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SUPPORTING DECENTRALISED DISTRICT DEVELOPMENT
Information System
Resource mapping
Nine districts completed resource delineation and plotting as base work for resource mapping. Resource maps have been digitally prepared for further Geographic Information System (GIS) processing in eight districts (Tanahun, Parbat, Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Palpa, Myagdi, Chitwan and Kavre). The reports of Tanahun and Parbat have already been published.
Poverty Mapping
PDDP has prepared and published poverty mapping of Baitadi by using the Human Poverty and Development Indices.Such poverty mapping of Village Development Committees (VDCs) is expected to assist local decision-makers to delineate poverty pocket areas and to assist in resource allocation in the VDCs. By July, PDDP had finalised the poverty mapping of Tanahun also.
Updated Database of Districts
So far 11 districts (Achham, Baitadi, Banke, Bhaktapur, Chitwan, Dadeldhura, Kaski, Kavre, Myagdi, Parbat and Tanahun) have completed data updating, verification and entry work. Baglung, Dang, Kapilbastu, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi and Syangja have completed 50 percent of the work. VDC data profile of six districts - Achham, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kaski, Myagdi and Parbat, have been completed. Statistical profile of Parbat is complete and that of Chitwan has been initiated. VDC boundary delineation/updating and settlement plotting work has been completed in Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur, Kaski, Myagdi, Palpa, Parbat and Tanahun.
The existing GIS data has been enhanced with extra GIS layer of road networks.Banke,Dailekh, Dadeldhura, Dang, Kaski, Kavre, Palpa, Parbat, Pyuthan, Syangja and Tanahun have completed road network updating work. National Planning Commission (NPC) GIS Facility has completed the digitisation of the updated road network layer of Dadeldhura.
IT-Friendly Kanchanpur The first thing that Mr. Rishi Raj Lumsali, DDC Chairman makes you do before you enter the rows of offices at the DDC is to take off your shoes. The reason is the dust-free environment needed for the computers that abound in the DDC. The DDC has eight computers including computers in the offices of the Chairman, Vice Chairman, the Local Development Officer, the Planning Officer, the Accountant and the Technical Sections. Intranet system connects all these computers. “Networking of computers has really helped us save time,” says the Chairman. “Each one of us can know about the status of various activities and projects with the flick of a mouse. And now no longer can the staff give the former excuses of “I seem to have misplaced the file”, “I hadn’t seen the letter” or “I didn’t know about the notice.” Mr. Lumsali says that the computer networking has meant that there is less clutter of people in the offices. “Now there is no need for people to mill around tables in order to move files from one table to another.” There are less people cluttering the offices also due to the fact that they have to compulsorily take off their shoes. “The very act of taking off one’s shoes detracts many unwanted visitors who are in the habit of lounging around offices, from entering the offices!” says the Chairman with a smile. Mr. Lumsali has a vision of Kanchanpur as a model “IT-friendly” district. The DDC has already taken a couple of steps in that direction. It recently concluded providing computer training to officials of seven VDCs. Five of the VDCs in question (Dekhatbhuli, Jhalari, Rampur Bilashpur, Shankarpur, Shripur) have pitched in 60 percent of the cost of Pentium III computers with the DDC paying the rest. Two of the VDCs (Dodhara and Chandani) have acquired the computers through contribution from members of parliament. The VDC Chairmen, and Secretaries underwent a week-long training on using computers, starting with familiarisation with the hardware to basic word-processing. The next step for the DDC is to establish linkage between the computers of the VDCs to those of the DDC. The DDC is also planning to act as the Internet Service Provider (ISP) in the district and is conducting preliminary groundwork for the same.
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Information Linkage Guidelines
PDDP is preparing a simple guideline to be used by the District Development Committees (DDCs) for information linkage. Meanwhile, NPC has installed intranet system at Singha Durbar and is planning to provide all information from programme supported districts in their website.
