Livelihood project 2nd phase in MP

Bhopal, Apr 8 (UNI) The Department for International Development (DFID) of Britain has recommended that the second phase of the Rural Livelihood Project, with an allocation of Rs 585 crore, should be started in Madhya Pradesh.

The first phase of the project, with a total allocation of Rs 115 crore, was operational in 827 villages of Dhar, Jhabua, Barwani, Sheopur, Mandla, Shahdol, Anuppur and Dindori districts. In the second phase, predominantly tribal districts would be included, official sources said today.

During five-day review of the project between April 3-7, the DFID Annual Review Mission visited Jhalpani, Barai, Gaitra, Kusmi, Umarwada, Kotasangva and Penthsara villages in Mandla district and held discussions with the villagers on the methodology and processes to be adopted by the project.

Mission team leader and rural livelihood advisor Ken De Souza at a wrap-up meeting with Rural Development Principal Secretary Pradeep Bhargava here yesterday said the basic systems and institutional arrangements underpinning the project were sound and the project design remained valid and fit for the purpose. The Mission recommended that the design of the second phase should be started.

Mr Bhargava expressed the need to widen the coverage of the project and to orient it for delivering positive outcome. He also suggested adoption of social audit for enhancing transparency at the community level.

He also directed to ensure that the district project management committee actively took up the issues of health and education services in project villages through convergence with other departments.

According to official sources, the Annual Review Mission expressed satisfaction with the focus and arrangements for Gram Sabhas in the project and recommended additional intervention for capacity building of Gram Sabhas and Panchayati Raj institutions.

The Mission recognised the significant steps to be taken to inform beneficiaries of fund availability, disbursement and activities. It also highlighted the evidence of strong ownership and identification with project funds in some villages and appreciated the clear focus of the project towards betterment of poor. The Mission recommended better convergence with other departments and programmes for benefitting the poor.

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