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Final Report
End Term Evaluation
of
Access to Social and Economic Justice
Type I Programme
DANCHURCHAID
South Asia Regional Office- New Delhi
By
Aasha Ramesh
May 2012
1
Contents
Executive Summary
1. Introduction:
1.1 Country Context
1.2 Organisation
1.3 Evaluation Objective
1.4 End term Evaluation Team
1.5 Scope
1.6 Methodology and Selection Criteria
1.7 Limitations
2. Background and Context:
2.1 Context of the Programme
2.2 Access to Social and Economic Justice
2.3 Brief Profile of PT I Partners
3. Findings and Conclusions
3.1 Summary of Mid-Term Review and Findings
3.2 Relevance:
3.3. Effectiveness: Achievement of Purpose
3.4. Efficiency:
3.5. Impact: Achievement of Wider Effects
3.6.1 Sustainability: Likely Continuation of Achieved Results
4. Lessons to be learned
4.1 Strengths
4.2 Challenges
5. Conclusions and Way Forward
5.1 Discussion with DCA team and Partners for Way Forward
5.2 Recommendations and Suggestions
5.3 Programme Specific Issues
5.4 Partner Management Issues
5.5 Conclusion
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Abbreviations
Aprodev- (APRODEV) Association of 17 major development and humanitarian aid
organisations in Europe, which work closely together. DANChurch is a member.
ACT- Action of Churches Together
BPL- Below Poverty Line
CA- Christian Aid
CASA- Churches Auxiliary for Social Action
CB- Capacity-Building
CDR- Centre for Dalit Research
CEO- Chief Executive Officer
CSR- Corporate Social Responsibility
CSSS- Centre for Study of Society and Secularism Mumbai, (India)
CPSC- Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns
DANIDA- Danish International Aid
DCA – DANChurchAid
DV Act- Prevention of Domestic Violence Act
DWRC- Dalit Women’s Resource Centre
EU- European Union
FCRA- Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (India)
FGD- Focus Group Discussion
FIR- First Information Report
FMSF- Financial Management Service Foundation
FSP- Food Securitry Programme
GOI- Government of India
HDI- Human Development Index
HIV/AIDS- Human Immunodeficiency virus/ Acquired Immunodefiency Syndrome
HQ- Headquarter
HRE – Human Rights Education
HRLN- Human Rights Law Network
ICCPR- UN International Convention on Cultural and Political Rights
IDSN- International Dalit Solidarity Network
IEC- Information, Education and Communication
IPSCR- Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict Resolution,Mumbai.
LFA- Logical Framework
MLC- Medico legal Case
MNC- Multi National Companies
MWS- Meera Women’s Society
NAWO- National Alliance of Women
NCRB- National Crime Records Bureau
NFDW- National Dalit Women’s Federation
NGO- Non Governmental Organisations
3
NREG- National Rural Employment Guarantee scheme (India)
NSS- Nari Suraksha Samiti
PESA- Panchayat Extension to (Scheduled Areas) Act 1996.
PIL- Public Interest Litigation
POA- Prevention of Atrocities on (SC and ST) Act (India)
PTG- Primitive Tribes Group
PT I - Programme Type I
PW - People’s Watch
SAARC – South Asia Association for Regional Cooperation
SC/S - Special Component Plan
SEZs- Special Export Processing Zones
SHGs- Self Help Groups
SLIC- Socio- Legal Information Centre
SSA- Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan
TOR- Terms of Reference
UNDP- United Nations Development Programme
VAW- Violence Against Women
VEC - Village Education Committee
VIT - Village Intervention team
VMKS- Vagad Mazdoor Kissan Sanghatan
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
End Term Evaluation: Access to Social and Economic Justice
(Type I Programme)
DanChurchAid (DCA India) PT I programme is a five year intervention which was initiated in
2007. The year 2012 being the concluding year of the five year period an external evaluation
of the programme was conducted to review the effectiveness of the programme in India,
within the DANChurch policy framework.
The PT1 programme of DanChurchAid (DCA India), prioritized its activities in Rajasthan in
the north-west and Odisha in the east. It also supports National level work as well
HRLN/SLIC work in a number of other states with EU funding. The selection of the states
was based on low human development indicators, with special regard to dalits, tribals and
minorities. Both these states are among the lesser developed regions in India, based on the
HDI, across a range of socio-economic indicators.
In its overall strategy for India, DCA focuses its activities on the most marginalised and
discriminated groups, in particular the dalits, tribal communities, women and minorities.
There are currently two programmes being implemented in India, namely the Food Security
programme called ’A Fistful of Rice’ (2006-2010), and the Access to Social and Economic
Justice (2007-2011).
The multi-pronged approach adopted addresses a range of ‘rights’ violations and
deprivations by working with both ‘rights holders’ and ‘duty bearers’ in the larger political
system. ‘Access to Social and Economic Justice’, is a significant programme of DCA and is
called the Type I programme.(PTI)
The Evaluation was conducted during the period between March- May 2012. It is relevant to
mention here that prior to this external evaluation, there was a Mid-Term programme review
of the Social and Economic Justice Programme carried out between 18th January - 4th
February, 2010.
The objective of this review was to i) assess the continued relevance and feasibility of the
India Political Space Programme strategy and DanChurchAid´s approach to Political Space
work in India ii) assess the extent to which the programme is progressing in terms of
achieving its objectives and whether the programme has the right balance in interventions
and partner types, also in view of DCA India’s new strategic priority around ‘Climate Change’
and democratic space iii) assess the role and performance of DanChurchAid as a
programme partner iv) assess whether DCA programme management is appropriate and
adequate for ensuring learning and documentation and whether administrative and financial
procedures are in keeping with agencies guidelines.
Programme review highlighted the key results of partner activities as observed in the
increase in the number of cases and applications that have been filed by partners against
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abuses, atrocities and discrimination against dalits, tribals and women using legal and
administrative channels.
Introduction of human rights education in the curriculum of some districts in Orissa, and
public interest litigation which has lead to speedy justice for dalits, better working conditions
for sewerage workers.
Advocacy work at the UN and EU levels has led to the development of new draft standards
and to a number of resolutions and calls by the European Parliament for action against
caste-based discrimination.
An Increase in number of women’s groups (including of Muslim women) and committees
formed.
Tribal organisations have strengthened, dalit atrocities and human rights abuse, have
received media coverage, particularly at state level and in non-mainstream newspapers.
There is an increase in availability of materials against discriminatory discourse and
communal violence.
The Mid-term review was done in 2010, and therefore the period between the Mid-term
review and the End term Evaluation is just two years therefore there is no significant change
visible in the End evaluation that may appear to be radical turn around in the progress of the
programme.
The External Evaluation objective was to measure the results, both outcomes and impact
of the programme through strategies, interventions, partnerships in the thrust areas.
Attention was paid to evaluate the programme management, in terms of systems and
processes, financial management, programmatic adaptability and innovations and new
directions. It is expected that the evaluation will eventually feed into the next phase of
programme development which is scheduled for 2012 – 2016. The evaluation outcome will
inform the way ahead, under the purview of the new focus areas, as outlined in
DanChurchAid programmes.
The current external evaluation however, was able to cover partners in India, in Rajasthan,
Odisha and Delhi, who are implementing the DCA programmes in rural and urban locations
of these three states. Two partners operate from Mumbai and Madurai across different
states and also at the national level. Partners covered in the current external evaluation are
i) ASTHA and ii) Centre for Dalit Research (Rajasthan), III) Jagori (New Delhi) IV) Human
Rights Law Network (HRLN) New Delhi, V) the National Alliance of Women (NAWO) VI)
National Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW),VII) Nari Suraksha Samithi (NSS) (Orissa),
VIII) Meera Welfare Society (MSW) Keonjhar (Odishha),IX) Centre for Study of Society and
Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai, Maharashtra, X) Ram Punyani (independent partner) Mumbai
(Maharashtra), and XI) People’s Watch (PW), Madurai, Tamilnadu.
In order to facilitate partners in selection of the field locations the criteria chosen was to
identify -
a village that the partner rates as good
a village that the partner rates as challenging or has shown limited progress
a village that has proximity to district head quarters (HQ) of the location.
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a village that is remote
a village where the partner has been working for a considerable period prior to the
intervention DCA project
a village where partner entry is specifically through this project intervention.
Recommendations of the External Evaluation:
Continuation of the programme into a second phase if larger populations of the
marginalised and discriminated categories have to benefit from DCA India
programmes. A revisit to the strategy is advised to redesign the programme in a
manner that the stated ‘political’ aspect of the programme meets the FCRA
requirements.
Since the FCRA conditions are impacting all civil society action, it would be wise for
all the ACT partners to form a collective and support such work, focusing on
knowledge building, legal education, research and policy level advocacy which are
well within the framework of the Constitution. For ground-level protests and political
action activities, efforts should be made to generate funds locally and through
membership fees etc.
Discrimination that dalits face in India is very different both in form and intensity
compared to the kind of discrimination that dalits face in Nepal. The displacement of
tribals, denial of land rights and the range of violence caste-based inflicted on women
is a concern that needs multi pronged attention.
Experience of the dalit movement in India can provide insights for similar
programmes in Nepal, similarly on the issue of tribals, minorities and women
networking is recommended. South Asia level linkages and coordination for SAARC
level advocacy have immense possibilities. Country context analysis is needed and
for this resources would have to be earmarked. Protests and other forms of people’s
uprisings which are defined as supposedly being ‘political in nature’ will need to
secure funding support from within the country? For this local fund raising avenues
have to be explored.
Programme should have a lease of another five year term to show an effective
change.
Partners like ASTHA are addressing issues of land rights since they work with the
tribals, while CDR, NSS and MWS are doing this in a minimal way. This aspect
needs further strengthening as access to land serves the dual purpose of food
security and builds self-esteem for the family and the community at large. Therefore it
Work with the tribals requires further strengthening in Odisha as well as consolidated
in Rajasthan and to make it would be useful to strengthen work linkages with ASTHA,
and use the International Instruments of indigenous people’s rights to further work
with tribals.
7
Addressing land rights should be linked to gender concerns, since women’s
ownership of land is linked to her self-esteem, checks VAW, enhances security and
social status.
The Partner Platform has been a very useful initiative and this should continue so
that it helps in consolidating the programme’s mission
The Gender mainstreaming work should be further strengthened through capacity
building trainings and accompaniment with partners
The legal training and legal support work should be further strengthened as funding
for improving the legal mechanisms is well within the legal framework and will not be
considered political activity. Therefore focus on building the Human Rights Defenders
is suggested.
On the front of Partner management the evaluation recorded that-
Effective Partner Programme Management requires that monitoring visits should be
made not less than twice a year, in addition to the PO meeting the partner at other
events. Since a monitoring visit entails site visits and discussions on the course of
the programme, which requires dedicated time.
The evaluation recommends that a maximum turnaround time for financial transfers
to partners is agreed with the Finance Officer and the Programme Financial Unit in
Copenhagen and communicated timely to all partners. This should be monitored. If
for some reason there are delays, this should be communicated to the partner. This
would be an important measure for strengthening DanChurchAid´s own
accountability to partners. DanChurchAid India office may also consider in the long
run identifying performance indicators for itself in consultation with partners and seek
anonymous feedback / rating by partners on its performance.
It is recommended that DanChurchAid India Office plan regular Programme
Committee meetings (e.g on a quarterly basis) and at least one reflection/learning
programme meeting when developing their Annual Office Plans. A proper review,
sharing, approval and learning across programmes can be facilitated in structured
manner to identify gaps and make course corrections if required.
It is recommended that one or two networks at the national level be identified and
can be systematically followed in order to keep abreast of developments related to
programme areas.
It may be useful to strengthen further the advocacy and research component as this
may not be seen as, ’political’ but would certainly be effective in influencing policy
change and implementation of schemes for the rights holders.
Evaluation found that funding related matters showed that resource constraint was a major
issue especially in tracking human rights violations. Providing legal solutions and
consultancies needed to be pursued in a sustained continuous manner in order to get
positive results and resources were required for this.
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For DCA in particular, it is of serious concern as it has come under the Government
observation and this made it even more difficult for the strengthening of such programmes.
To Conclude the End term Evaluation observed that programmes have strategically been
well develop. The case studies clearly illustrate the changes that have resulted due to the
strategic interventions of the programme strategy. By and large the programme has been
effectively managed at the project and partnership levels, and has brought together a strong
group of partners who work with socially discriminated groups with a rights-based
perspective. The programme has moved ahead and is making a difference in the lives of the
rights holders and this requires to be further consolidated in the future.
Evaluation reiterated that the PT I programme needs to be continued in a manner that it
does not attract the close observation and scrutiny of the Government, especially since a
change in government, could mean further hurdles in smooth functioning of programmes.
This need however is not to dilute the rights based approach of work among the most
vulnerable and marginalised sections of society. Using the Constitutional framework and
working within it, is a way forward. To develop a roadmap that underlines advocacy and
research in major way is an area that may be considered.