Institutional Strengthening
Income Generation
The DDCs have been generating income through the sale of information and data, including GIS maps. Kailali DDC has reported that it generated Rs. 1500 through sale of book Kailali Jillako Tathyanka Bibaran published by District Information Development Unit (DIDU). Baglung DDC reports that so far the DDC has earned Rs. 12,240 through sale of information and data and Nuwakot DDC and Myagdi DDC earned Rs. 3750 and Rs. 6400 respectively by selling information. Kaski DDC reports that it has been selling copies of its District Development Plan to I/NGOs.
DDC’s Ownership
The DDCs’ ownership towards district development and institutional strengthening is growing. Kapilbastu DDC has allocated Rs. 10 lakhs for strengthening the DDCO, and has allocated Rs. 3.5 lakhs for the HRD and Information Units. Meanwhile, as per the provisions of the Local Self Governance Act (LSGA), Kavre DDC is preparing to take over functions of Agriculture & Livestock sectors.
Mustang Streamlines
The Mustang DDCO has cancelled several unnecessary posts (and people) from the DDCO’s newly proposed organisational structure.
Mustang Establishes Information Unit
The Regional Networking Forum of the Western Development Region provided Rs. 100,000 to Mustang DDC for establishing an Information and Documentation Unit. The DDC had earlier made a request for financial assistance to the Forum for the same.
DDC’s Become Professional
Management of district development is being streamlined through organisational restructuring of the DDCO and professionalism is being introduced in these DDCs. Dailekh DDC, reports that by keeping records of projects up to date, speeding up the process of approval as well as with close monitoring, the DDC has been able to clear Rs. 36 million beruju. Likewise peski has been minimised to Rs. 5 million from the earlier Rs. 7 million.
FIAA Established to Avoid Duplication
The district-based Local Initiative Forum (LIF) has also been conducting regular meetings. Achham DDC reports that the Forum for International Agencies in Achham (FIAA) was established in order to avoid duplication of programmes and to channel resources in a collaborative manner. The 8th meeting of FIAA organised in mid-May, discussed strategies regarding the preparation of periodic plans of the VDC’s security.
Sub Committee to Strengthen Capacity of DDCO
Chitwan DDC has constituted a sub-committee to prepare an improved organisational structure to strengthen the capacity of District Development Committee Office (DDCO). Also a training programme was conducted for the junior staff of the DDCO so that they can improve their capabilities in imparting their duties. The training was also geared to orient them on LSGA and its provisions.
Techno Savvy Rupandehi
Rupandehi DDC has installed internet and email facilities in three of its computers. This was done to strengthen the information and communication capacity of the DDC. The installation of the services has not only put development related information on its fingertips, the DDC is also thinking of starting its own website soon. The DDC also wants to strengthen and enhance its financial management capacity. For that it has bought a separate computer for the Accounts Section and also trained a staff to run the computerized accounting packages. Rupandehi DDC has seven computers altogether.
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Efficient Baglung
An Internal Management Committee formed last year in Baglung to carry out DDC’s daily activities efficiently and smoothly, is functioning effectively. The DDC has prepared job descriptions for all its employees and expects them to work accordingly. It has also made provisions of having pigeon holes for all DDC members, including the member of Parliament of the district. The DDC has also made an effort to keep its premises clean and painted the doors and windows of the DDC building. It has also partitioned a hall into different sections so that work can be done more effectively.
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Information Board citing the programs and services available at Kailali DDC |
HRDUs in Action
The DDCs have been taking increased attention to the HRD needs of the district. The residential training centre being built by the DDC Palpa at a total cost of Rs. 80 lakhs will be completed next year. Construction for the complex has already begun.
HRDU, Bhaktapur, in coordination with the District Cottage and Small Industries gave three months training on producing bamboo goods to the COs of Gundu VDC.
DDC Rupandehi states that HRDU Rupandehi and the Institute of Governance and Development (IGD) have entered into an agreement to organise a series of “interactions” on a series of topics. The programmes will be attended by 40 VDC Chairpersons and they will be presenting working papers on the specific topics.
The six-day training on Planning Tools and Techniques provided to Programme Officers of Manang, Mustang, Gorkha and Lamjung was conducted by HRDU Kaski with technical support from SRO West North. A similar training for the Programme Officers (PO) of Arghakhanchi, Rupandehi, Palpa, Dang, Chitwan and Kavre was conducted by SRO West South in coordination with HRDU Palpa. The SRO also supported the Training Unit of PDDP in conducting the Pre-selection training of LTF staff of Lamjung.
