DFID highlights strengthened gram sabhas

Bhopal, May 3 (UNI) The UK-based Department For International Development's Director-General (Corporate) Sue Owen has said that the issues in sustainable livelihood and livelihood protection could be addressed efficiently by strengthened gram sabhas.

''The involvement of the gram sabha in decision-making regarding poverty reduction strategy and policies will set a good example for other democratic nations. The provision of capacity-building of an institution enjoying constitutional authority itself assures sustainability of processes and alternatives in the development sector,'' she said, as per an official release issued here today.

Ms Owen visited Dhar district's Semlipura village, covered under the Madhya Pradesh Rural Livelihood Project (MPRLP), and was accompanied by DFID India Head Susanna Moorhead.

When rural folk asked about the MPRLP's second phase, the DFID representatives assured that the phase was on schedule. Meetings of gram sabhas have become regular in more than 800 villages of eight districts under MPRLP and utilisation of the Gram Kosh or Village Fund with discretion is increasing to mitigate poverty.

The DFID representatives interacted with several villagers from at least five villages who gathered at Semlipura. Ms Owen and Ms Moorhead asked the villagers about their experiences in poverty alleviation by their choice through voluntary participation in planning processes at different levels.

Sohan Singh, Ambaram and Kota Bai -- residents of nearby Jodva village -- informed the DFID representatives that they found it easy to fight poverty because everything is done with transparency according to their own planning and suggested measures, the release added.

UNI