Building stronger networks across the country with other APRODEV partners was required
as a strong synergy can be developed and chances of DCA India being singled out for
discriminatory scrutiny by Governments in power, will be minimised and could also be better
handled collectively.
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Access to Social and Economic Justice PTI
1. Introduction
1.1 Country context
On the global front India is seen as a fast growing economy which is making good progress
on tackling poverty. However, India is still home to one-third of the world's poor.
According to 2010 data from the United Nations Development Programme, an estimated
37.2 per cent of Indians live below the country's national poverty line. Eight states are home
to 65 per cent of India’s poor.
On the other hand India is one of the largest democracies in the world and is the seventh
largest country of the world with an area of 3,166,829 sq. km and a population of 1,028
billion people. The country is divided into 30 federal states and 5 Union Territories.1
The PT1 programme of DanChurchAid (DCA), has prioritized its activities in Rajasthan in the
north-west and Odisha in the east. It also supports National level work as well HRLN/SLIC
work in a number of other states with EU funding. The selection of the states was based on
low human development indicators, with special regard to dalits, tribals and minorities. Both
these states are among the lesser developed regions in India, based on the HDI, across a
range of socio-economic indicators
Despite India’s booming economy with 9 per cent economic growth per annum since 2005,
nearly 80 per cent of the Indian population still comprises of have-nots. These are largely the
dalits and tribals, who have nevertheless contributed to the economic boom of the country,
as most are employed in the unorganized sector and work as daily wage labourers in rural
and urban centres, building the high rise structures or as agriculture labourers producing
food crops for the country. The irony being that it is this section that does not even get two
proper square meals a day and go hungry every day. They do not have social security nor
do they have savings of their own to meet emergency needs like health care. They struggle
hard to make the two ends meet.
However, the number of people living in the condition of destitute poverty line (BPL) as
defined by the Government of India, has declined from 54 per cent in the 1950s to 24 per
cent in the 2004. While the absolute number has fallen from 324 million in 1983 to 315
million in 2004-05, as per Census data, poor people continue to live in abject conditions of
1
Right holders And Political Space.Ghamshyam Shah
10
poverty and deprivation, which has (in many instances) worsened over the years contributing
to sharper inequalities.2
1.2 Organisation
DanChurchAid works with local NGO partners and civil society organisations for
implementation of humanitarian and development programmes in India, Nepal and
Bangladesh.
In India, which is the focus country, the PT1 DanChurchAid mainly works in the states of
Odisha, and Rajasthan (as focus states) and national level work. The DCA Asia regional
PT1 Safe Migration programme works in seven countries and at Asia level with limited work
in the Gulf while the DCA regional South Asia Disaster Risk Reduction Programme PT5 in
India works in Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Assam, as well as in southern, north-east
and north-west region of Bangladesh and terai regions of Nepal. For humanitarian response,
the organisation has a mandate to respond with relief and recovery needs anywhere in India,
Nepal and Bangladesh depending on the resources available in the organisation.3
In Nepal, the PT1 programme worked in the Terai region of the Himalayan,
DCA and its partners collaborate with national governments, institutions and networks
/bodies at national/state level to achieve the common goal to reduce poverty and sufferings
of marginalised and poorest of poor populations.
In its overall strategy for India, DCA focuses its activities on the most marginalised and
discriminated groups, in particular the dalits, tribal communities, women and minorities.
There are currently two programmes being implemented in India, namely the Food Security
programme called ’A Fistful of Rice’ (2006-2010), and the Access to Social and Economic
Justice (2007-2011). The regional Asia programme ’Fighting for Rights’ – is directed towards
safe migration in South and South-east Asia (2007-2011), and coordinates work across two
regional DCA offices one in Cambodia and the other in India. In addition to this a South Asia
regional ‘Disaster Risk Reduction programme, (2008-2012) forms part of the DCA mission in
Nepal, Bangladesh and India.
True for all programmes is, that the particular targeted right-holders are in line with the
overall strategic focus for the DCA India programmes and contexts analysis. DCA is
therefore able to address the structural and systemic discrimination and denial of the social,
political and economic rights of dalits and tribals, with a special emphasis on women and
children. The multi-pronged approach adopted thus addresses a range of ‘rights’ violations
and deprivations by working with both ‘rights holders’ and ‘duty bearers’ in the larger political
system. ‘Access to Social and Economic Justice’, is a significant programme of DCA and is
called the Type 1 programme.(PT1)
2
Ibid
3
http://www.danchurchaid.org/projects/asia/india
11
DanChurchAid (DCA) PT1 programme is a five year intervention which was initiated in 2007.
The year 2012 being the concluding year of the five year period therefore mandates an
evaluation of the programme effectiveness within the policy framework.
1.3 Evaluation Objective:
The overall purpose of the evaluation is:
1. To assess the significance and relevance of the programme intent and objectives in the
last five years.
2. To measure the results, both outcomes and impact of the programme through strategies,
interventions, partnerships in the thrust areas.
3. Evaluate the programme management, in terms of systems and processes, financial
management, programmatic adaptability and innovations and new directions.
It is expected that the evaluation will feed into the next phase of programme development
which is scheduled for 2012 – 2016. The evaluation outcome will inform the way ahead,
under the purview of the new focus areas, as outlined in DanChurchAid programmes.
1.4 End Term Evaluation Team
A single evaluator, Ms. Aasha Ramesh was identified to evaluate this programme. Her brief
profile is in annexure VIII.
1.5 Scope
The Evaluation will cover the entire programmes of DCA in India and Nepal, and focus on
geographic locations where the programme is implemented (Odisha and Rajasthan). It will
cover the five year time period between, 2007–2011, engaging with 14 partners (some of
whom who are not ongoing projects), and cover cross cutting activities which are not in the
form of typical projects.
The current external Evaluation however, was able to cover some partners in India. The
ambit of the evaluation covered NGO partners in Rajasthan, Odisha and Delhi, who are
implementing the DCA programmes in rural and urban locations of these three states. Two
partners operate from Mumbai and Madurai across different states and also at the national
level.
1.6 Methodology and Selection Criteria
DCA had identified and suggested engagement with ten partners (one individual) in India
though initially the PT1 had 14 partners, some have been withdrawn.
The evaluation process involved collection, review and analysis of secondary and primary
data.
12
As a first step, review of secondary information provided by DCA was done. The secondary
information comprised of project related documents, such as project proposal, monitoring
reports, annual report, mid-term evaluation report, issue based reports etc.
Primary information was collected through field site visits, where FGDs and individual
interviews were held with relevant stakeholders.
a) Discussion with the DCA team. (Annexure I)
b) Discussion with partners in the different geographical locations. (Annexure II)
c) Discussion with partner team and FGDs with rights holders from 4 partners funded under
the programme in 7 locations of the programme.
d) Interviews with key stakeholders—for profile or case studies
A set of tools were developed as guiding questions, to facilitate discussions during FGDs and
individual interviews held with the different stakeholders. (Annexure III)
The Evaluator was briefed about the programme by the respective Programme Officer.
Discussions were also held with other staff members of DCA who were in some ways inter
related and others who were in some way involved with this programme. Please refer
(AnnexureIV) for details of visit schedules of the evaluator.
Approach: A participatory approach was adopted in conducting the evaluation throughout
the entire process. Applying this approach, FGDs and interviews were held with identified
community stakeholder groups and individuals.
The approach also underlined a clear ‘rights based’ focus. The following partners were
involved in the evaluation process:
No. Name Geographical Location
1. ASTHA Udaipur, Rajasthan
2. Centre for Study of Society and Mumbai, Maharashtra
Secularism ( CSSS)
3. Centre for Dalit Rights Jaipur-Rajasthan.
4. Human Rights Law Network (HRLN)- Delhi
Project holder SLIC
5. JAGORI Delhi
6. Meera Welfare Society Keonjhar-Odisha.
7. National Alliance of Women - National Odisha.
Federation of Dalit Women (NAWO-
NFDW)
13
8. Nari Suraksha Samiti Odisha.
9. People’s Watch Madurai, Tamilnadu.
10. Ram Punyani -(individual who works in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
close collaboration with CSSS)
While the evaluation covered national and state level partners of the PT1, the field sites of
partners in Delhi, Rajasthan and Odisha were also visited. The detailing of visits is in an
annexure already mentioned above.
The following criteria were developed to facilitate partners in selection of the field locations.
Criteria:
a village that the partner rates as good
a village that the partner rates as challenging or has shown limited progress
a village that has proximity to district head quarters (HQ) of the location.
a village that is remote
a village where the partner has been working for a considerable period prior to the
intervention DCA project
a village where partner entry is specifically through this project intervention.
This report is organised in four sections. The first one is introductory in nature, describing the
background of the project, its goals and objectives, the terms of reference (TOR), (Annexure
V) for the external evaluation, and the process followed by the evaluator. The next sections
shares evaluation findings assessing relevance, effectiveness and sustainability of the
programme components, followed by analysis of strengths and suggested areas of
improvements in the third section. Few broad issues and related recommendations are
discussed in the fourth and concluding section.
1.7 Limitations
The observations and findings in the End-Term Evaluation are based largely on self-
assessments by DanChurchAid staff, partner staff at different levels, and the FGDs held in
seven field locations with rights-holders carried out during the evaluation. As time was a
constraint and with a single evaluator doing an evaluation of this magnitude, it has not been
possible to cross check the observations except through documentation review. The
evaluation findings and recommendations are not backed by substantive quantitative data
(as would have been expected), precisely due to the reasons already mentioned. The
evaluator did not visit the regional extension projects in Nepal.
It would have been more effective had a team of two persons worked on this evaluation, as it
is so multi-dimensional, that capturing all the nuances and complexities of such a
programme, was a huge challenge for a single person. Hence perhaps a sense that maybe
one has not been able to do full justice to the evaluation as expected. A two member
evaluation could have worked on this within the same time frame.
14
2. Background and Context
In India DanChurchAid has been working since 1998, with its Asia office located in Delhi, the
capital of India. In line with its Vision and Mission, DCA has been working for the poorest of
the poor. DCA’s vision is a world free from hunger, poverty and oppression, where civil and
political forces strive for an equal distribution and use of the world’s resources. DCA’s
purpose is to strengthen the world’s poorest in their fight for a dignified life.
DCA conducts humanitarian and development work in close partnership with the church and
other partners. This includes engaging with civil and political entities and influencing
decision-makers in order to improve the conditions for the world’s poorest. This happens
both locally, nationally and globally. DCA does not discriminate and works where need is
greatest, without regard to religion, gender, political beliefs, race, national or ethnic origin,
disability or sexual orientation.
DCAs work in India focuses on two states which are, Odisha and Rajasthan (as focus
states), while limited work in West Bengal, Bihar, Assam, Tamilnadu, Andhra Pradesh is
supported. For Humanitarian response, DCA has a mandate to respond with relief and
recovery interventions as per situation in India, Nepal and Bangladesh depending on
available resources.
DanChurchAid works with local NGO partners and civil society organizations for
implementation of humanitarian and development programmes in India, Nepal and
Bangladesh. As part of the work, DCA and its partners collaborate with government
authorities, institutions and networks /bodies at national/state level to achieve a common
goal to reduce poverty and sufferings of marginalized and poorest of poor
For South Asia Region, there are four thematic areas for DCA to focus on, with the mandate
to address
Regional South Asia Disaster risk Reduction and Humanitarian response (Building
community resilience for preparedness and response to disasters)
India Right to Food (ensure right to food of most vulnerable and marginalized
communities)
India Access to Socio-economic justice (enable marginalized people to enjoy equity
and equality in a just society)
Regional Asia Safe migration (ensure migrants rights and access to information and
legal redressal for affected migrant women and men)
India, often described as the largest democracy celebrated its 60th anniversary as an
independent nation, a country of diverse ethnic and religious composition. India has ratified
almost all the international UN covenants, including the International Convention on Civil and
Political Rights (ICCPR). At the international level, India’s Constitution and legal framework
are seen as progressive and pro poor. However, the ground reality is not always as it should
be and certainly far from what the Constitution envisaged for its people. Significant
disparities persist between the poorest populations, in particular among the dalits, tribals
(adivasis), women and religious minorities. With the change in the country’s economic
15
policies and the onset of globalisation and liberalisation, the inequalities are further
accentuated between the ‘haves’ and the ‘have nots’. This is because of the past years’ neo
liberal economic policies which promoted development that benefited only a certain section
of the people particularly, those who are wealthy, high caste and have the clout of political
power.
Evidence of increased discrimination and human rights violations committed on the dalits,
including the practice of untouchability, which persists despite a law to check this practice is
visible. The government crime statistics shows that Rajasthan stands 2 and Odisha 7 on the
incidence of crimes on SC/ST. (Annexure VI) Displacement of tribals from their land and
denial of food security for the rural poor is the harsh reality. Denial of access to entitlements
meant for the marginalised due the attitude and indifference of the duty bearers is common
practice. Unabated violence on women especially among the dalits, adivasi and minority
women, who suffer different forms of human rights violations which are both gender and
caste-based are common. For instance the carnage that happened in Gujarat, where
minorities were massacred and their women subjected to sexual crimes and other
aggravated forms of violence. The religious conflict in Kandhmal where violence was,
unleashed on the minorities. The growing feminisation of poverty, as a result of globalisation
that has, led to further deprivation and violence on women.
