BAIF-NAIP

Consortium Partners: Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth, Akola Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth, Rahuri Maharashtra Animal & Fishery Sciences University, Nagpur Bharati Vidyapeeth University, Pune Dr. Hedgewar Seva Samiti, Nandurbar

PEOPLE'S PARTICIPATION FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPEMENT

Participation of people is most essential component while working for their sustainable development. BAIF considers People’s Organizations,as ‘organizations promoted through BAIF’s project initiatives’ in its area of operation. The People’s Organizations operate as an intermediate structure to reach out to masses and carries out various functions simultaneously at the community level. The village level groups provide access to various services and improve project delivery. POs are considered essential to the long-term sustainability of development through project in the villages. Therefore people’s organizations need to be nurtured and strengthened. More and more women would be encouraged to be members of POs at all levels,besides SHGs.

Primary Groups:- Groups at village level like SHGs, Farmer’s groups (wadi tukadi) and Gopalak Sangh are primary groups.

» Maximum number of SHGs should be promoted in the project area. SHGs are primary groups, working at village level. SHG operates
as a medium for integrating women and marginalized people in the mainstream of development process.
» Other groups we can promote are Farmers’ groups,wadi tukadi and Go-palak Sangh. Such primary groups work as a link and support
to members engaged in similar activity at village level. These groups should include both men and women.

Village level Committee:- Representatives from community level primary groups such as Wadi tukadi, SHGs, farmers’ groups will form this informal committee. This committee will represent their village in cluster level committee.

A cluster level committee would consist representatives from villagelevel bodies. But before formation of this committee village level groups need to be strengthened so that they will be able to represent their own group as well as village in larger committees.

Leval of PO	Membership	Function
Primary group	10-20 members who regularly meet	» Developing trust and cooperation between the members. » Work as support and a sharing group for members and may collect and manage saving and credit of the members. » Undertaking local developmental issues and social activities. » Exchange and learning. » Helping implement project activities.
Village level committee (informal)	Representatives from primary groups in villages (12-15 members)	» Promotion and strengthening of groups in village. » Working on development issues at a village level. » Continuing a link between the primary groups in village and cluster level committee.
Cluster level Committee	Representatives from all village level committees in cluster (11-15 members)	» Providing value addition services to products/services of members (marketing of farm yield, processing of farm products). » Networking with government, financial institutions and marketing agencies » Capacity building for operation and management of PO and judicious use of funds

Functions of People’s Organizations:- Our work would involve capacity building of POs. So that in the long run, they would be independently handling responsibilities. At each stage there is different function to be played.