ASSESSMENT OF IMPACT
Mewat Area Development Project
Overview
1. The poverty of the project area is compounded by the ethnic culture and traditions of the Meo people, low levels of literacy, poor natural resource base and high population growth leading to fragmentation of landholding. However, proximity to the National Capital Region and the booming new economy in the Gurgaon, which is in the neighbourhood of Mewat, has had positive impact on the economy of Mewat. This is evident from the increased investments in dairy development to produce milk, growth of milk marketing cooperatives, floriculture and vegetable cultivation to cater to the neighbouring markets. However, pockets of poverty do exist due to the inability of such households to participate in the booming economy due to lack education, skills and resources.
2. It should be possible to measure the extent, degree and characteristics of the impact on poverty in terms of number of people or communities affected; in the quantum of change for the better and in the types of effects attained. In a multi-sectoral project, two categories of benefits and beneficiaries can be discerned: the first hand benefits and beneficiaries such as the increase in the income levels, increased area of cultivation, ability to move out of exploitative relationships; and the secondary benefits such as the improved health due to supply of treated water, increased ability to handle domestic violence.
3. The wealth ranking exercise was confined to the members of the Self Help Groups as the SHG members form the poorest strata of the community. The data from this exercise has thrown up some interesting results. Of the 1789 members in 137 SHGs, 1065 (60%) members were the poorest, 649 (36%) members were Poor, 73 (4%) members were medium poor and 2 members were better off. However, there was considerable variation across blocks.
4. The poverty status at the time of wealth ranking exercise indicates that the project has had substantial impact on the poverty status of the members participating in the SHG movement. The percentage of the poorest segment that was 60% of the total number of members at the time of joining the SHGs shrank to 4% of the total members at the end of the project period. The poor segment increased from 36% to 39%, the moderately poor segment increased from 4% to 48% and the better-off group increased from 0% to 9%.
Impact on Physical and Financial Assets
5. Production oriented activities of the Economic Activities component; irrigation expansion and improvement, livestock development and to a lesser extent those of the non-farm income diversification were the major and most direct sources of impact on the physical and financial assets of project area households. The community development, formal education and rural water supply activities have played a less direct but an important supporting role. The impact on physical and financial assets has been positive and substantial. On the agricultural front, the main sources of improvement have been: increased farm productivity and output due to better irrigation, use of better seeds and cultivation of crops that provide higher farm gate prices, leading to better food self-sufficiency as well as increased cash crop produce for sale - and resultant higher household incomes, less debt and therefore ability to invest. The promotion and support of milk marketing cooperatives, SHGs and small business ventures for women has also resulted in enhancement of family funds, net incomes and profits. Taking into account inflation adjustment, the real income of all the households have increased by 31.45%.
Impact on Human Assets
6. Health, nutritional status, access to safe and potable water, education, literacy, numeracy occupational skills and capability, drudgery and attitudinal traits of confidence, self-reliance, optimism and trust are the major elements of impact on human assets. There have been marked, positive effects on the human asset predicament of beneficiary households from most components and activities with the rural water supply, formal education and SHG movement as the major contributors.
7. The Community Development sub-component is the major contributor to improvement in human assets. The SHG movement has improved the attitudinal traits such as confidence, self-reliance, optimism and trust. The SHG movement has helped them to come out of the exploitative relationships thereby increasing their self-esteem and ability to negotiate in the market place with the backing of the group members. This apart, the SHG movement has provided the women a platform to discuss their problems and take collective actions to address the problems impacting the well being of members. The economic development activities including irrigation, livestock, arable crops development, soil conservation and horticulture have contributed to both adequacy of basic food supply and availability of family income, the two key determinants of both level of nutrition and accessibility - and affordability - of health and education services.
8. The human asset impact of intervention in rural water supply has been substantial as the water scarcity is rampant in the project area. The project has made good progress in supply of water to the water starved villages reducing the drudgery of women who had to spend several hours to collect water. This apart, supply of treated water has reduced the risk of water borne diseases.
Impact on Social Capital and Empowerment
9. Networks and social connections among family and peer are often thought to be among poor people assets. But extreme poverty can lead to disruption of social bonds and isolation.
10. The impact on social capital formation and people empowerment from a development viewpoint as witnessed by the level of participation, community self-reliance and involvement and empowerment for women, is exemplary. The community development and livestock development sub-components have been in the forefront of organizing beneficiary consultation and participatory planning for implementing the activities. The SHG mobilization has been the foundation on which social capital and empowerment has been built. The SHG activities did not directly address empowerment issues. This is one of the reasons for its quick acceptability. SHG mobilisation and the related economic activities have made subtle changes in the dynamics of the traditional Meo society that does not encourage women to move out for earning their livelihood. The women members of the SHGs who have become financially independent, travel to markets in other townships, and sit with men on an equal platform and discuss issues related to livelihood.
11. A key factor in social capital development and empowerment aspects is that of advancement of gender balance in development. MADP under its community development activities has been decisively effective in addressing the practical needs of women in accessing services and markets, by improving drinking water supply and by introducing savings and credit instruments. It was also successful in addressing the strategic needs of women, in terms of encouraging and fostering their managerial and entrepreneurial capabilities and involvement in decision-making, although more remains to be done.
Impact on Food Security
12. A change for the better has been brought about by increased irrigation, soil conservation measures, use of hybrid seeds, adoption of diversified cropping patterns with emphasis on both more marketable food and vegetable and cash crops. These activities coupled with SHG led savings and credit schemes typically have moved participating households from a position of food insecurity for three to four months of the year to a state of actual or near food self-sufficiency in most of the recent years.
Impact on Environment
13. The soil and water conservation measures implemented by the project had positive impact on the environment. Mewat being a chronically water deficit area, there is constant pressure on the ground water with severe reduction in the height of water table. The soil and water conservation efforts with field bunding, check dams, percolation tanks, etc have increased the soil moisture levels around the treated area and has also resulted in the increased height of the water table. In addition, the beneficial impacts include erosion control and marked increase in water use.
14. The crop development sub-component with demonstrations related to use of bio-fertilisers and organic farming have had a positive impact on the environment with reduction in the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides.
15. The rural water supply sub-component has been environmentally beneficial in terms of public health.
Impact on Institutions and Policies
16. The project had positive impact on both grassroots institutions and the project implementing agencies. The project implementing agencies such as the MDA and other line departments had to adjust their approaches and delivery systems. The main manifestations to date have been the improved appreciation at the level of MDA and the District Administration, the need of participatory processes to implement pro-poor development activities. Most of the NGOs engaged by the project to implement the project activities continue to work along with the community and the government continues to support these activities on a less intensive manner even after closure of the project.
17. The State and district authorities expressed the view that they were impressed and satisfied with the overall beneficial impact and level of success of the project, so much so that the approach and design would be likely to help to shape their future development strategy and policies.
Impact on Gender
18. The Project has had an exemplary impact in expanding the role and influence and uplifting the status of women in the Meo communities. While the final step of enabling their full and open participation in the higher councils of society - and having this change accepted by the male leaders and elders - is yet to be secured, in virtually every other respect of involvement in - and benefit from - project activities, a remarkable degree of gender equity has been attained through SHG mobilization and establishment of milk marketing cooperatives.
19.The project, under the formal education sub-component laid substantial emphasis on education of girl children. The project built hostels for girls, provided infrastructure and provided scholarships for education. These efforts have resulted in increased girl child enrolment to the schools.
Source: Project Completion Report of Mewat Area Development Project |