HRDU Kanchanpur held a display of information on district development and the various activities it has conducted so far at the Kanchanpur Mahotsav. A total of Rs. 17,630 has been generated by renting out equipment to other facilities.
HRDU Kapilbastu organised a two-day follow-up workshop of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) training. This training was a subsequent step to the PRA training for LTFB staff organized six months ago. The participants reviewed the contents of the previous training. They discussed the achievements made and the hardships that came their way while working towards their goal.
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The outcome of
the three months training on |
PRA follow-up session in Kapilbastu |
The SRM of the
Central SRO orienting |
HRDU Nawalparasi conducted a training on Local Governance and Planning to the ward members. The training was done in partnership with Decentralisation Advisory Support Unit (DASU), DANIDA and HICODEF.
Earning Revenue
DDCs have begun earning revenue through the training programmes they organise. Kaski DDC has already earned Rs. 30,000 (from 4 training programmes) from the 10 percent fee it levies on training programmes.
Planning & Monitoring
District Development Plans
A total of 30 districts have produced their District Development Plans for FY 2058/59 in time following the participatory development process as outlined in the Local Self-Governance Act and submit them to NPC and MLD.
Periodic Plan of Districts
As per the provisions of the LSGA, all districts have to prepare Periodic Plans. PDDP has been providing technical assistance to the districts to produce these plans, and the districts are in various stages of preparation of their plans. Some of the districts, which had earlier completed the process through support from Decentralised Planning for the Child Programme (DPCP) are updating their plans as per the guidelines of NPC. NPC has declared that they will make Nawalparasi and Gorkha as model districts in terms of periodic planning. Nawalparasi has already conducted three workshops in this regard while Gorkha is in the planning stages of preparing the periodic plan. Gorkha will hold a workshop shortly.
VILLAGE DEVELOPMENT THROUGH SOCIAL MOBILISATION
The New VDP VDCs
The new districts- Rukum, Jajarkot and Salyan have established Local Trust Funds (LTF) to initiate Village Development Programme (VDP) implementation process. Jajarkot and Salyan have selected five VDCs each and Rukum has decided to pilot launch VDP in two VDCs close to district headquarters. Total contribution in LTF as of June 2001 is Rs. 26.5 million, of which Rs. 9.3 million is DDCs’ contribution and Rs. 17.6 million is VDCs’ contribution. Rukum DDC has allocated Rs. 1 lakh for LTF and each of the five VDCs (1st and 2nd phase) have contributed Rs. 100,000 each. Kaski DDC says that 47percent of operation cost of LTF is being met from internal resources. LTF Kaski has also decided to circulate Rs. 500,000 at the village level of Lahachowk VDC as revolving fund for credit capital disbursal due to security reasons.
VDP Expansion
In Rupandehi, VDP is being implemented in 28 VDCs. Out of the 28 VDCs, programmes in eight VDC’s are being managed through the DDC’s own resources with LTF’s management system. LTF is providing Credit Capital (CC) to these eight VDCs too. The DDC has formulated a strategy whereby the whole district will be covered with village development programme within five years. At present, 95 percent of the total wards of the 28 VDCs have been covered.
Progress Summary
of VDP
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COs Establish Micro Enterprises
By the end of June 2001 a total of 43,613 income generating activities had been established by CO members. These members had made a total investment of Rs. 420.8 million for which they had taken loans worth Rs. 391 million of which Rs. 226 million was from LTF alone. They had invested 58 percent of the amount in establishing Livestock/Poultry related enterprises and 21 percent related to agriculture and horticulture. These enterprises employed a total of 44,509 people.
