The central Government as well as the state governments of Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh have promoted schemes and packages to help bring about development in this region. However, these services remain either poor or not availed. It has been noted that implementation of different government schemes is much poorer in Bundelkhand than the national average.

Development Alternatives (DA) is committed to facilitate social and economic development in Bundelkhand. Apart from working with the various projects that promote socio-economic development in this region, DA works very closely with the rural communities to help them avail their rights and entitlements. The work in this domain is focused mainly on women and farmer groups.

At present, DA is actively creating awareness on people’s rights to services, entitlements and justice in more than 500 villages in Bundelkhand. This helps strengthen the processes related to accountability, democracy and governance which are central to development. Community awareness and social campaigning activities are also carried out. Apart from creating community awareness on rights and entitlements, DA also facilitates, trains and handholds the communities to avail these services. Convergence has also been facilitated with existing government schemes. Development Alternatives has integrated the entitlements approach in most of the community development projects. This not only empowers the community members, but also allows for effective implementation of government schemes and services allowing for an enabling and empowered environment for development. It also empowers the community to demand transparency and accountability, leading to reduced corruption and improved governance.

With an aim to leave a long-term impact and promote sustainable development processes and outcomes, DA works with the communities to help them avail their social, economic and political rights through institutions like Village Development Committees and Self Help Groups.

DA develops these groups and works closely with them to understand the issues they are facing, along with their priorities. The project team and community mobilisers identify different government programmes that can help the community members. The issues are discussed in group meetings and details of government programmes and schemes are shared. Apart from that, people are made aware of their political rights, economic opportunities and legal entitlements. The members of these groups are motivated and encouraged to take a lead and contact the concerned government department or office so as to get the desired benefits. This approach of motivating people to take a lead helps develop their confidence and become change agents. DA’s work is generally focused on issues of basic needs fulfillment, access to justice and economic empowerment.

In helping the community avail of their basic needs, the focus is on water, sanitation, energy and housing needs of the poor. Communities are made aware and trained to avail these facilities. They are provided with contact details of government offices and all issues are discussed in details. In the year 2011-2012, DA has facilitated access to clean water to more than 10,000 households. It has also facilitated the construction of 200 toilets under the Government of India’s Total Sanitation Campaign and 80 houses under the Indira Awaas Yojana and the Mukhya Mantri Awaas Yojana in the last one year. DA has also promoted clean sources of energy in the villages.

DA helps women and community members avail legal entitlements and justice services. Under a UNDP funded project, DA has facilitated the training of 300 paralegal workers who support village women to avail their legal rights like access to information, right to work etc. Under the International Fund for Agriculture Development’s (IFAD) Tejaswini project, DA is helping rural women avail their social and political rights as well. The women are trained to participate in local governance processes, and provided with information on government support schemes that support women empowerment. They are also encouraged to send their children to schools.

Most of the working population in Bundelkhand depends on agriculture as the primary source of income. Degrading natural resources along with the threats of climate change are making the rural communities here very vulnerable. Livelihood diversification, increased income and promotion of sustainable practices are vital to enable economic and social empowerment in the region.

The communities are acquainted to programmes that provide employment as well as augment the natural capital in the region. DA also promotes the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) thereby helping the rural communities find jobs. DA also conducts awareness campaigns regarding different climate resilient practices such as efficient irrigation systems, multi cropping systems etc. which have helped farmers increase their productivity and income.

DA also promotes economic empowerment of women self help groups by helping them run small enterprises.

DA pursues the approach of ensuring access to entitlements. This has helped various rural communities achieve social justice and effective service delivery. This approach has also enhanced the impact of programmes and projects as it empowers the community members creating stronger social capital. It strengthens the processes of governance and democracy. DA’s work in this space has been mainly supported by the Department for International Development (DFID), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), JICA, NABARD and the Government of Madhya Pradesh. The Development Alternatives Group hopes to continue its work in this domain of creating an enabling environment for sustainable development in the Bundelkhand region. q