2.1 Context of the Programme
In this backdrop, after working for nearly a decade, DCA revisited its strategy for India. In
this exercise, DCA thought the process through with its partners based on its own
experience and that of its partners. A Task Force to guide the consultant in the development
of a programme context analysis comprising of three partner representatives and the RR
with support from the Policy Technical Advisor in DCA Headquarters was put together and
supported by the Policy Technical Advisor in HQ. A context analysis document was
developed in accordance with the DCA guidelines for political space, peace and gender
sensitive development. This document also included key inputs that emerged from special
subject papers prepared on Gender and Communal Harmony, which DCA South Asia had
commissioned. In accordance with the India country strategy 2004 after reaffirming the
correct identification of rightholders the Dalits, tribals, women and religious minorities are
clearly identified as the focus groups for the DCA programme 2007-2011. Through an
intense consultative process that generated ground insights and knowledge which fed into
the base document for the formulation of the programme on, ’Access to Social and
Economic Justice,’ the programme that finally emerged. The programme was founded on the
rights based commitment adopted by DCA.
The Programme Strategy was developed in discussion with the DCA partners who will
implement the programme. During a workshop with all main stakeholders a comprehensive
discussion with the partners on the strategic direction, the overall and specific objectives
were formulated. The main indicators including a matrix for the LFA were discussed along
with a discussion on how to integrate Gender and Communal Harmony into the programme.
The Access to Social and Economic Justice Programme addresses the right to political
participation and equal treatment before the law as enshrined by the fundamental rights in
16
the Indian Constitution. The background illustrates how social, structural, economical and
political discrimination of dalits, tribal communities, women and minorities – in particular the
Muslims in India - is a problem which affects more than 170 million persons mostly living in
poverty and facing neglect and indifference from the state. This discrimination takes place at
all levels of society, from community to national, and within the private, public and
educational sectors just to mention some. Religious minorities – and in particular Muslims –
are a new group of right-holders in the DCA India programme. This group has - in the
context analysis – as well as by the Sacchar Committee been found to be very deprived of
social, democratic and economic rights. As a crosscutting issue in India, all programmes will
promote initiatives to strengthen Communal Harmony and the democratic secular state as
intended by the Indian Constitution.
The PT1 programme has components for grassroots level initiatives, state, national and
international initiatives which include implementation of activities, research and advocacy.
Odisha and Rajasthan are two of the eight states identified where 65 per cent of India’s poor
live. Further these two states were chosen as the state-field level programme
implementation sites, on the basis of the DCA Country Strategy which identified both states
as low on the human development index (HDI) of India and where issues of caste
discrimination, patriarchy and communalism have not been adequately addressed. At the
same time, both states have been affected by poverty, and have been chronically backward
states in India’s development history, and its inhabitants continue to suffer deprivations in
the form of limited access to resources, government schemes and good governance.
The programme is implemented in the two states of Odisha and Rajasthan with support to
national level engagement in Delhi and international level engagement with IDSN.
The macro picture in India has not changed significantly since the start of the programme in
2007. The key priorities for the country are defined by the economic policies which have
further strengthened the hold of globalisation and liberalisation.
The Mid-Term review of the programme which was held in Jan-Feb 2010, clearly illustrates
the context, which by and large remains the same. In fact a state like Odisha is facing huge
challenges with industries like the Vedanta and Posco industries, trying to take land and
displace thousands of tribals. Also recently there has been an escalation in cases of women
being falsely identified as witches and subjected to violence in Odisha
The recent national budget for 2012, has been far from a people friendly. Civil society’s
demand for reviewing the Below Poverty Level (BPL), list remains unheeded and hence
hundreds of families who should get the BPL benefits are out of its purview. And for the
legitimate BPL card holders, accessing entitlements itself is a major challenge. With inflation
touching an incredible high the rural and urban poor have suffered in accessing nutritious
food and the categorisation of Rs.32 per day as a bare minimum required for survival has
come in for sharp criticism
According to a report of the Planning Commission on- Development Challenges in
Extremist Affected Areas — Report of an Expert Group there is an acknowledgement of
discrimination and violence on the most marginalised section of the population. Quoting
17
from the report, “The Constitution intended the process of governance to lead to a
progressive decrease in social and economic inequalities. The Constitutional and statutory
agencies entrusted with the task of safeguarding the entitlements of all marginalised groups
have failed to provide adequate support. Equal status and equal dignity is not merely a
Constitutional right but also a basic human right. Inherited institutions of caste, gender and
unequal property have traditionally deprived the majority of society of this right. Widespread
practice of social discrimination, untouchability, domestic violence, and atrocities against the
weaker sections is an index of the failure of the promises made to the oppressed people of
this country.”
2.2 Access to Social and Economic Justice Programme
The key programme objectives for the PT 1 ‘Access to Social and Economic Justice are:
Overall Objective
Social and political discrimination and rights denials of Dalits, tribals, minorities and women
reduced and greater organisational resistance by these groups in programme areas.
Immediate Objective – 1
Discriminated groups have increased access to justice systems and legal resources.
Immediate Objective – 2
Discriminatory discourse, and invisibilisation particularly by the media and in educational
sectors is challenged and reduced.
Immediate Objective – 3
Strengthened mobilisation, organisation, networking and interlinking of discriminated groups
for the claiming of rights and entitlements from duty-bearers.
Immediate Objective – 4
DCA and partners´ institutional capacity has been enhanced for addressing issues of social
and political discrimination.
This is a five year programme started in 2007 to 2012 and is in its concluding phase now.
The evaluation has attempted to assess what difference the programme activities have
made in achieving the objectives outlined.
Each of the 10 partners visited have clearly identified their thrust area based on their rights
holders.
The activities conducted under this programme are detailed under each of the immediate
objectives:
Immediate Objective – 1
Discriminated groups have increased access to justice systems and legal resources
Legal capacity and legal awareness on entitlements and rights for
discriminated groups.
Fact-finding missions Documentation of atrocities and legal aid.
Filing PILs on caste discrimination, gender discrimination and gender
violence, and communalism.
Sensitisation of judges, prosecutors and police.
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Build HR capacity of judiciary through judiciary colloquiums.
Advocacy for reforms within the police and/or law-enforcement agencies.
Advocacy on caste discrimination with European and international
organisations and support groups.
Build capacities of state and national level HR commissions, (SC/ST, Women
and Minorities Commissions) to respond effectively.
Mobilise community support and provide immediate assistance to victims and
partner activists-emergency fund and legal.
Immediate Objective – 2
Discriminatory discourse, and invisibilisation particularly by the media and in educational
sectors is challenged and reduced.
Media training, including providing development fellowships for journalists.
Relationship-building and networking with local and national media operators.
Training and sensitisation of school authorities and children within schools on
discrimination.
Pilot of educational materials, approaches, and teachers trainings involving
educational authorities.
Exchange visits for children to other communities.
People centred advocacy for integration of issues of rights and discrimination
within school curriculum.
Training on communication for inclusion among different stakeholders.
Public sensitisation campaigns and events.
Sensitisation for community leaders on rights, discrimination and inclusion.
Immediate Objective – 3
Strengthened mobilisation, organisation, networking and interlinking of discriminated groups
for the claiming of rights and entitlements from duty-bearers.
Leadership development, including sensitisation on anti-communalism issues, rights,
and gender issues and rights.
Leadership development for dalit women, tribal women and minority women.
Strengthening organising practices of dalit women, tribal women and minority
women/ men.
Networking with like-minded organisations, mass and social movements and
alliances.
Cross-community or group mobilisation on issues of common concern.
Networking and strengthening links between local, state, national and international
organisations.
Advocacy and mass actions at community and policy level through people centred
and policy based initiatives.
Support to social audits, peoples tribunals and public hearings for mass action on
issues of deprived communities.
Use of community radio and alternative theatre methods by partnerss for issue
raising and mobilisation.
Immediate Objective – 4
DCA and partners´ institutional capacity has been enhanced for addressing issues of social
and political discrimination.
Co-ordination among various stakeholders including donors.
Inter-partner capacity-building and exchange of best practices.
19
Inter-partner monitoring, evaluations, learnings and documenting of each others’ best
practices.
Research on the political space of tribal communities.
Pilot studies and projects on tribal and minority issues.
Build knowledge that will allow partners and DCA to assess dominant development
paradigm in relation to interests of tribals, dalits and other minority groups.
Capacity-building for diversification of partner funding base.
Capacity building on conflict assessments.
DCA identifed appropriate partners who worked with the most marginalised groups namely
dalits, tribal, women and minorities. Partners who worked on legal issues, on minority issues,
gender issues, dalit and tribal issues so it would enable in achieving the overall objective of
the programme on,’ Access to Social and Economic Justice’
By and large the DCA partners have addressed the above issues through the various
activities planned in their proposal. Annexure details the achievements of the PT1 based on
the objectives outlined.
2.3 Brief Profile of PT 1 Partners
1. Centre for Dalit Rights- Jaipur Rajasthan
Centre for Dalit Rights aims at promoting awareness about human rights and laws
among dalit communities and empowers them to fight for their rights to live with equality,
freedom and dignity. CDR supports this process further with capacity building, legal and
other technical support, networking and advocacy. Eliminating caste based
discrimination and exclusion from society is part of this process. Partnership with DCA
was established in 2004 and with the PT I in 2007.
2. Jagori- New Delhi field sites Bhawana and Madanpur Khader
Jagori established in 1984, means ‘Awake’. It is women’s documentation, training and
communication centre. Jagori is rooted in the experiences of the Indian women’s
movement, and defines its mandate as identifying and addressing the capacity-building,
information and networking needs of women, particularly those belonging to oppressed
groups in rural areas.
Jagori has been involved in advocacy and action on issues ranging from violence against
women, reform of personal laws, child sexual abuse, the identity and rights of single
women and dalit women, reproductive rights, HIV/AIDS and women’s health including
mental and emotional health. To all these campaigns and struggles, Jagori brings a
feminist perspective and a commitment to women’s rights and gender equality.
Partnership with DCA was established in 2008.
3. Centre for study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) - Mumbai, Maharashtra
The CSSS helped in the emergence of The Institute of Peace Studies and Conflict
Resolution (IPSCR), Mumbai, India, in 2007. The specific purpose was to promote peace
and communal harmony in the society by creating the necessary enabling conditions
20
through a study and identification of the causes of reported incidents of violence
(communal, sectarian and gender-based).
In furtherance of the above objectives, since its establishment the IPSCR has been
training cadres of young peace activists at different locations, in collaboration with local
NGOs on the concepts of democracy, human rights, communal harmony etc. and
organising workshops and seminars on peace and communal harmony and gender
issues. Partnership eatablished in 2008.
Ram Punyani, an independent, activist and writer is an active partner of the PT1
programme and works with and through CSSS as both address the issues of diversity,
with Ram Punyani focussing on the print to demystify and correct the anti-Muslim
propaganda, by bringing out booklets that dwell on the Constitution and address the
denial and marginalisation of the Muslims as a violation of their Constitutional rights. The
partnership with DCA was established in 2007, with the commissioning of a paper on
’Diversity’.
4. National Alliance of Women (NAWO)- New Delhi and Odisha
National Alliance of Women (NAWO) is a national network of women’s organisations
working for gender and social justice in different parts of the country and came together
as a coalition to work on issues specific to dalit, Muslim and tribal women. For the past
16 years NAWO has been making interventions, locally and at national level to reduce
gender and social injustice and promote the rights of marginalised women through policy
interventions, engendering and monitoring programmes and their impact.
NAWO over the last 16 years built solidarity with vast number of women’s groups
through its widely spread alliance and popularised the discourse on Women’s Human
Rights; Report to UN Conventions and Committees on the discriminated conditions of
marginalised women and in particular the violence and atrocities on women in communal
and caste based violence. Establishing a Women’s Human Rights Centre in 2005, it is
strategically integrating ’Women’s Rights Perspectives’ in Government planning
processes and legislation making and has facilitated multilayered consultations and built
capacities from grassroots to global platforms.Partnership with DCA was established in
2008.
5. People’s Watch
People’s Watch (PW), is a programme unit of Centre for Promotion of Social Concerns
(CPSC), based in Madurai, Tamilnadu. Programmes under PW started from the year
1995. The objectives are to make the State accountable for the violation of human rights,
and secondly to spread a human rights culture. The major programmes of PW have
been (a) Human Rights Monitoring, Intervention, Rehabilitation and Legal Action; (b)
Human Rights Promotion through Human Rights Education and Training; and (c) Human
Rights
The second objective of promoting human rights culture is achieved mainly through
human rights education activities and awareness programmes. Efforts are made to reach
21
out to as many segments of the civil society as possible through various training
programmes. Partnership with DCA was established in 2009.
