SOIL Report 2008 - ACCESS Development Services

Public Systems: Major central government anddonor-supported programmes for Livelihood Promotion(iv) West Bengal Strengthening Rural Decentralisation Program (SRD)West Bengal SRD builds the capacity of gram Panchayats (elected village level committees) in support ofthe State policy on decentralised governance. The Program provides an untied poverty fund to supportlivelihoods activities and delivery of services as defined in action plans prepared by Gram Panchayats.It builds the capacity of PRIs down to the Gram Panchayat to plan and implement development plansin participation with village communities. SRD has played a key role in skill building, provision of socialservices, improving infrastructure and strengthening resilience to natural disasters such as floods. Phase1 of the project covered the period from 2005-07, while Phase 2 covers 2008-11.(v) Orissa Tribal Empowerment and Livelihoods Programme (OTELP)Initiated in 2005, OTELP is co-funded by IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) andbuilds the capacity of poor tribal communities to manage their own development. It aims to ensure thatthe livelihoods and food security of poor tribal households are sustainably improved through promotinga more efficient, equitable, self-managed and sustainable exploitation of the natural resources at theirdisposal through off-farm/non-farm enterprises development. Particular attention is given to access toland and to the management of common property resources such as pastures and forests.The specific objectives of the programme are to:• Build the capacity of marginal groups as individuals, and grassroots institutions.• Enhance the access of poor tribal people to land, water and forests and increase the productivityof these resources in a sustainable and equitable way.• Encourage and facilitate off-farm enterprise development focussed on the needs of the people.• Monitor the basic food entitlements of tribal and ensure their access to public food supplies.• Strengthen the institutional capacity of government agencies, PRI, NGOs and civil society.• Encourage the development of pro-tribal enabling environment.• Build on the indigenous knowledge and values of tribal and blend these with technological innovations.(vi) Eastern India and Western India Rainfed Farming Projects (EIRFP andWIRFP)Completed in 2005 and 2007 respectively and, these projects pioneered the use of jankars (para-professionals)to promote innovation at the village level. Particularly, such innovation covered varietal selectionand plant breeding for sustainable improvements of crop yield, and improving opportunities for thosewho chose to migrate. For example, WIRFP helped poor farmers to collaborate with research scientiststo develop crop varieties and agricultural technologies that are suited to their local conditions and meettheir needs. WIRFP also included an innovative and demand driven migration project, which is nowinforming other programmes. Migration facilitation centres were established, to provide communication,insurance, ID cards, information on employment opportunities, assistance in wage negotiations,and training on migrant rights. A Migration Hub, funded by DFID and the ILO, has been establishedat the national level, as a platform for policy dialogue on migration issues.LearningsA more productive approach is to identify where and under what circumstances SL can add truly addvalue. If some consensus can be reached on this there is greater scope for moving forward in a mannerthat builds upon, rather than discards, SL’s achievements.This section outlines the areas which DFID staff have identified as being important, based on their ownwork. The final section of the paper is more open and speculative.127