the$administration$had$ listed$development$of$playground$ in$ the$school,$repair$of$

toilets$ in$ ZP$ Primary$ School,$ construction$ of$ PHC$ compound$wall,$ repairing$ toilets$ and$ colouring$ and$

electrification$of$PHC.$However,$during$our$visit$to$Kahatul$and$discussion$with$villagers,$it$was$evident$

that$ not$ only$ have$ these$ interventions$ not$ kicked$ off$ but$ also$ they$ don’t$ cover$ all$ the$ issues$ or$ gaps$

pertaining$ to$ the$ PHC$ and$ school.$ As$ Kashinath$ Patil$ rightly$ pointed$ out$ during$ the$ Gram$ Sabha,$

improving$the$condition$of$schools$and$PHC$is$of$utmost$importance$and$even$more$important$is$the$need$

to$ maintain$ these$ important$ assets.$ The$ team$ also$ undertook$ a$ comprehensive$ assessment$ of$ the$

available$infrastructure$in$the$school$and$PHC$so$as$to$identify$the$gaps$and$according$draw$a$roadmap$to$

address$the$identified$gaps.$The$situation$in$both$places$was$not$at$the$desired$level$and$a$key$issue$was$

the$ lack$of$maintenance.$Moreover,$ things$ such$as$ the$broken$down$signboard$of$ the$PHC,$dilapidated$

gate$ of$ the$ school$ could$ be$ addressed$ using$ the$ funds$ available$ with$ the$ school$ and$ PHC.$ The$ team$

interacted$ extensively$ with$ the$ school$ and$ PHC$ staff$ and$ discussed$ the$ need$ to$ take$ initiative$ and$

responsibility$for$the$development.$$$

• Visit the ground to see current state of affairs w.r.t. SAGY interventions as mentioned in the VDP

• Meeting the SDM for understanding t h e c u r r e n t s i t u a t i o n a t execution level

Update!on!Interven2ons!

• Meeting the line Department Heads to comprehend reasons for non-implementation of interventions

• Identifying the major roadblocks/ c h a l l e n g e s i n execution

Iden2fying!Challenges! • Scheduling a SAGY

C o o r d i n a t i o n Meeting with all stakeholders for d i s c u s s i o n o n every issue on a common platform

• D e v e l o p i n g a m e c h a n i s m t o address the issues in the presence of DC & MP

Designing!Solu2ons!

• Following up with officials from line departments on a regular basis for ensuring timely c o m p l e t i o n o f initiatives

• Addressing on-ground challenges i f any , a t the earliest

Smooth!Execu2on!

1$ Primary$ Health$

Center$ and$ 1$ Health$

SubKCenter! in$ the$GP;$PHC$ has$ 6$ beds$ and$

HSC$has$1$bed$!

There$are$2$schools$in$

Kahatul$ –$ 1$ Govt.$

Primary$ School$ (IKIV)$

and$ 1$ High$ School$ (V$

–$XII)$in$the$GP$

5$ AWCs$ in$ Kahatul,$ all$

housed$ in$ permanent$

buildings$ and$ staffed$

by$ the$ Anganwadi$

Worker$and$Helper!

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Designing a Roadmap for Addressing the Infrastructure Gap – The Interventions $

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• The school did not have LPG connection for cooking Mid-Day Meal (MDM). An application was submitted to the local gas agency a few years back but no follow up action had taken place.

• The school had newly constructed toilets, which were in an absolutely deplorable condition. They did not have any door, were not painted, and did not have a bucket or mug as a result of which children defecated in the open.

• The entrance gate was broken down

and the signboard had also not been painted, which indicated a lack of maintenance.

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• Kahatul PHC, which caters to not just

the residents of Kahatul but also the neighbouring villages, is located on the main approach road. The PHC also housed a Health Sub-Centre

• The PHC lacks basic civic infrastructure facilities. It did not have a boundary wall, the entrance road was dilapidated, there was dampness and there was no ramp for stretchers and wheelchairs to go to the general ward. Moreover, the existing toilet had been dysfunctional for more than a year and there was complete disregard for cleanliness. Also, the electrification of the PHC has not been completed.