6. Social Legal Information Centre (SLIC)- popularly known as HRLN New Delhi
The Human Rights Law Network (HRLN) is a collective of lawyers and social activists
dedicated to the use of the legal system to advance human rights in India and the sub-
continent. It defines rights to include economic, social and cultural rights as well as civil
and political rights. HRLN believe human rights are universal and indivisible, and their
realization is an immediate goal.
HRLN collaborates with human rights groups, and grass-roots development and social
movements to enforce the rights of poor marginalised people and to challenge
oppression, exploitation and discrimination against any group or individual on the
grounds of caste, gender, disability, age, religion, language, ethnic group, sexual
orientation, and health, economic or social status. HRLN provides pro bono legal
services, conducts public interest litigation, engages in advocacy, conducts legal
awareness programmes, investigates violations, publishes 'know your rights' materials,
and participates in campaigns. Partnership with DCA established in 2008.
7. Nari Suraksha Samiti (NSS)- Odisha
Nari Suraksha Samiti is a women’s voluntary organisation which aims toward the socio-
economic and political empowerment of women in rural areas and is based at Angul
district of Odisha. It has been working with women and children of marginalised
communities like dalit and tribals in three districts of Odisha- Angul, Deogarh and Jajpur.
NSS has been trying to bring change in the lives of women by addressing issues of
gender discrimination and caste based discrimination in rural areas. The organisation
makes women aware about their rights, promotes organisation of women and leadership
among women to address their issues. It also collaborates with the Government for
implementation of various developmental programmes and acts for ensuring rights and
development of poor and marginalized communities specially focusing on women and
children of dalit and tribals . Partnership established with DCA in 2008.
8. Astha- Udaipur, Rajasthan
Astha in Hindi means ‘Faith’. Astha has faith in the people, in their abilities, strengths and
knowledge. Astha believes that these capabilities are being suppressed by the dominant
forces, and the result is that people themselves do not recognize their inherent
capabilities. With this deep faith and conviction in the strength of the people and their
capacities, Astha was formed in 1986.
The work area of Astha has been primarily Rajasthan, but the national issues and larger
forces and policies affect the conditions in Rajasthan, and at the local level.
Astha always has made an attempt to ensure the Right to Justice, Peace, Development,
no caste, class, gender based discrimination; Astha works for building a society in which
the poor have control on their natural as well as livelihood resources, people co-exist
with nature, equality prevails in the society, and the citizens of India have strong moral
22
values. Partnership established in 2006 with the food security programme and in 2008, it
moved to the PT1 programme.
9. Meera Welfare Society- Odisha
Since 1997, Meera Welfare Society started work in 20 Juang villages of Sadar and
Banspal Block in Keonjhar district of Odisha for promoting vocational education. The
organisation provided support to night schools, people’s organization and food security
programmes in the target areas. As there was long-term partnership with Keonjhar
Municipality, ST/SC Development Department, Govt of Odisha and other welfare wings
of the state Government has influenced the organisation to strengthen Gandhian values,
principles of non violence and collective action. Starting its work in 20 villages in 1997,
Meera Welfare Society today covers 40 villages in 4 Blocks of the District. The project
started as a Juang community project taking support from the villagers to facilitate a
state level forum on different issues. The Project office is situated in Keonjhar District
Head Quarter. Partnership with DCA was established in 2009.
Breakdown of Partner Portfolio per Programme Type
PROGRAMM NATIONAL HUMAN ADVOCACY
E GENDER RIGHTS/LEGAL ORGANISATION/NET
TYPE ORGANISATION ORGANISATIONS WORK
List Name national Name human rights/ Name
programme gender legal organisations advocacy/network
name here: organisations (partners) here: organisations
(partners) here: (partners) here:
Access to Jagori, National Human Rights Law Centre for the Study
Social and Alliance of Women Network, of Secularism and
Economic Organisations, Society, Astha, CASA
Justice
3. Findings and conclusions
The Mid-Term evaluation was done in 2010 and therefore the period between the mid-term
review and the end term evaluation is just two years. Hence there is no significant change
visible. The mid-term review had the following findings;
3.1 Summary of Mid-Term review findings
A Mid-Term programme review was conducted in 2010. Below is a summary of some of
their salient findings:
Cases and applications have been filed by partners against abuses, atrocities and
discrimination against dalits, tribals and women using legal and administrative
channels.
Introduction of human rights education in the curriculum of some districts in Odisha
Public interest litigation has led to speedy justice for dalits, better working conditions
for sewerage workers etc.
23
Lobby/advocacy work at the UN and EU levels has led to the development of new
draft standards and to a number of resolutions and calls by the European Parliament
for action against caste-based discrimination.
Increase in number of women’s groups (including of Muslim women) and committees
formed.
Peoples´ tribal organisations have been strengthened.
Dalit atrocities and human rights abuse, covered in the media, particularly at state
level and in non-mainstream newspapers.
Increased availability of materials against discriminatory discourse and communal
violence.
In general, the Review noted difficulties in identifying change as a result of activities. Both
partners and DanChurchAid acknowledged weaknesses in reporting at this level.
”The following are key results that could be identified by the Programme Review Team
through partner documentation review, review of DanChurchAid monitoring reports, partner
interviews and discussions at the partner workshop. They have not been objectively verified
by the Programme Review Team, except in some cases where the rights holders
themselves pointed to these changes.
In general, both partners and DanChurchAid Programme Staff seemed to find it difficult to
identify changes against the programme indicators. Much of the reporting to date seems to
be at the activity level.
Key overall results that can be mentioned are:
A number of cases and applications have been filed by partners against
abuses, atrocities and discrimination against Dalits, Tribals and women
using legal and administrative channels.
At the level of duty-bearers and institutions some outcomes have been
recorded, primarily at state level: improved implementation of SC/ST
Prevention of Atrocity Act, introduction of human rights education in the
curriculum of some districts in the State, some positive responses by Delhi
authorities to gender lobby initiatives. Few outcomes have been reported or
captured in terms of national level change to which partner activities under
this programme have contributed beyond interest expressed by the Ministry
of Social Justice and Empowerment to introduce human rights education in
schools for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Public interest litigation has yielded results, for example in terms of speedy
justice for Dalits, better working conditions for sewerage workers etc.
Lobby/advocacy work at the UN and EU levels has led to the development
of new draft standards and to a number of resolutions and calls by the
European Parliament for action against discrimination.
Increase in number of women’s groups (including of Muslim women) and
committees formed
Peoples´ tribal organisations strengthened
Coverage of Dalit atrocities and human rights abuse, particularly at state
level and in non-mainstream newspapers
Increased availability of materials against discriminatory discourse and
communal violence.
Results on the objectives related to discourse and strengthened mobilisation and network
have been more difficult to capture in this Review and in the reports studied. This may be
24
related to the fact that the programme indicators are complex and/or that data has not been
systematically collected under these indicators by DanChurchAid and partners.”
The overall recommendations are as follows:
The Programme should focus in the remaining period on strengthening work on
access to justice for violations and atrocities based on dalit, tribal, Muslim or
gender identities and on furthering the political participation of these groups.
Access to economic entitlements should be concentrated more in the Right to
Food Programme, if this is the main focus of the particular project or partner. In
the event of an increased funding base, economic justice work can focus on
monitoring budgets for the improved implementation of legislation and
government programmes. Partnerships should be focused in Odisha and
Rajasthan and DanChurchAid should limit support to one-off
conferences/events unless part of a wider advocacy strategy of an existing
partner. Geographical expansion should only take place if it proves impossible
to further strengthen tribal work in Odisha and Rajasthan and is based on a
study and mapping of tribals and tribal organisations. Support to national
advocacy work, particularly for dalits and tribals, should be strengthened, and
stronger and more visible links made between the International Dalit Solidarity
Network and DanChurchAid India and programme partners.
DanChurchAid India should have a stronger focus on supporting partners´
work with international human rights mechanisms, particularly identifying a
tribal partner and network with this orientation. Partners should explore more
systematic work on advocating for improvements in the Indian Legal Aid
System. The initiated gender mainstreaming work should be followed-up and
communal harmony further strengthened, through more systematic dialogue
and follow-up with existing partners. The excellent potential for linking
Nepalese Dalit work to Indian work and also to international dalit advocacy
within the above-mentioned programme priorities should be a key focus of
future fundraising initiatives.
Programme monitoring needs strengthening through stronger linkages
between programme indicators and partner projects. All projects should be
visited twice a year and monitoring reports written and filed. The DanChurchAid
programme log frame needs simplification and an agreed mechanism for data
collection. Partner Assessments (Step 0) and Project Appraisals (Step 1)
should be adequately completed for all projects and uploaded. Programme
Folders need to be updated and in keeping with the requirements outlined in
DanChurchAid Filing Principles. DanChurchAid India should consider
developing DCA performance indicators with partners, including transfer
turnaround time, thereby strengthening its own accountability to partners in this
regard.
The DanChurchAid Programme Platform should be consolidated: meeting
frequency should be reduced, translation made available, and Terms of
Reference discussed and further developed with partners with the aim of
fostering a stronger strategic forum. Capacity-building events should be
separated from the platform to facilitate a more consistent attendance of senior
partner management. Depending on the size of the partner organisation, senior
management could be at the level of the head of the department. Capacity-
building on outcome monitoring is recommended as a top priority for
programme partners. However, other than this, partner capacity-building in the
remaining part of the programme period should focus on following-up at the
25
individual partner level on the capacity-building/awareness-raising that has
already taken place on gender, communal harmony and advocacy.
DanChurchAid should take the lead to explore with Christian Aid the potential
for furthering programme co-operation as both organisations have some
similarities in terms of strategic focus around Dalit, tribal and minority rights.
Possibilities for joint capacity-building of Aprodev staff should be re-explored,
possibly starting with only one Aprodev agency if co-ordinating a common
suitable date is difficult. Work on supporting a human rights defenders
mechanism should be given priority but in co-operation with other potential
donors and possibly developed by the partner platform but independent and
delinked from it.
In conclusion, the Programme Review Team found that the programme was being
developed in a strategic way. Much energy in the first phase of the programme period
has been invested into a)developing a strategic and strong partner portfolio; b)
responsibly phasing-out partner activities that were no longer in keeping with the
strategic directions of the programme c) establishing project management and partner
capacity-building and dialogue mechanisms. In this second phase, work must focus on
consolidation and follow-up on the initiatives embarked upon.
(Extracted from the Mid-Term review)
However, this evaluation has attempted to address the following key factors of the
programme:
3.2 Relevance: The extent to which the objectives of the project are consistent
with the target community’s requirements, country needs and the priorities of
implementing organizations.
The programme is highly relevant in the present context. The country situation is far from
satisfactory in addressing the needs of the most marginalised groups, namely the dalits,
tribals, women and minorities. As stated earlier the Planning Commission report quoted
confirms the situation. Therefore a programme of this kind is the need of the hour.
The programme context analysis which was the basis for developing the PTI programme
clearly identified the issues and the situation has not changed much. In fact in some areas,
there are huge challenges for instance in Odisha with the State approving several Special
Economic Zones (SEZs), such as the Posco and Vedanta and there are many others in the
pipeline.
The states selected for the intervention are appropriate as these are the low human
development indicator states. Even Delhi where there is a field base, it is within a relocated
population with majority being dalits. There is a significant population of tribals and dalits
who are facing different forms of violence in Odisha and Rajasthan. The low status of
women is of equal concern within these communities and for women at large. Odisha
experienced religious conflict and Rajasthan is a sensitive state for communal flare ups. As
the national focus of the programme is pan- India, it has been well thought out for policy
change and advocacy at state, national and International levels with linkages which are vital,
to be backed with evidence from the ground-level work. In other words, the PT 1 programme
has consciously established national and state level focus, which is linked to the field level
26
work in the focus states of the programme. Similarly some level of international linkages
have also been established in the region and with organisations like IDSN
The programme has helped to strengthen the already existing work of Astha working with
tribals and facilitated the dimension of addressing the issues within the legal framework of
human rights, underlining the work for political space and to access entitlements and claims
meant for the discriminated communities. For instance the issue of tardy implementation of
PESA in the tribal populated areas, which is weakening the governance institutions. This is
an issue of concern both in Rajasthan and Odisha. Therefore, partners like Astha who have
the experience of working with tribals for a longer period are able to share their insights in
the Partner Platforms which DCA has initiated. This has helped in cross learning and
building solidarity.
(2386 families received land right papers in the working area of Astha, 142 families whose
claims were rejected at sub-divisional level went for the appeal process and 70 villages have
prepared community claims. 7 forest rights committees served notices to the government
department (forest, revenue) to do physical verification of land in their respective area. All of
this were the result of concerted efforts made by the partner during the year to mobilise and
empower the community to access their entitlements)
The focus that has been introduced in the programme objective to make gender a cross-
cutting issue has been useful. This has been strengthened through the gender focus
partners of this programme. The value of this is evident when it is seen that there is an
increase on the violation of women’s rights in the country. The Crimes Statistics provided by
the National Crime and Records Bureau makes this clear. Addressing gender discrimination
and VAW is integral to the programme objective. Jagori, NSS and NAWO through this
programme are linked and are strengthening their networking to protect and promote
women’s rights.