Livestock Insurance
A couple of VDCs in Chitwan have initiated Livestock Insurance Schemes in their villages by forming Livestock Insurance Committees. VDC Chairpersons and Vice Chairpersons had earlier been taken for a study tour to Kavre to learn about their successful Livestock Insurance Scheme. Similarly in Kavre, by June 2001, 2712 cattle had been insured in 13 VDCs. There are 2657 shareholders (798 female). They have earned Rs. 4.9 million and have disbursed loan worth Rs. 5.6 million to 400 CO members from 393 COs. So far 34 insured cattle have perished and the cattle owners have been compensated Rs. 0.43 million.
Number of Village Experts
By the end of June 2001, there were a total of 6214 trained village experts of which 42 percent are female and overall 56 percent are very active in their profession. Of these experts, 16.5 percent have received training in agriculture, 10 percent in education and 6.5 percent in auditing.
Cadre to Cattle Rescue
The livestock cadre in Birkot VDC in Palpa really proved his mettle during the recent outbreak of PPR among cattle in the village. Birkot VDC reported that village cadre Mr. Prem Singh Ghaley vaccinated more than 1000 animals during the outbreak. The outbreak was also good for the sales of Ghaley’s stock of medicines. He is said to have earned Rs. 11,000 during the period from the sales of medicines and from his fees.
Electricity Generation
In Lahachowk VDC, Kaski, the Manakamana CO is generating electricity (for house holds) from the Tersa stream by using polythene pipe and dynamo. The CO now wants to convert it to a peltric set to benefit 100 households and are looking for partial funding from other sources.
Eye Camp in Kapilbastu
Shiv Bajrang CO of Maharajgunj VDC, Kapilbastu, and the Lumbini Rana Ambika Eye Hospital jointly organised a one-day eye camp on June 23 and examined 347 eye patients. Forty five of these patients who needed surgery were referred to Bhairahawa. The camp was managed by a CO and plans to hold a seven-day eye camp very soon.
There are a total of 7311 COs in 23 districts, of which 2360
are male, 2653 female and 2298 mixed as of June 2001.
The total CO members now stand at 198,474. Of the total CO members, 48 percent are male
and 52 percent are female
The School that the “Dalits” Built
“Dalit” CO members in Banskharka VDC, Parbat have built a school by themselves for their children. Construction of the school has already started with CO members coming together to start working on the foundation. The members have delegated the task of making the furniture as well as building the school itself amongst themselves. There are 30 households in this VDC of which 24 houses belong to “Damais”, four to “Bishwokarmas, and two belong to “Ghale Gurungs”. Around hundred children of school going age were deprived of education as there were no schools around this VDC. To reach the nearest school meant walking for almost half a day. So the villagers decided to take matters into their own hands and took the decision of building a school for their children by themselves. The members have requested the VDC and LTFB to assign a teacher for the school.
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Pictorial Self Monitoring by COs in Banke Out of 573 COs in Banke, pictorial
self-monitoring has been carried out
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Women Save Community Forest
On the fourth week of April, the Kailpal Community forest
in Rupal VDC in Dadeldhura district caught fire. But before it could get serious, the
women of Mahila Janjagaran CO, which the VDP help set up, successfully managed to curb
it.The members of the CO had established a 125 hectare community forest.
The months from April to May are very hot and windy. This makes it very easy for the fire
to spread to nearby villages resulting in massive loss of property and life. The fire
generally gets started when villagers throw away lit cigarettes and bidis while walking
through the jungle. The villagers have to walk through the forest to reach the district
headquarters.
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Technology Benefits
Records show that 27,242 members from 1218 COs have benefited from the introduction of new/appropriate technology. These include the establishment of plant nurseries in Kaski, improved water mills and stud Holstein bull in Baitadi, training on improved stove making in Bhaktapur and the introduction of farming of Ilam’s famous akbari chilies in Syangja.