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Condition of School Condition of PHC

Repairing School Toilets

Construct internal roads in

PHC

Providing LPG for cooking

MDM

Repairing PHC Toilets

Develop a Digital School

Improve existing

civic infra in PHC

As per the discussion with the villagers during the Gram Sabha conducted in the last week of June, the inputs from the school and PHC authorities and suggestions from the PRI members, the team designed a roadmap for addressing the infrastructure gaps plaguing human development in Kahatul. Accordingly, certain action items were prioritized and the next step was to discuss the same with the concerned line department officials and identify the resource envelope available for execution of the planned interventions.

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Meeting the Line Department Officials – Understanding the Lack of Coordination $

As$a$next$step,$the$team$requested$the$MPs$Office$to$schedule$meetings$with$the$Charge$Officer$of$SAGY$in$

the$ district,$ i.e.$ the$ SubKDivisional$Magistrate$ of$ Shahada,$ the$ District$ Education$ Officer,$ Public$Works$

Department$officials$and$the$District$Health$Officer$to$discuss$the$interventions$and$also$understand$the$

roadblocks$ or$ challenges,$ which$ were$ hampering$ the$ ongoing$ progress$ on$ the$ VDP$ which$ had$ been$

drawn$up$previously.$Dr.$Ashok$Behere,$the$PA$to$Dr.$Gavit$coordinated$with$the$concerned$officials$and$

arranged$the$requested$meetings.$$

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The$team$first$met$the$SDM,$Mr.$Nitin$Govande$to$seek$an$update$on$the$progress$on$the$ interventions$

which$has$been$drawn$up$earlier$and$to$also$discuss$the$interventions$proposed$in$the$new$VDP$which$

had$been$prepared$by$the$Swaniti$team.$During$the$meeting,$Mr.$Govande$submitted$a$progress$report,$

which$had$incorrectly$highlighted$that$the$repair$of$toilets$in$the$ZP$Primary$School$had$been$completed.$

On$all$other$action$items,$he$stated$that$no$progress$had$been$made$due$to$financial$constraints$or$the$file$

was$pending$with$the$concerned$line$department.$At$this$point,$the$team$also$showed$him$pictures$of$the$

toilets$ in$ the$ school,$ which$ clearly$ indicated$ that$ the$ work$ had$ not$ taken$ place$ and$ he$ had$ received$

incorrect$information.$$

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The$report$also$showed$that$the$interventions$pertaining$to$the$PHC$had$been$pending$with$the$District$

Health$ Officer$ for$ approval$ and$ initiating$ eKtender$ process.$ The$ team$ was$ not$ able$ to$ meet$ the$ DHO$

directly$but$met$the$representatives$from$the$Health$Department,$who$blamed$the$PWD$Department$for$

the$ delay.$ When$ the$ team$ met$ the$ officials$ from$ the$ PWD,$ they$ put$ the$ blame$ back$ on$ the$ Health$

Department$officials$stating$that$they$were$yet$to$receive$an$approval$from$their$side.$Therefore,$it$was$

very$evident$that$the$implementation$of$interventions$suffered$from$a$lack$of$coordination$among$the$line$

departments$and$the$absence$of$a$functional$monitoring$and$review$mechanism.$$

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The$same$situation$was$observed$with$regards$to$ interventions$concerning$other$ line$departments$and$

therefore,$ the$ team$discussed$ the$possibility$of$ conducting$a$SAGY$Coordination$Meeting$ in$Nandurbar$

with$Dr.$Gavit$and$the$DC,$Dr.$Mallinath$Kalshetti.$The$idea$was$to$streamline$the$development$process,$

find$ solutions$ to$ existing$ procedural$ challenges$ and$ also$ present$ the$ modified$ VDP,$ which$ had$ been$

prepared$ by$ the$ team.$ Accordingly,$ the$ DC$ requested$ the$ SDM$ to$ convene$ a$ meeting$ of$ all$ line$

departments,$PRI$members$and$other$institutions$such$as$NABARD$on$the$6th$August$2016.$$