At a time when the country has been facing the onslaught of religious conflict, the massacre
in Gujarat, the tragedy of Mumbai, the attack on minorities in Odisha and Karnataka has
surfaced communal tensions across the country, creating a environment of insecurity for the
minorities. Addressing these issues of Diversity, CSSS and Ram Punwani are the main
partners who are well equipped on the issue of peace building.
Peace Building Efforts
A conference on Women and Peace was organised in Bhubaneshwar to understand and
address issues of communal violence between Christian Tribals and Hindu Dalits in
Kandhamal, as part of the PT1. The conference led to evolving more concrete measures to
be initiated at the community level where the riots had occurred and a training manual was
developed and the following process developed to pursue at the ground level.
Process of peace building:
Collection of ideas from the relevant sources
Creating awareness
Build up peace center in different places
Importance to progress value
Avoid cultural negligence
Action orientation program should be done.
27
Existing community center should be established
To utilize the existing community center for peace programs twice a week
Spreading Awareness by creative methods one Act program, street plays should be
organized for peace program.
Women should be headed in all most all the programs.
Training of the members for local peace committee.
Introduction of non-formal to formal education
Involvement of the religious minded people in the peace programs.
Sensitizing media for not creating the violence.
Dialogue to be only to the like minded communities or people.
A well known National level organisation ANHAD has been in the forefront in addressing
conmunal issues across the country. DCA through its PT1 partners has been active in
supporting this and organisations like HRLN actively participated..
“Noted senior Supreme Court advocate and head of the Delhi-based Human Rights Law
Network Colin Gonsalves argued that it was crucial to examine the direction in which the
courts were moving in India on the issue of communalism and secularism as reflected in
their judgments. This would indicate both the ideology of the judges as well as what future
judgments might be expected. Providing details of various Supreme Court decisions, he
expressed his pessimism in this regard, suggesting that several of its recent judgments
appeared to be clearly supportive of the Hindutva agenda and ideology. This, he opined,
represented a decline of the judiciary’s secular foundations. ‘As a lawyer,’, he remarked, ‘I
don’t think the judiciary will help much in our struggle to counter communal violence, and to
protect the rights of minorities, Dalits and the working classes. It hasn’t helped much in the
past, and it is increasingly moving in the direction of the rich. I don’t say that all, or most, of
the judges are pro-Hindutva, only that the doors of the law to uphold the rights of the
oppressed are gradually closing’.”
Working with the legal system, enforcement agencies and human rights commissions are
partners HRLN and People’s Watch.
With this in the background, it is felt that the programme components have been thoughtfully
developed and designed to reach out to the target communities and to meet the objectives
stated.
3.3 Effectiveness: Achievement of Purpose - The extent to which the programme
results are attained and the specific objectives achieved, or are expected to be
achieved.
The programme accounts for four key objectives. 1) Discriminated groups have increased
access to justice systems and legal resources 2) Discriminatory discourse, and
invisibilisation particularly by the media and in educational sectors is challenged
and reduced 3) Strengthened mobilisation, organisation, networking and interlinking of
discriminated groups for the claiming of rights and entitlements from duty-bearers
4) DCA and partners´ institutional capacity has been enhanced for addressing issues of
social and political discrimination.
Since the inception of the programme in 2007, which actually took off the ground in 2008 in
terms of implementation, several activities were taken up by DCA through its implementing
partners towards achieving the immediate objectives so that overall objective of social and
28
political discrimination and rights denial to dalits, tribals, minorities and women reduced and
greater organizational resistance by these groups in programme areas, is met with the
desired results.
The activities outlined were found to be well thought out and appropriate and has contributed
satisfactorily to the achievement of the underlined objectives, particularly in the case of
objective 1 and 4. As for objective 2 and 3 there is evidence that there is gradual change but
needs more time as these are political issues and require both time and resources for the
change (as envisaged) to take place. Also working with communities who for centuries have
been subjugated, marginalised and discriminated, it is not easy. Though the spirit of struggle
and resistance is embedded within them but the repressive forces are so strong and their
vulnerabilities so deep, that it is indeed a huge challenge.
The programme has been effective in creating some level of awareness among in the
community, especially among the dalits, tribals and women. This is evident when dalits come
forward to register complaints against atrocities meted out to them. Tribals in the working
areas of Astha in Southern Rajasthan mobilise themselves to demand the implementation of
PESA on the one hand and demand for proper NREGS (National Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme) wages on the other.
As organisational capacity building was an important component of PT1, the response from
partners has been that the various trainings were useful. The training on impact monitoring
for example has helped them to streamline their own reporting. As reported by SLIC/HRLN,
training on fund-raising was useful and led to establishment of a fund-raising unit in the
organisation. (Use legal names of organisations) CDR shared that the capacity building on
financial systems and programme management was useful as they learnt about result based
management which are useful applications in reporting to donors, not just for DCA. This was
also echoed by People’s Watch and Astha. The fact was that the different capacity building
trainings imparted by DCA were found to be useful by all the partners and it helped to
enhance their capacities to new skills or strengthen existing skills.
Partners were quite vocal about their partnership relations with DCA. All partners shared that
it was an equal partnership based on trust. DCA provides a supportive and encouraging
partnership. Partners were appreciative of the flexibility that DCA allowed in achieving the
objective of the programme.
For a programme such as PT1 to be effective an important aspect is the selection of
partners. In this case, most of the organisations were already partners of DCA working on
specific projects on dalit human rights or women’s rights, who gradually moved into the PT1
programme. The programme objective: ‘Social and political discrimination and rights denials
of dalits, tribals, minorities and women reduced and greater organisational resistance by
these groups in programme areas’, and the focus groups are, dalits, tribals, women and
minorities, so partners were selected appropriately who would work towards realising the
objective. Partners such as ASTHA, CDR, MWS, PW, HRLN work on dalit, tribal and human
rights issues , Jagori, NAWO,NFDW and NSS work with women, CSSS and Ram Punyani
work on diversity and peace building. The partners are a mix of small and big partners, old
and new and geographically located in different regions, where large communities of people
are discriminated, marginalised, face atrocities and denied access from their entitlements.
29
So this combination of partners has been quite effective in this programme. A very important
factor determining the success of the programme is the process of developing the
programme itself. This was done through a consultative process, with the partners and
through an exercise of mutual learning and the outcome being the PT1.
The partners conduct their periodic monitoring and internal review, submitted reports based
on their respective proposal. DCA programme officer (PO),makes a monitoring visit once in
six months and provides accompaniment and capacity building support as and when
required. But there are instances when the monitoring has been done only once a year, but
as there are opportunities during the year to meet in some event or the other, the PO is in a
position to keep abreast of the programme progress..
The partners work has resulted in visible changes in the target communities. Some of the
salient highlights of the programme are:
Women more aware of their rights and seek redress where necessary. This is
articulated through the work reports of Jagori (case study) and also Astha.
(42 women’s leaders participated in strengthening the capacity of Dalit women and
provide opportunities for leadership development among Dalit women and to address
human rights issues pertaining to Dalit women)
Capacity building has facilitated engagement of rights holders with duty bearers
using the Constitutional framework and legislations to claim their rights and
entitlements.
(3103 complaints were filed before 12 State and National authorities on regular basis
as a way of bringing their attention on the nature and frequency of violence on Dalit
communities and the need for concerted action from the authorities at Rajasthan and
National level)
A significant feature of the programme has been to reach out to religious minority
groups, socially and economically marginalised, (that civil society often do not reach
out to), to address the issue of communal harmony and democratic space as this is
sensitive and volatile area of work.
Dalit and tribal women who suffer more discrimination and violence compared to their
men are now mobilising themselves against issues affecting them.
(Formation of a Dalit Women’s Network, Odisha chapter.)
The capacity building support provided by DCA has helped partners to strengthen
their advocacy. National level initiatives have been linked to the state and on- the-
ground work through networking with DCA partners or local groups. This was also
true for the international work done by IDSN, which has benefited from linking up with
partners in India as well as local sources of information.
NSS was invited by IDSN to a meeting in Nepal, where they got the opportunity to
share their experience about dalit women condition in Odisha in particular and India
30
in general. This helped in establishing linkages with the dalit work there as well
establish linkages with IDSN an international NGO working on dalit issues.
3.4 Efficiency: Sound management and value for money - How well the various
activities transformed the available resources into the intended results
in terms of quantity, quality and timeliness.
As already indicated, the programme works around four key components to achieve the
Overall Objective: Social and political discrimination and rights denials of dalits, tribals,
minorities and women reduced and greater organisational resistance by these groups in
programme areas. The activities already detailed earlier were formed and proposed around
these objectives:
-Discriminated groups have increased access to justice systems and legal resources
Legal action: The legal rights activities of the programme has enabled both the rights
holders to seek justice and the duty bearers to take cognisance of cases reported. Through
CDRs intervention both on the ground and through advocacy along with other dalit rights
organisations, it has helped in filing of FIR’s. Also the rate of conviction under the SC/ ST Act
and provision of statutory relief to the victims has increased by about 30 per cent. There has
been increased use of legal mechanism to avail justice and majority of the FIRs were
registered at the instance of Court intervention under Section 156 (3) of Criminal Procedure
Code.
Jagori has been organising the basti women into ‘Mahila Samuhas’ –women’s group. These
women are capacitated to be the change agents. They have been able to help a woman get
custody of a girl child The women work as para legals in following up cases of violence,
maintenance etc that come to the ‘Samuha’. They have been successful in convincing the
men to pay maintenance for women survivors of violence through the Samuhas.
In one case of public violence, the ‘Mahila Samuha’ helped to nab a habitual offender who
was notorious for eve teasing, who even managed to evade the police dragnet.
-Discriminatory discourse, and invisibilization particularly by the media and in
educational sectors is challenged and reduced
CSSS and Ram Punyani have been involved in training DCA partners and facilitated them to
look at diversity issues especially in the context of the religious conflicts in Odisha. So the
thrust has been on peace building and enabled the DCA partners in Odisha to be alert to
such issues. Similar efforts have also been made in Rajasthan through CDR and Astha on
the issue of communal harmony as it is a sensitive issue in the state.
Their efforts have led to developing a team of peace workers through trainings and this has
enabled in working with communities to sensitise them and create an environment to
promote communal harmony.
A whole body of literature has been developed by CSSS and Ram Punyani to address
issues on communal politics based on violence and to dispel misconceptions about the
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minority community. The literature is developed in a graded way, for non-literates, semi-
literates, literates, academic and non-academics and reach a general audience due to the
standing and respect of the people involved. Addressing the issue in simple language and
with translations in several Indian languages and disseminated widely, is an effort to
promote peace within these communities.
-Strengthened mobilisation, organisation, networking and interlinking of
discriminated groups for the claiming of rights and entitlements from duty-bearers
As a result of this programme there are visible changes in practice and policy. For instance
through Astha’s concerted work among the tribals. So far, 15,000 Scheduled Tribe and
forest dwellers families, in 9 Districts (Pratapgarh, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Banswara,
Dungarpur, Sirohi, Pali, Baran, Bhilwara) have been granted their individual rights (titles)
over forest and homestead land. Titles will be in the name of both the women and men of the
household.
Tenteinali , Telkoi Block, Dist- Keonjhar- Meera Welfare Society (MWS)field, Odisha
This is a Juang tribal village with about 82 households. It is a very remote village deep into
the jungles and till the intervention of MWS even as recent as couple of years ago there was
no road leading into the village. As a result it was cut off from all communication facilities,
children had no access to education. Health situation of the community was of concern as
health care was also not easily accessible due to absence of approach roads connecting to
the nearest block headquarters.
With MWS’s intervention, the tribals slowly began organising themselves and realised the
first need for their development is to have a road that can link them to the world outside their
village. Collectively they decided they would do ‘Shramadhan’ and start making the road.
This information got carried to the government departments through media reports on this
initiative and then the local administration came forward and built the road for this village.
This has helped the tribals to travel out and now gradually children who pass out of the
primary school are able to go out of the village to neighbouring villages where there is a
middle and high school.
Now that children from the village are attending school, the mothers who are members of
SHGs have organised themselves to monitor the midday meals.
Drinking water remains a serious issue in this village and they have given a memo to the
authorities, if there can be some provision made to direct the water from a natural stream
flowing by into their village for drinking purposes.
-DCA and partners´ institutional capacity has been enhanced for addressing issues of
social and political discrimination
HRLN as a legal expert organisation has assisted Jagori in cases related to women, it has
helped CDR in addressing cases of dalit rights. This support and opportunity to work
together was made possible by this programme. People’s Watch is focussing on human
rights education and has trained hundreds of teachers and students in Odisha and
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Rajasthan and West Bengal. Students have helped identify dropouts and facilitated back to
school initiatives.