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The farmers of Sitapur and Udarpur visiting
a banana farm in Tikapur VDC, Kailali
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Harka Bahadur Sarki who is 90 years old, loves to attend the CO meetings in his community.The CO, Sansaridevi and Setidevi is a mixed group. Though he is not a member - he is filling in for his grandson who he says has run away to Kolkata in India - he loves to listen to talks of development that the members engage in during the CO meeting.He is amazed at the strides his village has taken in the pastfew years. The change that has touched his heart the most, he says, is that people have slowly started forgetting about the caste system and untouchability. |
Seeing Bananas
Sitapur and Udarapur VDC in Banke have started banana farming. The farming is being done in two hectares of land. Two COs in Udarapur - Janasewa and Saraswati and two COs in Sitapur - Danfe and Pragatisheel Samudayik Sansthan have planted 3400 banana saplings. Before the plantation, the CO members were taken for a field visit to Radha Krishna Hamal Banana Research Centre and Banana Plant Development Committee in Tikapur, Kailali. Banana farming is very successful in this district. Besides the COs, VDC chairmen, social mobilizers, and the chief of the Agriculture Service Sub Center also took part in the field visit. After the conclusion of the visit, a discussion programme was held where the members of the trip shared their experiences with others.The trip was financed by the two VDC’s themselves.The COs then requested a sum of Rs. 20,000 from the VDP through the technology transfer funds to buy banana saplings.
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By the end of June a total of 1435 PPI projects had been initiated and a total of 1035 had been completed. Of the completed projects 654 were in the drinking water sector, 295 in the irrigation sector, 6 in micro hydro, and 80 were natural resource management projects. These projects benefited a total of 38,400 CO members from 1237 COs. Of the completed projects, 95% are said to be functioning well. |
Electricity in Chafamandu
The 12.5 kw micro-hydro initiated in June 1999 in Chafamandu VDC, Achham, was recently completed and was inaugurated by the DDC Chairperson. The project’s feasibility had been undertaken with the support of REDP. The Rs. 1,927,108 project was jointly undertaken as per an agreement signed between LTFB, Chafamandu VDC and ADB/N. During the inaugural ceremony the DDC Chairman said, “We have been able to complete this project in such a short period as compared to the projects carried out by the line agencies. The main reason behind this is the strong participation of the local people right from the beginning of the project.” The micro hydro has a 35metre head with a 81metre penstock pipe and has electrified 193 households in a 2 km range.
PUBLIC PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP
PPP Districts
PPP is currently being implemented in Tanahun, Kaski, Syangja, Rupandehi, Nawalparasi and Banke. In these districts the programme is providing support to 62 Self Help Organisations (SHO) as per the proposal of the Chamber of Commerce and Industries (CCI). 1771 SHO members (906 female) of these SHOs are engaged in enterprises like: vegetable production and marketing, papaya nursery and production; orange marketing; poultry, goat and pig farming; bee-keeping; milk cooperatives, bead-making; incense-stick production; candle making, dhaka weaving; masyeura making.
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PPP Enterprises Identified
Potential areas of PPP and SHO formation have been identified in Public Private Partnership Committee (PPPC) meetings participated by the DDCs, CCIs, Government Organizations (GOs) and other UNDP programmes. Four feasible enterprises were identified as: Cattle Feed, Ice Cream, Mushroom farming and Bee-keeping.
The ‘Masyeura’ Story
The masyeura enterprise started in Tanahun within the PPP framework is proving to be very successful. The enterprise was started by Mrs. Sabitri Shrestha with a total investment of Rs. 174,625 of which Rs. 74,625 is her own money. Tanahun CCI extended Rs. 50,000 credit to the enterprise and she obtained Rs. 50,000 loan from ADB/N Tanahun. The enterprise currently employs four women and one female part-timer. The masyeura unit has already processed 20 muri of black lentil and is selling the prepared masyeuras in 200gm packets in selected departmental stores in Pokhara and Tanahun. The yam stalks needed for the masyeura is being farmed by the SHO members. Rural Urban Partnership Programme (RUPP) is providing support to market the masyeuras.
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
Decentralised Human Resource Development
PDDP has been advocating for the decentralised system for human resource development at the local level. It was in this context, that HRDUs were established and the process of making them functional in accordance to the provisions of LSGA at the district level was initiated. PDDP then provided technical support to all the DDCs in accelerating the HRD activities at the district level by assessing these needs and addressing the needs identified.