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The$ meeting,$ which$ was$ chaired$ by$ the$ Honorable$ MP$ and$ attended$ by$ all$ senior$ line$ department$

officials,$ witnessed$ a$ significant$ discussion$ on$ various$ interventions$ and$ resulted$ in$ a$ clear$ roadmap$

being$laid$in$front$of$all$concerned$officials.$Dr.$Gavit$and$Dr.$Kalshetti$emphasized$on$the$need$for$better$

coordination$among$departments$so$that$projects$could$be$completed$in$a$time$bound$manner.$The$team$

also$highlighted$the$different$interventions,$which$are$planned$for$Kahatul,$based$on$the$assessment$done$

by$the$team$and$their$interaction$with$the$community.$Responsibilities$were$assigned$and$it$was$decided$

that$a$biKmonthly$meeting$would$be$conducted$to$review$the$progress$on$discussed$action$items.$$

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Developments in the Primary School – Creating a Welcoming Learning Space !Post$the$meeting,$the$team$engaged$the$existing$institutions$at$the$village$level$to$ensure$operation$and$

maintenance$ of$ the$ existing$ and$ toKbe$ developed$ infrastructure.$ As$ part$ of$ this$ engagement,$ the$ team$

requested$ the$Headmaster$ of$ the$ ZP$ Primary$ School$ to$ convene$ a$meeting$ of$ the$ School$Management$

Committee$ of$ the$ school.$ The$ same$ was$ conducted$ on$ the$ 8th$ of$ September$ 2016.$ While$ a$ lot$ of$

interventions$ had$ been$ planned$ in$ coordination$ with$ the$ district$ officials,$ the$ team$ discussed$ the$

possibility$of$undertaking$certain$immediate$infrastructural$improvements$with$the$members$of$the$SMC$

(please$refer$to$Annexure$B$for$minutes$of$the$meeting).$$

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Based$on$the$outcome$of$the$SAGY$Coordination$Meeting$and$the$subsequent$discussions$with$the$SMC$

and$Panchayat$representatives,$the$following$interventions$have$been$executed$in$the$school.$$$

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In!Swaniti’s!experience,!active!participation!and!ownership!from!the!community!ensures!the!sustainability!of!interventions.!The! same!has!been!highlighted! in! the!case!of! the! improvements!undertaken! in! the!Primary!School.!Moreover,! in! line!with! the! vision! of! the!Honorable!MP! to! ensure! convergence! of! efforts! to! enable!development! in! the!GP,! the!SAGY!Coordination!meeting!has!played!a!very! significant!role!as! it!has!placed!accountability!on!the!officials!to!expedite!progress!of!planned!interventions.!Furthermore,!lack!of!resources!can!only!be!considered!an!excuse!rather!than!concrete!reason!for!executing!projects,!as!the!community!and!officials!have!managed!to!illustrate!in!the!case!of!the!school.!$

The school gate and signboard were in disrepair. The team worked with SMC to get new School Gate installed and the name board painted to mark a better entrance to the school. Old gate sold to generate part of required resources.

Post the all-hands SAGY meeting on 6th August, SMC members and the Head Master contributed in their personal capacity INR 22,000 to get the Primary School Toilets repaired. Now, there is one toilet each for boys and girls.

The GP has purchased LPG connection for cooking MDM. Prior to the intervention, traditional chullah was used for preparing MDM thereby exposing the cooks to health hazards and compromising on their well-being.

An important intervention for Kahatul would be making the Primary School a Digital School. Currently, the school has no computers or Internet connectivity. Talks are on with Gram Panchayat and SMC members for sourcing funds.