Schools implementing Human Rights Education (HRE)
Odisha- 12 districts 650 Government schools 250 child clubs
Rajasthan 70 private schools
West Bengal 600 Government Schools 24 child clubs
(SSA)
Kolkota 500 schools(mixed and girls)
100 schools under SSA
East Midnepore (tribal schools)
Each of the partners work through a project, but as the activities and indicators were
collectively discussed and drawn up to meet the larger programme objective. Each of the
four immediate objectives of the programme are addressed by the respective partners in a
manner that is relevant to their work context. So while most of the activities are specifically
partner based, it works towards the programme objective.
Gender mainstreaming and diversity issues are key to the programme, but more work needs
to be done for it to get mainstreamed. As an effort in this direction, Jagori periodically trains
the MWS team, who are new to these issues. With NSS, which is a women’s organisation,
Jagori is involved in building their feminist perspective. These are all the different ways by
which synergy and cooperation between DCA partners is taking place.
The Partner Platform initiative has helped in creating synergy between the DCA partners.
It has also helped in linking up through issue-based concerns. For instance NSS in Odisha
works on women’s rights, with special focus on dalit women. NAWO is a national level
women’s organisation working across the country and is integrally linked to National
Federation of Dalit Women (NFDW). Jagori is a women’s organisation with strong feminist
perspective. Through the PTI programme, these organisations have come together to
network and advocate wherever possible collectively and individually to promote and protect
women’s rights. This has also helped the dalit perspective come into the focus of women’s
concerns.
The evaluation has not dwelt on the cost effectiveness of the programme. But it would not be
wrong to mention, that the approach adopted for this programme does seem to be cost-
effective. The outreach is much more as there is a multiplicity of partners, working towards a
common objective. Therefore, the base is wide and the outreach to the most marginalised
groups works like a ripple effect. This has been enabled by the Partner Platforms, where PTI
partners meet exchange and enrich each other through their experiences. This one hopes is
translated downwards into their different constituencies, this is the ripple effect that one is
referring to.
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Further as proposed in the proposal for the five year programme, the partners have been
conducting the activities as planned. This has helped to a large extent in trying to achieve
the immediate objectives which lead to the overall objective.
As already mentioned, the issues that the programme has intended to address is complex in
nature and hence through the different activities, the foundation is being laid for the long
struggle ahead.
3.5 Impact: Achievement of Wider Effects - The extent to which the objectives of
the project have been achieved as intended, in particular, the project planned
overall objective
By virtue of its relevance and appropriate interventions, within a short period of time, the
programme has been able to make a difference among the rights-holders.
Over the period of nearly 5 years, through the partners consistent work with the rights
holders and engagement with duty bearers has to some extent enabled the following:
a) Rights- holders are aware about their rights and entitlements and seeking legal
redress
JOURNEY OF MITHILA- Jagori ‘s case study -Delhi
Twenty year old Mithila was brought to Delhi from Jharkhand in 2005 by Sarala, an
agent working with an unauthorized agency. For a year she worked in a house on a
monthly wage of Rs 2000. Sarala told Mithila that she will take her back home at the
end of the year. Contrary to her assurances, Sarala entrusted the tribal girl to the care
of a new employer, a senior editor with a reputed television channel and also a
businessman. This man and his upper middle class family lived in a posh apartment in
a metropolitan city.
Though initially Mithila could talk to her family over the phone, soon the atmosphere
changed. Her employers started showing their true colour. For the next three years,
Mithila was harassed, beaten and terrorized; her access to the outside world was
totally barred. Let alone leaving the house, the girl was not allowed even to step out in
the balcony. The employers locked her up inside the house whenever they went out.
Mithila received no wages for three years. In the beginning, Sarala had taken rupees
5,000 from the employers with the guarantee of sending that money to Mithila’s
parents. Much later she discovered that the money had never been handed over to
them.
Perhaps the worst aspect of the abuse was the violence and the beatings. Both
husband and wife used every instrument – a kitchen knife to a baseball bat - to hit
Mithila. Though neighbours often heard her screaming but none of them wanted to get
involved. One day through the chink of the partition separating the balconies of the two
flats, the neighbour’s domestic help saw Mithila’s face, scarred and wounded. She
alerted her employers who contacted Jagori and conveyed to them the horror of the
situation. After a particularly violent round of beatings, Mithila somehow escaped to her
neighbour’s house. The neighbours informed the Jagori team of their reluctance to
keep Mithila at their house for a long time.
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On a cold February night, Mithila was rescued from her employer’s house by Jagori’s
Violence Intervention team (VIT) duly informing the police. She had bruises all over her
body and a minor fracture in her skull bone. The police was non-cooperative through
out till Jagori pressurized them to at least file an FIR which was finally done on the
third day. Mithila was taken to the hospital for a medico-legal certificate (MLC) by
Jagori staff where the police reluctantly followed
After her rescue, Mithila was placed with the Tribal Domestic Workers Association
where she was given first-hand counselling and later placed with a family known to
both the organizations. For the first two months, Mithila was unable to work. Her head
would spin and joints would ache. She was provided proper food and medical care.
Gradually, she gained her strength and was able to work.
Mithila’s former employers pressurized her and Jagori’s team to take back the case.
Mithila was clear that not only did she want the money due to her, but she also wanted
them to be punished for the wrongs they did to her.
Mithila's parents were traced by members of Jagori, the Tribal Domestic Worker's
Association and her new employer. She was reunited with her sister who worked in the
same city and a brother in a neighbouring state. Mithila is now a confident and happy
girl earning for herself, working with the family who provided her the much-needed
support.
b) Rights-holders are mobilising themselves to demand their claims and entitlements
Since the start of this project there has been a thrust on monitoring of human rights
violations. As a result on an average every year, nearly two thousand complaints/cases have
been registered before state and national authorities. Nearly 25 per cent filed, seeking
justice, denial of entitlements etc. Over 50 PILs have been filed seeking justice for the
discriminated communities and public events to mobilse opinion against the practice of
‘untouchability’, which continues to exist even after 64 years of Independence.
Advocacy initiatives on caste –based discrimination:
Inclusion of caste-based discrimination in several reports and communications
prepared by UN Special Rapporteurs, in particular the Special Rapporteur on
contemporary forms of racism
Launch of improved IDSN website as a new resource hub on caste-based
discrimination
Danish parliamentary hearing on caste-based discrimination in the Committee on
Foreign Affairs
Astha’s Case Study- 17 families received unemployment allowance- Rajasthan
The village Jagabor is habitat of 300 Bhil/ adivasi families situated on the border of two states
Rajasthan and Gujarat. The village can be approached with a half kuchha and half pucca road 10
kms away from the Block headquarter Bichhiwara in district Dungarpur.
This case is about the 17 families of Jagabor village of Bichhiwara block in Dungarpur district,
who received unemployment allowance. When village people applied (on November 05, 2009)
with the village council demanding work under NREGA and got receipts against their
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applications. It was mentioned in the receipt that they could present this to the village council on
November 16, 2009 and get work allocation or see the information board of the village council.
Also, they would be informed about the allocation of work in writing through letter. But, they didn’t
receive any information about the allocation of work within due date. On December 01, 2009
these families raised the issue in the village assembly and collectively wrote a proposal
demanding unemployment allowance (as per provision of the Act) and submitted to the
Programme Officer (NREGA) of Bichhiwara block. Also, the Convener of the Vagad Labourers
and Farmer’s Association forwarded the demand application to the District Collector, Dungarpur
on January 07, 2010 for information and necessary action; and requested to the Chief Executive
Officer (CEO) to look into the matter by referring to the communication with the local
administration (village council/ block). On August 12, 2010 the Association (VMKS) pointed that
employment assistant/ Secretary/ Panchayat/ Technical officer were fully responsible for the
process and demanded the employment allowance for the labourers.
The Association waited for the reaction from the village council but payment was not made even
after due date had passed. The Association again raised the demand of unemployment
allowance before the District Collector and the District Administration, in reply to the demand the
Additional District Programme Coordinator (NREGA) and CEO, Zilla Parishad Dungarpur issued
an order on November 04, 2010 referring to the earlier communication that the said (listed in the
letter) 17 families were not employed for 13 days and as per Act, they are eligible for the
unemployment allowance (Rs. 25 per day). Also, the amount should be deducted from the salary
of the Secretary, Village Council. Ultimately, the payment of unemployment allowance was made
on December 2011.
Tuli ka khet – Dis Kotra Udaipur
The tribals here have organised themselves and they hold gram saba on 14th every
month to take stock of the village issues like tax collection etc. Collectively with
consent of their leaders, it is agreed that a tax of Rs 101-151 is charged per vehicle
that enters the village jurisdiction to collect forest produce. like custard apple fruit.
Previously the police used to terrorise the tribals and the forest guards, prevented
them from collecting forest produce. With Astha’s intervention they have addressed
these issues and today are in control of the minor forest produce and generate
income from it.
Due to awareness of their rights the tribals ensured the proper implementation of
NGEGS and got 100 days work. They are now taking up the issue of non-
implementation of PESA. The community shared that the anganwadi is not
functioning properly and this issue will also be addressed.
The day this field was visited happened to be a post Holi festival called ‘Kher’,
where there would be festivity and dancing. As a precaution to maintain a peaceful
environment, the tribal leaders and the community decided if any person is found
drunk and misbehaving, he will be tied to a tree and punished. This regulation was
36
introduced as earlier incidences had occurred which made the situation insecure
for women
In fact during the discussion women shared their concern on this and the need for
action to check this. They realised the need to organise themselves to ensure a
safe environment as alcoholism is a major problem in the tribal community.
c) Duty-bearers are sensitised to the issues of the marginalised groups
The programme has facilitated the engagement of rights holders, with support from partners
and other stakeholders to build capacities and engage with duty bearers using constitutional
frameworks as well as existing legislation for accessing rights and entitlements.
Nari Suraksha Samiti is the NGO member of district SC/ST vigilance and monitoring
committee, District Zilla Parishad Governing body, consisting MLA, MP, Zilla Parishad,
District Collector, Development officers and officers of the department. So NSS participates in
the district planning meetings and uses this opportunity to advocate for dalit rights to access
and implementat welfare schemes in a focused way in dalit hamlets.
Challenging Untouchability- Odisha
Kuskila village under Chhendipada block of Angul district there is a Dalit Women Resource
Center (DWRC)
In this village there are two paddy threshing mills. It was brought to the notice of NSS through
the DWRC that the mills practised untouchability as they would not take the paddy brought in
by dalits. This matter was taken up at the sub-collectorate where an order was issued to the
District Welfare officer to investigate into this complaint. Assistance was sought from NSS
and Odisha Mahila Adhikar Samiti- a dalit women’s platform who also monitored this issue. It
was found that this was true and a report was submitted to that effect.
The rice mill owners were summoned and when interrogated they pleaded that they are in
business and if they take the dalit people’s paddy, none of the other caste communities will
come to their mill, either to purchase rice, nor to have their paddy threshed. The Collector
cautioned them that if they continued this practice they would be booked under the
(Prevention of Atrocities Act) POA. So now, the mill owners have agreed to have one day
exclusively for the dalit families to get the paddy threshing done. This, however has created
another form of exclusion, except the progress is that the dalits are getting their paddy
threshed, due to the authorities taking necessary action.
d) The demand for safe public spaces
Jagori is taking advocacy efforts to the next level with policy makers and civil society
groups, communities and the media (as is the case with the Safe Delhi Campaign);
ensuring the issue of entrenched and structural violence against women remains on the
political agenda and gets addressed (Sexual Violence Bill, Sexual Harassment Act, and
violence in public spaces); building pressure for sustained implementation mechanisms
Prevention of Domestic Violence Act (DV Act) and advocating for implementation of legal
and social measures to prevent violence and secure women’s rights. This involves a
combination of community-led advocacy and policy change advocacy.
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e) Women are getting mobilised and forming women’s groups that are developing as
change agents and leaders
Women are breaking their silence on violence whether gender based or caste based. The
example of Mahila Samuha is already mentioned. There are also dalit women’s resource
centres that have been set up where the dalit women members have been equipped to
address issues affecting them. They address issues of discrimination and atrocities
committed on them. For instance women of Barapali of Gunduri DWRC in the Atthamallick
block in Odisha registered a case of violence in the local police station and demanded
action. It is observed that leadership is emerging among the Zwong women (PTG) in
Keonjar, also participation of women in the Grama Sabha has increased in Mandaghar in
Keonjar. The Dalit Mahila Manch of CDR has been very active in adddressing atrocities
committed on Dalit women and NAWO, through its NFDW partner has been promoting dalits
women’s leadership both in Odisha and Rajasthan and creating awareness on the SC/ST
Act to enable dalit women take action against the injustices meted out to them.
f) Proper implementation of the DV Act and also applying alternate forms of conflict
resolution
All the DCA partners working on gender issues have actively advocated for proper
implementation of the DV Act. They have also been part of other women’s networks, at
national and state level advocating for this.