With the introduction of regional management system within PDDP’s organisational structure, more financial and management authorities have been devolved at the sub managerial level. This has been the case for HRD Unit also. It is in this context that training unit at the centre now provides technical support to SRO in designing training courses, coordinating the central level activities and providing feedback of the training as a part of monitoring. The SRO is more responsible and accountable to address the HRD needs of the districts at the regional level and make the HRDUs more functional.
Training on Planning Tools and Techniques
Training on Planning Tools and Techniques were organised for three groups of Programme Officers in Nepalgunj, Palpa and Pokhara on 23-29 March, 4-9 May and 20-25 May 2001 respectively. These trainings were basically organised by the SRO and the respective HRDUs of DDC with technical support from the training unit. The major objective of the training was to impart knowledge on planning tools for data analysis and transfer the data into information for planning purpose. The Programme Assistants ( PAs), Programme Officers (POs) of Salyan, Rukum and Jajarkot and Kanchanpur participated in the training held at Nepalgunj. POs of Rupandehi, Kavre, Palpa, staff of Arghakhachi, were participants in the training organised at Palpa. POs and planning officers of Manang, Mustang, Lamjung and Gorkha participated in the training organised at Pokhara. The participation of planning officers in the training was very much encouraging.
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Gender Sensitisation Training
Training was organised at Kailali, Dhangadhi on Gender and PRA from 11-16 June, 2001. The SRO and HRDU Kailali organised the training with technical support from PDDP and Mainstreaming Gender Equity Programme, MGEP/UNDP. The basic objective of the training was to sensitise the staff on gender and development, impart skills on gender analysis using Harvard Analytical Tools and impart knowledge on gender sensitive PRA tools. The participants included selected 21 staff, nominated by the LTFB from Accham, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Kailali and Kanchanpur.
Training on MEC
As of May 2001 altogether 311 CO members including 112 female members have received training on Micro Enterprise Creation (MEC). The aim of the MEC initiative is to facilitate the process of creating viable micro enterprise in the district. In line with this, the LTFBs of Kavre, Kaski, Nuwakot and Dadeldhura have conducted follow up of the previously conducted MEC training programmes. Of the 124 CO members who undertook the training, 64 (52%) had already initiated enterprises as per their plan and 28 (23%)were in the process of doing so. They have started enterprises like lapsi candy making, trading, vegetable, poultry, ginger farming, furniture making, masyeura making, milk collection and distribution, etc.
Training on Log Frame Approach
A total of 10 PDDP staff from four regions and five districts, including the SRMs, R/DDAs received training on Log Frame Approach and Periodic Planning Facilitation. The training was facilitated by HURDEC. Staff after training said they could now conduct workshop on same in their districts with just some technical support from outside.
Social Mobilisation Training
Refresher training on Social Mobilisation for the Senior Staff of LTF from the Central and Western North has been completed in coordination with Social Mobilisation Experimentation and Learning Centre (SMLC). There were 26 participants in the workshop.
SUPPORT TO MICRO MACRO POLICIES
By-Laws Published, Revised
The VDC, DDC and Municipality administrative and financial by-laws on LSGA, which were prepared with technical assistance from PDDP and LGP, have been published by MLD. The Programmes have also supported MLD in the dissemination of the by-laws. Similarly, LTF Directives and by-laws have been revised to incorporate the suggestions offered at the Consultative Workshops and have been forwarded to MLD. The Directives and by-laws are expected to be approved by MLD soon. Once the LTF by-laws and Directives are approved, they will form the basis for legalising both LTF and COs.
DDC Accounting Package Approved
The user-friendly accounting package for enhancing the DDC’s financial management system has now been approved by MLD. The package is based on the Financial Regulations of LSGA. Before approval the amended package was pilot tested in Kavre and Morang districts. This package will be installed initially in 13 PDDP/LGP districts with priority given to LDF-supported districts. The PDDP districts include Achham, Banke, Kaski, Kanchanpur, Kavre, Rupandehi and Tanahun. A training programme is being organised to orient DDC accountants on the package.
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Districts Categorised
In order to streamline programme support to the district, it was imperative for the Programme to know the status of the districts as per their performance, professionalism, and capability. Accordingly, the Programme did an internal assessment based on the indicators drawn up at the PDDP Consultative Session participated by the programme management and the SRMs/RDA. The districts have thus been categorised as A, B, C, and D categories based on their performance on DDC Institutional capacity, financial management and LTF performance.
