What it Takes to Eradicate Poverty
A Conference to Review and Celebrate the Impact of PACS Programme

The National Conference on 'What it Takes to Eradicate Poverty', witnessed the final reviewing of seven long years of hard work, in painstaking detail. In presentation after presentation summarised by independent analysts to maintain a critical and neutral tone, it became clear that the years of hard work had not been in vain and that crucial inroads had been made into what had, at the outset, been a seemingly enormous task. As Chairman Ashok Khosla noted, ‘In a nation of 110 crore people, 80 crore are marginalized; of these PACS has touched the lives of 60 lakhs’. Setting the direction for future action he added, ‘PACS II must continue to touch these 60 lakh lives and also reach out to another crore’. The impact of PACS was brought out in a book Combating Drought in Maharashtra released on the occasion and also by a Marathi song by Dalit activist Manisha Tokle, who is spearheading the Zamin Adhikar Andolan in Marathwada. Language was no constraint as the 500-strong audience that came from areas as far-flung as Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand joined her in one voice.
  
This celebration was organised by management consultants, DA and PricewaterHouse Cooper (PwC) at the India Habitat Centre on December 4, 2007 to mark the culmination of its seven-year-old Poorest Areas Civil Society Programme (PACS).

Kiran Sharma, Program Director, PACS programme, welcomed all the delegates. Two members of Bal Panchayats from Maharashtra, and two community members from the Self Help Groups (SHGs) spoke of their achievements and the effect of PACS programme on their lives. Kiran Sharma made a brief presentation on the 25-million pound, seven-year programme, managed by the consortium of DA and PwC, which is coming to a close in April 2008. This occasion was inaugurated by the Chief Guest, the Honorable Minister for Rural Development, GOI, Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh; Susanna Moorehead, Minister (Development) and Head Department for International Development (DFID); Dr Ashok Khosla, Chairperson DA; Dr N.C. Saxena, Commissioner, Supreme Court and George C. Varughese, President, DA.

Dr Ashok Khosla emphasised the importance of the civil society in bridging the gap between the rich and poor in India. He praised DFID for initiating a programme which addressed the problem in a very unique and innovative manner. Susanna Moorehead spoke on how PACS was an innovative programme involving civil society in poverty eradication. This was followed by the release of a book Managing Large Scale Development Initiatives by Civil Society Organizations and the Conference Brochure by Dr Raghuvansh Prasad Singh and Susanna Moorehead. Dr N.C. Saxena provided an overview on poverty in India. The vote of thanks was given by George C. Varughese.

The first plenary was on ‘Rural Basic Needs and Entitlements - Rozgar aur Paryavas’, which emphasised the needs of the people. The report titled ‘Status of NREGA Implementation, 2006-2007’ was released by Subas Pani, Secretary - Rural Development, Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.
 
In the second plenary on ‘Local self governance’, The Honorable Minister, Panchayati Raj, Mani Shanker Aiyar was the chief guest for the programme. It emphasised the importance of Panchayati Raj in villages. The minister was requested to use the channel named EDUSAT to promote education about the Panchayati Raj.
 
The third plenary on social exclusion had Vishwanath Todkar, Paryay, Maharashtra, speaking on Dalit rights. Dr. Javed Abidi from National Centre for Promotion of Employment of Disabled People (NCPEDP), Delhi also spoke on the rights of persons with disabilities.
 
The first Session was on ‘Networking and Partnerships’, where a range of issues were discussed. The theme paper on `Networking and Partnerships among Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) was presented by Amod Khanna. The other sessions comprised themes like 'Community Enabling Partnerships', 'Business Enabling Partnerships' and 'The Role of IT in Networking and Partnerships'.
 
In the second session on Women’s Empowerment, Dr Mohini Giri, Guild Services, Delhi, agreed with the theme paper presenter that freedom from powerlessness is very important and recommended the inclusion of men in the empowerment of women and the changing of men’s mentality. ‘Balance in society is the key for empowerment – walk with men, not ahead or behind’, she said. Rakesh Chandra, Institute of Women’s Studies, Lucknow, presented the theme paper `Empowering Women, Reducing Poverty’
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The thematic session, Livelihoods, started with the theme paper ‘Change in Livelihood Patterns of Rural People – Social Protection, Public Performance and Accountability’, by B.N. Hiremath of the Institute of Rural Management, Anand. According to him, India’s growth rate ranks second only to China. However, the benefits of such a growth have been seen mostly in the urban sector. In the same vein, David Radcliff, DFID, stressed on some major issues – growth not reaching the poor; how agriculture can help reduce poverty; whether people are becoming less food secure. 'It is important to identify the demands and then have skill development and training to enhance livelihood', he said.
 
This truly memorable valedictory session ended on a celebratory note as Arundhati Roychoudhary, Advisor, Department for International Development (DFID), assured everyone present that PACS Phase II was now definitely a reality. The audience rose to their feet in applause. An anthem specially composed for the PACS endeavor by Palash Sen played in the background. ‘Hum aage ayenge, kaun hame ab rok payega…’ (We are forging ahead, who can now stop us) became the beat to which about 500 participants danced with vibrant enthusiasm alongside Development Alternative’s Chairman Ashok Khosla, President George Varughese, and PACS Program Director Kiran Sharma.
 
George Varughese, in the vote of thanks, noted that it was an emotional moment for him, PACS Director Kiran Sharma and indeed the entire team. He expressed this as ‘A culmination of happiness, satisfaction and sadness. Go back and tell those you worked with in the villages that we will not let go. Our partnership with you will continue.' He especially thanked each and every partner and participant in PACS for maintaining a very high level of integrity, adding that DFID had lauded PACS for this endeavour. ‘Therefore,’ he asserted, ‘all of us need to go back and meticulously attend to all the final details, such as the paperwork and accounting. Let us continue to show integrity and excellence till the end.' He also acknowledged the freedom entrusted by DFID to the 25-million pound PACS programme, stating, ‘We have been accountable for this freedom’.
 
PACS promises to be a path breaker and PACS phase II is now eagerly looked forward to. q           

PACS Team
pacsindia@devalt.org

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