Nari Suraksha Samiti Case (Survivor of domestic violence) Odisha
Sabita Sethy, w/o-Sagar Sethi of the village Bijigol,Po/-Bijigol was to the son of Maheswar
Sethy. At the time of marriage ceremony the dowry demand was met by her parents. After
the marriage the couple stayed in Bijigo with Sagar’s parents. Sabita’s husband worked in a
private.company. His demands for dowry started when Sabita gave birth to a girl child after 2
years of marriage. According to Sabita her husband and in-laws started demanding more
money after she gave birth to a male child as well as tortured her for bearing the a female
child. The couple quarrelled often on money and domestic matters. She was tortured by her
husband both physically and mentally daily. Unable to take the torture anymore, she
returned to her parents inTalcher, Angul and was staying with them. Both Sagar and Sabita
were living separately now and there was no communication between them. Sabita heard
about NSS from a local journalist and approached them to intervene in her case.
NSS conducted fact-finding to ascertain the real facts of the issue. Then NSS sent a notice
to both parties for counseling. Since Sabita was not interested for any legal action. NSS
played an intermediary role through regular counseling to bring about an amicable
settlement. Finally the counseling was successful in reuniting them. The couple now are
living together with their children in Bijigol, Talcher, Angul.
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g) Awareness among the dalits and adivasis about the SC/ST POA Act
Violation of human rights i.e. use of double glass system in tea shops, denial of access to
water in common pond or well etc., separate sitting arrangements in school for dalit
children in mid-day meal schemes - these practices have reduced gradually in 40 per cent
of villages of NSS operational area through the intervention of SHGs, VEC and people’s
organisation.
There is awareness about the POA among the communities and they now come forward to
file complaints when such violations occur.
h) The strengthening and expansion of the ‘ All India Secular Forum’ which is now
present in 12 states and is a voluntary initiative but became more active through this
programme to work on peace and conflict
Qualitatively now a large section of the communities where the programme focuses have
realised that their thinking and impressions about the different religious minorities was off the
truth. Therefore this message gets carried forward. Here the role of the peace volunteers
developed and the voluntary peace groups formed in Rajasthan and Odisha is critical as
they play a proactive role.
i) Advocacy initiatives are yielding results that are benefitting the discriminated and
marginalised communities
In Rajasthan due to advocacy efforts, the Special Component Plan (SCP) budget which was
8.92 per cent has been increased to 16 per cent , hence some level of policy changes have
emerged, such as, increase in the SCP budget which was far below than what was
recommended by the Planning Commission.
Courage to expose misuse of NREGS Funds- CDR Case Rajasthan
Sukh Bai Baiwra a dalit woman is an elected Sarpanch of the village panchayat of Pipal in
district Dausa. Hers is the only single dalit household in this Gujjar dominated village. Suk
Bai was elected in the 2010 election and is in her third year of office. As Sarpanch her effort
was, to bring transparency and accountability on issues related to NREGS. Prior to her
coming into office, there had been some misuse of the NREGS funds which she wanted to
expose and make clear. A resolution to do this was passed in an emergency meeting called
by her which had a quorum. Through deceit that particular page of the meeting minutes with
signatures was removed. The other caste elected members who formed a quorum and
passed a resolution are not cooperating in taking action as they are party to this conspiracy
along with the concerned government functionaries, hence no action has been taken on her
complaint. She is being intimidated by the caste members of her panchayat.
She is a brave dalit woman and is determined to fight this case. She has even approached
the CEO, who has assured her of some action. Suk bai attributes her courage to take up this
39
matter has come through the support rendered by CDR, who is helping her in this issue.Her
family faces serious threat being the only dalit family in the village. Yet both she and her
husband are brave and her husband is very supportive of his wife and this is what they had
to say, “Even if we have to lose our lives, we will not move out nor give up the case that we
have taken up”
This illustrates the conviction and strength that the rights holders have developed through
CDR’s intervention.
j) Recognition and acknowledgement by the state especially in Odisha and West
Bengal on the importance of HRE and the need for mainstreaming it into the
education curriculum
The State council for Education, Research and Training has expressed interest to introduce
HRE for the teachers training. People’s Watch is preparing a training module for them and it
is nearing completion.
In West Bengal, People’s Watch has received cooperation from government schools, part of
the SSA, who are supporting and cooperating in taking the HRE forward.
k) Engagement with media has yielded results as the local papers have given
adequate coverage to issues. This has helped bringing the issues to the notice of
policy bearer /relevant authorities and helped in advocacy for initiating appropriate
action.
A range of media reporting in the three states where the Human Rights Programme is
running showing how teachers in schools have reduced corporal punishment and getting
children to undertake personal favours. This has been a result of large scale teacher training
programmes on human rights, ethics and values. At the same time, schools where these
teachers are working have developed codes of conduct which are adhered to. People’s
Watch has been working consistently on these issues.
Events organised by the DCA partners receive coverage by the media as these are partners
who have established credibility over the years through their work. Such coverage has
facilitated proactive state action, in providing improving implementation of government
schemes eg Astha case. In checking discrimination practices (NSS case) and this has
happened in all the DCA operational areas.
3.6 Sustainability: Likely Continuation of Achieved Results - An assessment of
whether the positive outcomes of the project and the flow of benefits are likely
to continue after external funding and/ or non-funding support interventions
(referral linkages, coordination) ends
The evaluation has tried to look at the sustainability options in relation to the four key
objectives of the programme and the activities designed whether these will contribute in
making the programme a sustainable one.
1. Building capacities of the discriminated communities, through provision of legal
education and training would help to equip them to address issues independently if
and when the need arises
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2. Enabling linkages with other partners, networks and movements so that the struggle
started can continue
3. DCA’s capacity building training on fund raising has been a valuable input for
partners to explore other sources of funding for the programme
4. The HRE intervention in government schools with students and teachers has
motivated the state governments, who have evinced interest to introduce HR
education in the curriculum.
5. The creation of Mahila Samuhas, women’s resource centres and people’s
organizations which are rooted in the community are steps in the direction to
sustainability.
These are just stepping stones and will require further strengthening, but perhaps as
time moves, it is hoped that the dependency on the partner will slowly wane out, though
the community would still continue to look for direction and guidance and non-financial
resource support. But this is still a long journey of what has just started some years ago,
which was then directed into the PT1 programme with its clear focus and this now needs
further strengthening.
(Annexure VII details the outputs that contributed to the programme objectives)
4. Lessons to be learned
4.1 Strengths
a) Programme Design
It was a well designed and conceptualised programme most apt for the current
social, economical and political status of the country.
Inclusion of capacity building was an integral component of the programme.
The space for flexibility in the programme was helpful and appreciated by the
partners.
As partners of ACT both DCA and CA together supported the core work of Astha and
CDR and allowed for the activities to merge without expecting the partner to
projectise their work, so that it contributes to the larger programme objective.
The time frame of the programme
A five year time frame is appropriate given the type of programme that this is. Since
more than a year was utilised in developing and designing it, the actual time for
implementation was reduced. Even so, the time allocation has been adequate.
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b) Programme Partners
Appropriately selected partners and their geographical location with reference to the
targeted communities.
A mix of large, medium and small partners who had established credibility through
their work at the local, state, national and international levels.
Strengthening the rights-based approach as that was a common thread right through
the programme.
Not many partners work on minority issues and therefore introducing diversity as an
important component of the programme added value.
Bringing in partners who were experts on the key issues that comprised the
programme, such as human rights, women’s rights, secularism and peace building.
c) Programme Strategy
Partner Platform
The initiative of Partner Platforms for cross learning, building solidarity, knowledge
and capacity building lead to creating synergy among partners.
Partner Platform added value to the programme. It provided the much needed
capacity-building on programme management and financial management which
partners found extremely useful. Further, the Platform facilitated partners’ exposure
to issues of diversity and politics of communalism, which enabled DCA partners who
were not working on these issues, to look out for such issues in their work areas, so
that it could be addressed with the support of other DCA partners as and when the
need arises.
The platform has helped to build cooperation and working relations between
partners, for example DCA gender partner like Jagori was involved in gender training
and mainstreaming efforts with partners like MWS, CDR and NSS. Such efforts have
influenced and helped partners to induct more women staff, for instance earlier CDR
did not have adequate women staff, whereas now they have 40 per cent women in
the organisation.
DCA partners serve as a key constituency for perspective building on women's rights
and mainstreaming gender perspectives into their ongoing work. Joint effort can
direct towards creating a supportive and responsive environment for exercise of
women's rights.
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Likewise on issues of Diversity, CSSS and Ram Punyani provide the necessary
training and support to partners in Odisha and Rajasthan to develop trainees who will
promote peace and address conflict issues.
The focus of communication in the programme has been useful. Preparation of useful
information, education and communication (IEC) material, booklets for awareness
generation on issues of communal politics, or infringement of people’s democratic
rights and media advocacy to highlight issues to mobilise public opinion, to bear
pressure on the authorities to pay attention to issues of discrimination,
marginalisation and violence was a good strategy.
Earlier Astha’s partnership with DCA was for the Food Security Programme(FSP),
and then when the PT1 programme was introduced, the FSP merged into the PT1
and has become Astha’s core programme, thus establishing a core partnership with
DCA.
4.2. Challenges
a) Programme- related
The issues being addressed through the programme are complex, sensitive and
which cannot bring about quick easily visible results that are measurable, as issues
are so deep rooted caste-discrimination, religious animosity leading to conflict, the
insensitivity of duty-bearers against rights holders.
In the current political environment where the freedom of association, freedom to
protest is being curtailed, especially with shrinking spaces for civil society action,
conducting such a programme is not easy.
The course for future direction is something that needs deep reflection and thought
both by partners and especially for DCA.
The main challenge has been to build solidarity across different discriminated groups.
This has not been a very successful agenda, although it is a strategic intervention as
well important criterion for programme cohesion. This needs to be followed up
through support to events and platforms where differently discriminated groups can
come together and network for a common cause.
Perhaps there is need for all the ACT partners to meet together and identify what
areas of work both in terms of geographic locations and issue priorities can be
supported, without adding to the partners reporting burden. While this is a
requirement of the donor agencies, there is need to develop some simple reporting
formats so that partner’s time is not spent in filling these up. DCA’s training to
streamline this has been helpful, but it has not helped in the reduction of paperwork.
Therefore if there is a consortium funding for certain programmes, a common format
could be developed and this would be less burdensome on the partners who are
already burdened with field based activities, which are critical for mobilising and
strengthening the communities for change.
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b) Funding- related
Resource constraints are another major factor as tracking HR violations, providing
legal solutions etc needs to go on in a continuous manner in the pursuit of justice.
For DCA in particular, it is of serious concern as it has come under the government
scanner and this makes it even more difficult for the strengthening of such a
programme, even though it is imperative for such interventions to continue.
5. Conclusion and Way Forward
The PT1 programme is a much needed one. In a span of five years the programme has
been able to draw public attention to the problems of discrimination against the dalits,
livelihood, land, governance related issues and displacement of the tribals, the growing
atrocities against women and the politics of communalism---all of which require concerted
action at different levels. The programme has balanced appropriately field based action with
advocacy ranging from people-led advocacy to policy change advocacy, backed with
adequate evidence based research.
As stated earlier the programme is well designed with a fairly long term span of five years as
a start up. But this included the formulation and internalisation of the programme between
DCA and its partners, therefore leaving anything between 42 to 48 months out of the 60
month programme period for the actual implementation of the programme. This is still a fair
period, but yet not enough for a programme of this magnitude.
5.1 Discussions with DCA team and Partners for way forward:
a) Partner level:
JAGORI's strengths have been consciousness-raising and leadership development
on women’s rights and gender equality; supporting women’s struggles against all
forms of violence ensuring access to safety, dignity, justice and rights, and advocacy
and networking to enlarge and claim democratic spaces and strengthen women’s
movement building efforts. JAGORI's work directly do not meet DCA's programme
objective on 'Access to Social and Economic Justice'. Nevertheless, there is
conscious effort to ensure access to economic justice through the direct support
services of counselling and casework on VAW, by supporting women to negotiate
relationships of equality at workplaces. Since most of the women seeking assistance
are from the lower-income group families, Jagori tries to relocate women survivors as
domestic workers and factory workers. The domestic workers group has been
supported through trainings on issues of minimum wages and work condition, to act
as a pressure group in claiming their economic rights.
In this context, the creation of Samuhas is critical. Samuhas are here to stay
irrespective whether Jagori continues to work in the area or not. Therefore the thrust
on building and capacitating the communities, developing leadership of potential
women and including youth to be partners of change is a key strategy. Jagori sees
this as a move towards enabling the community to take control and act on issues
affecting their lives and in this way moving towards sustainability of its work.
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HRLN suggested the need to think along with partners for fundraising to address
issues on the ground. Assistance to establish a fundraising unit for sustainability is
necessary. Legal intervention cost money, even if linked to legal aid authority to
address cases. The quality of intervention is not the same, also it still requires
partners like HRLN to provide necessary evidence in a manner that it serves in
strengthening the legal intervention.
CDR expressed that rights based work posed a lot of threat especially if it is with dalit
communities. Therefore, how can safety and security measures be envisaged for
human rights defenders, is an area that needs special attention.