Institutional Review Exercise
The Local Self Governance Act 1999 has provided extensive authority, responsibility and resources to the local authorities (DDCs, VDCs, Municipalities) to plan, implement, coordinate and manage decentralised local development. In order to meet these expanded responsibilities and mandate, the DDCs will need to strengthen their existing capacities and fill the capacity gaps. In line with this, a proposal was prepared and approved by the PDDP Programme Management Committee (PMC) to conduct institutional review of DDCs for assessing their capacity building needs.
Accordingly, Rupandehi and Udaypur (LGP) districts were selected to carry out the study. The basic objective of this study was to undertake an institutional review of the DDCs to assess their capacity building requirements in line with the prescribed mandate and functions as per LSGA. Through this exercise, DDCs will be able to prioritise their institutional development needs, identify the capacity gaps and also formulate appropriate strategy to enhance their capacity to better address and achieve sustainable local development.
In this context, the Development Management Institute (DMI) was assigned to carry out the institutional review of Rupandehi DDC from 12 to 18 August 2001. At the end of the fieldwork an action plan with 33 distinct activities were prepared and finalised on a participatory basis. The DDC board endorsed the action plan. A follow up task force of three members has also been formed. The exercise has motivated the staff members and DDC office bearers to undertake positive changes within the DDC.2
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MLD’s Communication Unit to be Strengthened
Initial discussions are being held with MLD and media firms to prepare a scheme for the production of radio programmes for MLD on a ‘on-the-job-training’ basis, as well as to assess the capacity of MLD’s Communication Unit to take over publication and broadcasting functions.
Support to NPC on Periodic Plan
PDDP provided technical assistance to NPC to help institutionalise the districts’ periodic plan review and approval process. A three-member technical task force constituted by NPC reviewed the periodic plans submitted by 14 districts and provided substantive comments for improvements. The plans of seven districts namely Kavre, Palpa, Morang, Jhapa, Ramechhap, Sindhupalchowk, Sunsari have been technically approved as complete while the plans prepared by Bhojpur, Nawalparasi, Chitwan, Kaski, Dadeldhura, Dang, and Dhading districts are being revised as per the comments made. The work of the Task Force was instrumental not only in expediting the preparation of the periodic plans in advanced districts but also in raising heightened awareness among other peers to initiate the process.
REGIONAL MANAGEMENT
In order to make the Programme more decentralised, liberal and result oriented, PDDP made changes in its organisational structure in the year 2000. The new structure arranged for offices to be established in the four sub regions of the Central, Western, Mid-Western and Far Western Regions. From this issue onwards, the bulletin will report on the development activities taking place under the management of SROs in these four regions. The items below have been taken from the QPRs sent in by the SRMs and the bulletins brought out by the SROs.
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QPR Devolved to SROs
The collation and analysis of the quarterly progress reports (QPR) of Programme activities has now been devolved to the Sub Regional Offices (SRO). The SROs now compile the progress reports of their districts, analyse them and report to the centre. The Research & Monitoring Unit (RMU) at the centre which had been earlier doing the entire compilation and analysis, now compiles the regional data and further analyses the progress of programme activities. The Research Assistants of the SROs had earlier been oriented on QPR analysis.
Sub Regional Office - Far Western
Shootings and Soybean
The DDCs of the far west region has a Regional Networking Forum which meets twice a year. Development experiences are shared during the meeting and regional development issues are also implemented through the use of Regional Development Management Fund (RDMF). The recent decisions taken by the forum is the feasibility study on soybean-based industry for which local consultants were hired. Dadeldhura DDC has taken the responsibility to accomplish this assignment. Data collection and compilation for the scheme are already under way. The forum has also decided to produce a tourism-focused video of the region, which Kanchanpur DDC is going to supervise . Local consultants were hired to identify suitable places to include in the documentary. Film shooting in Kailali, Kanchanpur, Dadeldhura and Doti is already complete. The documentary is expected to be complete later in the year.
