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Social Mobilisation
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NRSP utilises Social Mobilisation
as the primary means of supporting rural men and women in their
efforts to alleviate poverty. The essence of the process of social
mobilisation is encouraging men and women to form a group, typically
consisting of 20-25 members, known as a Community Organization (CO). Our
experience shows that the
 CO
is an important forum for empowering people to take an active role in
the management of local development initiatives. By 'social' is meant
on the basis of common ground for a common purpose. A 'mobilized'
community is one that is able to identify its needs and
find the resources necessary to meet those needs. Those resources may
be their own savings or labour, or funds or information from a Line
Department.
A CO is more than a collection of individuals: it is an entity comprising of
members who work for the collective good of the community. A properly
functioning CO has both social and economic 'value', thus in a position to
contribute to alleviating poverty. On the social side, it brings
people together to work for the common good. On the economic side, the
CO functions as a conduit for the micro-credit that households use to
generate income, and as a base for accumulating savings and putting
those savings to work for community development. The CO also attracts
funds for new activities, both through NRSP and through the links it
establishes with Government Departments and with the private/
corporate sector.
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Activists|
Arsala Khan Takkar (an
honest & committed activist) | |
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Saaf Goan Khushhal Log Project (Clean Villages Prosperous People)
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Activists
NRSP's most successful accomplishment is the identification
of thousands of community volunteers, whom we call 'Activists', who have
been instrumental in implementing all these activities. It is only this
"social capital" that will lead to sustainable community development.
We pay tribute to the men and women who have formed COs, and given their
time and energy to ensure that local needs have been met. The CO members
who are also Community Activists work tirelessly to bring ideas and
improvements to fruition. Some have contributed by registering their COs
as Citizen Community Boards while others have acted as village level
specialists in agriculture/livestock, CO managers, Lady Health Workers and
Village Education Committee members to provide a variety of services at
the grassroots. |
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Arsala Khan
Takkar, An Honest and Committed Activist
Almost two years have passed since we lost Mr. Arsala Khan Takkar, an
honest and committed social worker and a dedicated activist. Mr. Khan was
a resident of the Village of Takkar, located near the famous town of Takht
Bhai. He owned 12.5 acres of irrigated lands.
Arsala Khan volunteered to join hands with NRSP - ADC to carry out social
mobilization activities in his village. His efforts inspired the 150
irrigators who belonged to his WUA to convert their watercourse into a
Minor and to construct new watercourses. Arsala Khan contacted and
convinced each irrigator on the watercourse of the value of the new
scheme. It would not have been possible to initiate or complete the scheme
without his devoted efforts. He learned Community Management and
Leadership Management skills from NRSP, after which he devoted all of his
time to community development activities. He believed that the
participatory approach was the best possible solution for addressing the
problems of under-developed rural communities. Arsala Khan was a founding
member of a cluster organization formed by the WUAs of the ADC project.
Its purpose was to undertake initiatives for the development of farming
communities like his own. It was challenging to organise farmers from
different areas and political backgrounds to think, plan and act together.
He and his colleagues were able to give this organization a structure and
general framework of action in only six months. They were able to turn the
organization into a developmental forum without any political bias. This
organization held successful elections in all the field units of ADC Swabi
SCARP: Arsala Khan was unanimously elected as the first President of the
organization.
For the first time the organization was represented in the vigilance
committees formed to monitor the purchase of tobacco from farmers. They
also started a fertilizer agency to supply quality fertilizer at rates
lower than the market rate to Swabi SCARP WUA members. This organization
later served as the base for the establishment of a Farmer's Support Unit
(FSU) in the field units. The FSU was designed to produce and distribute
high quality seeds on a commercial basis, at the local level. It was also
designed to initiate the joint purchase and marketing of products by
farmers. Arsala Khan is no more with us, but his work and contribution in
this area and his own village will always be remembered. He did all this
without expecting any reward or personal gain. May his soul rest in peace.
Ameen!
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Based on the groundwork done by NRSP’s Physical Infrastructure &
Technology Development (PITD), NRSP’s Low Cost Sanitation Unit was
established on 1st July 2004.
The Unit assumes that the development of an effective and efficient
village sanitation system, coupled with local job creation, can bring
about significant improvements in the lives of poor villagers. A
well-managed village sanitation system is one of the best means for
reducing poverty and improving the lives of the rural poor.
The proposed Interventions include:
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Development of Sanitation Infrastructure.
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Training Community Activists. |
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A ‘Sanitation Awareness’ Campaign. |
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Supporting and facilitating and technical guidance to community
members, in designing and constructing environment-friendly houses and
streets.
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Micro-Credit for improving existing houses, constructing additional
rooms. |
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Installing household latrines.
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Sanitation related enterprises such as solid-waste collection.
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Kitchen gardening and related activities. |
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The unit is presently engaged in developing procedures and guidelines.
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