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Impact Assessment of the District Poverty Initiative Project Rajasthan

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Preface<br />

The study <strong>Impact</strong> <strong>Assessment</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Poverty</strong> <strong>Initiative</strong> <strong>Project</strong>, <strong>Rajasthan</strong> is commissioned by <strong>the</strong><br />

State <strong>Project</strong> Monitoring Unit <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>District</strong> <strong>Project</strong> <strong>Initiative</strong> <strong>Project</strong> (DPIP) assisted by <strong>the</strong><br />

World Bank with <strong>the</strong> objective to study <strong>the</strong> impact <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> DPIP and suggest some possible future<br />

directions for <strong>the</strong> second phase <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> project if implemented. The DPIP addresses<br />

multidimensional aspects <strong>of</strong> poverty that includes mobilizing and empowering <strong>the</strong> poor and help<br />

<strong>the</strong>m to develop strong grassroots organizations that facilitate access to and participation in<br />

democratic and development processes; expand <strong>the</strong> involvement <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> poor in economic activities by<br />

improving <strong>the</strong>ir capacities, skills, access to social and economic infrastructure and services and employment<br />

opportunities; and supporting small scale sub-projects that are priority chosen, planned and<br />

implemented by <strong>the</strong> poor.<br />

The <strong>Impact</strong> assessment has covered only a select number <strong>of</strong> Indicators identified in <strong>the</strong> Base Line<br />

Survey (BLS) conducted earlier by <strong>the</strong> Institute. The Survey was conducted in all seven districts<br />

<strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> DPIP and covered around 1100 households.<br />

We find that <strong>the</strong> economic returns from <strong>the</strong> Sub <strong>Project</strong> Activities are reasonable; varying across<br />

<strong>the</strong> projects. Dairy projects have been able to generate regular income flows due to significant<br />

forward linkages. In o<strong>the</strong>rs, returns are linked to local demand and environment and group<br />

dynamics appears to be playing a role. The impact can also be seen in terms <strong>of</strong> increased<br />

incomes, reduced family sizes, creation <strong>of</strong> assets, and enhanced women participation in decision<br />

making. There are however, many lessons to be learnt in <strong>the</strong> processes and outcomes. There<br />

many grey areas where added efforts and more systematic approach to issues would have led<br />

better performance. All stakeholders have something to learn because all were found wanting.<br />

Any intervention <strong>of</strong> such magnitude is bound to have varied experiences for different<br />

stakeholders. It appears that enroute modifications are necessary to achieve better results. Poor<br />

have limited capacity to realize fuller gains from such interventions. Sustainability <strong>of</strong> assets and<br />

skills would go a long way in future to help poor get out poverty. Clusters need to be formed to<br />

help create demands and service supply channels. State has its limitations and civil society<br />

involvement can go to an extent; <strong>the</strong>ir capacities in terms <strong>of</strong> manpower and interventions are<br />

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