A total of INR 45,000 generated through community and institution participation for undertaking the required interventions. In addition, efforts are on to raise INR 1,20,000 for making the PS a digital school. Sources include Panchayat funds and SMC contribution.

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Developments in the Primary Health Centre – Ensuring Quality Infrastructure Facilities $

Post$the$assessment$of$the$PHC$facilities$by$the$team$and$PRI$members,$a$plan$of$action$was$prepared$and$

discussed$ with$ the$ concerned$ officials.$ This$ included$ the$ previously$ mentioned$ interventions$ such$ as$

construction$of$PHC$boundary$wall$and$repair$of$toilets$and$also$went$on$to$suggest$interventions$such$as$

construction$ of$ internal$ roads,$waterproofing$ of$ ceiling$ and$ procurement$ of$wheelchair$ and$ stretcher.$

Based$ on$ the$ discussions,$ the$DHO$ and$ PWD$officials$ expedited$ the$work$ and$ issued$ a$work$ order$ to$

make$ the$ necessary$ infrastructural$ improvements.$ The$ same$ was$ discussed$ during$ the$ Coordination$

Meeting$ and$ the$DC$ passed$ directions$ to$ the$ officials$ to$ ensure$ the$ completion$ of$ all$work$within$ the$

timeline.$$

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An$ open$ tender$ was$ floated$ for$ the$ aboveKmentioned$ interventions$ and$ the$ winning$ quote$ was$ INR$

16,44,300.$The$interventions$did$not$include$the$proposed$electrification$of$the$PHC.$Currently,$the$work$

is$ ongoing$ and$ a$ lot$ of$ activities$ have$ been$ completed.$ Also,$ since$ painting$ is$ possible$ only$ after$

electrification$is$complete,$the$contractors$Om$Shanti$Construction$Private$Limited,$have$also$spoken$to$

the$BDO$and$requested$for$permission$to$undertake$the$electrification$work$as$well$at$a$cost,$which$has$

been$drawn$up$the$PWD.$Therefore,$the$entire$process$is$expected$to$be$completed$by$November$end.$

The!coordination!between!PWD!and!the!Health!Department!to!get!the!initiatives!rolling!shows!how!fruitful!the! regular! followJups! and! the! SAGY! Coordination! meeting! were.! A! clear! roadmap! for! executing! the!interventions! in! a! stipulated! timeframe,! while! ensuring! that! quality! of! work! is! maintained! is! now! being!implemented.!The!differentiating!factor!between!a!successful!intervention!and!an!unsuccessful!intervention!is! how! efficient! the! monitoring! team! is.! In! this! regard,! the! team! and! PRI! members! ensuring! that! the!interventions!get!executed!as!per!plan!and!that!no!operational!issues!occur!and!the!community!then!takes!up!ownership!of!the!asset!at!their!disposal.!!

There is no concrete road in the premises of the PHC. Swaniti Team suggested having Concrete Internal Roads in the PHC during the all-hands meet. As a result of this, the construction work has now begun.

Included in the infrastructural changes for the PHC was the Repair of Old Toilets & Construction of New Ones. The toilets were in an unusable condition earlier and the patients had no option but to defecate in the open.

The entire Primary Health Centre now has Tiled Floors. Earlier the look of the PHC was in a shabby state without even a Ramp for Stretchers & Wheelchairs. Also, waterproofing of ceiling has been done in the PHC.

Based on the initial assessment, the team had requested the PHC staff to coordinate with the DHO to procure wheelchair and stretcher for the patients coming to the PHC. The same is now available at the PHC.

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Annexure A – Pictures of the Ongoing Work or Completed Projects !

Clockwise, L-R: Repaired Toilets at Primary School (PS), LPG Connection at PS, Entrance Gate & Name Board Painted for PS, Tiled Floor in PHC, Repaired Toilets at PHC, Concrete Internal Road Construction at

PHC

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Annexure B – Proceedings of the School Management Committee Meeting