Further CDR expressed that its work with dalits invariably requires work on land
rights to be strengthened. This should be the focus for work in the future.
Astha’s expectation is for strengthening the CB component and to make the local to
global linkages on the PT1 programmatic issues.
They realise that the Government is vigilant to activities that are political in nature
and therefore they feel that there is a need to revisit the programme strategy, lay
more emphasis on building people’s organisation through knowledge building and
capacitating them.
People’s Watch shared that DCA has to learn from its experience in India. If the
situation is not viable to support the work as is being done currently, alternatives
have to be found. In which case, develop and support Human Rights Defenders, who
work within the frame of the legal safeguards and the Constitution, as one option.
Also focus on the issue of diversity as it is new and not much work is being done in
this direction. Again, looking at this issue within the Constitution guarantees which
the DCA diversity partners CSSS and Ram Punyani are already doing.
In addition, help to create a model for resource generation from within the country.
Continue with the humanitarian engagement. PW is already exploring possibilities of
corporate funding for its HRE work. However, the demand reiterated as others
partners have also expressed the need to equip partners for fund raising skills.
CSSS urged that the need for capacity building and therefore funding for this is
necessary. While developing the module for such training to seek funds, it is
important to include the component of communalism. There is need to work and see
that this component is included in the education curriculum, in police training, training
of civil servants in the National Police academy trainings, in the IAS academy. In fact
gender trainings too must include this issue as it is not addressed adequately.
For the future, it is envisaged that all discriminated sections, dalits, tribals, women
and minorities can come together on a common platform.
MWS has developed a body of volunteers and for the future the focus is to
strengthen the people’s organisation. Thereafter, the community with the people’s
45
organisation and the volunteers will be in a position to address the issues affecting
them. This is their future vision.
NAWO felt that in the context of the changes in the country, perhaps there is need to
access more government funding. Also if funding support is directed towards seeking
better implementation of government schemes and laws which are well within the
purview of the Constitution it will not face acute backlash as overt political activity.
There was also a suggestion that if the DCA funds get considerably reduced or a
situation emerges where DCA is unable to support programmes in India, then it
would be useful if a generous endowment fund is provided, so that it gives time to
partners to reorganise their intervention plans in a way that work among the
discriminated people continues, but with a focus as already mentioned above. Also,
the need to build more and more membership based collectives that will generate
some amount of their own funding, coupled with seeking local donations from
sources that do not come in ideological conflict with the interests of the discriminated
and marginalised sections of the dalits, tribals, women and minorities.
b) DCA Team Response (current team and ex-DCA Rep)
The evaluator received inputs from DCA staff,( Asia Regional office- India and H.O-
Denmark) on PT1I. This was done through interviews, Skype and email.
The discussions brought forth several aspects such as funding, the possible ways forward
for the PT1 and so on, as this is an important programme of DCA which squarely underlines
human rights work among the vulnerable and marginalised sections of the population
a) Funding crisis with budget cuts
b) GOI new FCRA rules and its eye on DCA supported activities.
There is a funding crisis for programme due to budget cuts of secure Danida Frame budget
allocated within DCA to South Asia. DCAs high expectations to secure additional funds from
alternative sources have been challenging for the India programmes. The funding for PT I
programme partners has mainly been funded through the Danida Frame budget. EU funding
was secured for Human Rights work, however it has been difficult to get EU funding for other
types of work ie on gender equity, cultural diversity, torture and regional India-Nepal work on
dalit issues.
The GOI and the new FCRA is a serious concern. This is specially for the rights based work
and advocacy for equal rights and opportunities of marginalised and discriminated groups
and communities which are endangered.
The definition of “political activity” may restrict the design of the programme and therefore
there is the need to analyze in more detail the consequences of the new FCRA and
hopefully the document under preparation by FMSF expand to guide future planning. It will
be respecting and within the parameters of the laws of the countries in which DCA operates.
However, if the case is so that it becomes impossible to carry out the normal programmes of
46
DCA in any particular country then that calls for a reflection on the continued presence in
that particular country. This is not surely the case in India. What is being sought is clarity on
what can be done and what cannot be done and if it emerges that the type of programs DCA
does are being restricted, then one needs to take it from there. Therefore one cannot ignore
and not be vigilant of a changed political reality and subtle (surreptitious) measures for
curbing foreign funding patterns. In this context, seeking the inputs from FMSF when DCA
does the context analysis and programming will be critical to its cause.
c) Suggestions for PT1 and possible areas for future work:
DCA’s PT1 emerged in response to a new way of working, to focus on specific themes,
political space, right to food so that the impact can be increased. The Partner Platform was a
space for experiential learning and in building cooperation so that with this collective effort,
advocacy for policy change would be enabled. It also helped in linking partners so that a
programme focus was evolved and there was mutual learning taking place through these
Partner Platforms. Partners experience in diversity issues had the opportunity to introduce
this issue in the work context of the other DCA partners. This enabled the partners to start
looking at these issues in the communities where they work.
The mid-term DCA programme review held in 2010, added value to get a sense of the
direction of the programme and to address what needs to be done for the future.
It is suggested that for the future it is important for DCA to look at what are its priorities, what
will be the consequences if there are any drastic changes that may be necessitated due to
the GOI position on foreign aid and civil society action.
In this context, whatever be the situation, it will require that DCA gear up to provide some
level of stable funding to the partners for the PT1 programme as this is the life line of the
partners and needs to be kept alive.
Further it is suggested that there should be more support for HR Defenders. It is also
suggested that partners should be trained, supported and encouraged to develop diversified
fundraising strategies aiming to raise local resources for strategic advocacy and Human
Rights work which is jeopardised if supported with foreign funds. At the same time partners
should develop areas of work and organisational strengthening that can be supported with
international resources.
It is strongly felt that that this programme which is dalit focussed needs to get strengthened
further, in line with the vision and mission of DCA.
It is reiterated strongly that the work on tribal issues needs to be strengthened and made
more strategic as the most deprived and marginalised tribal people are poorer and more
deprived than dalits.
Cultural and communal diversity work, to promote equitable and peaceful co-existence of
people with different backgrounds is important and should receive continued support from
DCA.
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It was also felt that just focussing on discrimination in the programme outreach work is not
enough but this commitment to the marginalised and discriminated sections needs to get
reflected in the DCA’s organisational policies and staffing pattern in the regional office. At
present the DCA Regional office staff in Delhi includes two dalits, no tribal, and one Muslim.
What was clearly articulated was that while the DCA has such a strong programme to
reduce discrimination in the society, this should be translated into continuous efforts to
provide opportunities for persons belonging to these sections as well as having continued
open discussions on same issues as a proactive move of inclusion.
The programme work on PT1 programme/political space has been on reinforcing the
foundations of democracy, focusing on democratic values, strengthening civil society and
ensuring human rights. The programme has focused primarily on socially and economically
marginalised groups of dalits, adivasis, and religious minorities who are devoid of rights and
entitlements from the state and its schemes. Merits of the programme has been in bringing
lasting changes in the lives of such communities and enabling them to have access and
control of their basic rights and services, and bring them in mainstream development at
social, economic and political fronts. However since the focus has been rather broad on
many fronts, and hence determining impact and significant changes has not been easy,
given the wide outreach population of such deprived communities and to advocate and
influence on related policies.
It was suggested to have a well defined programme in the future with clear realistic
deliverables, focus should be on ensuring inclusive participation of excluded groups (dalits,
tribals, women and religious minorities) in mainstream development processes and reduced
discriminations and violence. Impact indicators at community level and policy level should be
built in realistically. This implies participation in electoral processes, empowerment at
household level and in communities, leading or participate in institutionalised mechanisms
for collective participation at all levels, and be able to monitor and influence government
programmes and related policies.
d) Explore Expansion of PT 1
In the given context of India and the potential of addressing or replicating on similar
communities in Nepal and Bangladesh, the future programme should instead potentially
appraise and play a significant role in advocating and ensuring that other DCA programmes
integrate and focus on such marginalised groups under programme strategies of Disaster
Risk Reduction and Food Security. Programme achievements and focus in India should be
able to replicate and integrate in other DCA’s programmes in Nepal and Bangladesh, instead
of having a stand alone approach in other two countries. This will ensure more synergy on
thematic lines between programmes. Extension of PT1 programme in Nepal and
Bangladesh should be looked at from this lens, instead of having similar approach as in
India.
e) Suggested ways to fund raise:
There are huge disparities in the country, due to which millions are going hungry. Civil
society organisations in India have been very active to fight the cause, but they hugely
depend also on international aid which is shrinking. This is a concern as the culture of
48
donating for a cause is still alien to the Indian. With amendments in Foreign Contribution
Regulation Act (FCRA) and introduction of Direct taxes code, it will tighten the receiving of
funds by NGOs, and hence lesser assistance to communities suffering from food insecurity.
As way forward, while voluntary organisations and networks should advocate for continued
foreign funding following the regulations under FCRA especially for organisations that do
work for the cause and on the other hand, there is a dire need to promote local giving. This
environment and sensitization has to be built up in India for the cause of the poor, wherein
huge amounts of money should be spent/donated in the name of religion and politics. A
culture of giving by rich to poor has to be created. NGOs and civil society organisations need
to mobilise local resources from private sector and build public-private partnerships. Several
banks and foundations under corporate social responsibility (CSR), are responding to
disasters, conducting health and education for the marginalised populations. Local grass
root level organisations need to explore such partnerships for sustainability.
Civil society in India is making a pragmatic shift towards areas of self-sustenance by having
legitimate rights of advocacy and lobby work in India and raise funds from local wealth that
can contribute to reach out to ensure rights and dignity of people deprived of basic services.
The current context of the country is volatile in this regard and hence a conscious united
approach is required from voluntary organisations in enabling a dialogue with the
Government for a better cause.
5.2 Recommendations and Suggestions:
Based on the responses received from both the partners and the observations made through
the field visits, these are suggestions and recommendations emerging out of the evaluation
process for the future of the programme:
5.3 Programme strategic issues
The continuation of the programme into a second phase is vital for a significant
population of the country who are marginalised and discriminated , therefore there is
need in the context of the prevailing climate to revisit the strategy and redesign the
programme in a manner that the stated ‘political nature‘ of the programme meets the
FCRA conditions.
Since the FCRA conditions are impacting all civil society action, it would be wise for
all the ACT partners to form a collective and support such work, focusing on
knowledge building, legal education, research and policy level advocacy which are
well within the framework of the Constitution. For ground-level protests and political
action activities, efforts should be made to generate funds locally and through
membership fees etc.
How can the programme be made into a Pan South Asia programme, needs to be
thought out thread-bare? The discrimination that dalits face in India is very different
both in form and intensity compared to the kind of discrimination that dalits face in
Nepal. The exclusion and insecurity that religious minorities face in Bangladesh is of
a different nature to what religious minorities face in India. The displacement of
49
tribals, denial of land rights and the range of violence caste-based inflicted on women
are very different from the situation in the other South Asian countries.
In fact the rich experience of the dalit movement in India can provide insights for the
programme in Nepal, similarly on the issue of tribals, minorities and women. This
could build and strengthen South Asian level linkages and coordination for SAARC
level advocacy. But this can only happen when the programme is firmly rooted in a
solid country context analysis, for which resources are inevitable. Therefore ways will
have to be devised as to what components of the programme can be funded without
coming under scrutiny. Protests and other forms of people’s apprising which are
defined as political in nature will need to secure funding support from within the
country. For this the respective partners will need to reflect and explore local fund
raising avenues.
It is recommended that the programme should have a lease of another five year
term.
Partners like Astha are addressing issues of land rights since they work with the
tribals, while CDR, NSS and MWS are doing this in a minimal way. This aspect
needs further strengthening as access to land serves the dual purpose of food
security and builds self-esteem for the family and the community at large.
The work with the tribals requires further strengthening in Odisha as well as
consolidated in Rajasthan and to make it would be useful to strengthen work linkages
with Astha, and use the UN International Instruments of indigenous people’s rights to
strengthen the work with tribals.
In addressing land rights, it would be useful to address women and land rights, since
women’s ownership of land is linked to her self-esteem, checks VAW, it gives her
security and social status.
The Partner Platform has been a very useful initiative and this should continue so
that it helps in consolidating the programme’s mission
The Gender mainstreaming work should be further strengthened through capacity
building trainings and accompaniment with partners
The legal training and legal support work should be further strengthened as funding
for improving the legal mechanisms is well within the legal framework and will not be
considered political activity. Therefore focus on building the Human Rights Defenders
is suggested.
5.4 Partner management Issues
Effective Partner Programme Management requires that a monitoring visit should be
made not less than twice a year, in addition to the PO meeting the partner at other
events. Since a monitoring visit entails site visits and discussions on the course of
the programme, which requires dedicated time.
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The evaluation recommends that a maximum turnaround time for financial transfers
to partners is agreed with the Finance Officer and the Programme Financial Unit in
Copenhagen and communicated timely to all partners. This should be monitored. If
for some reason there are delays, this should be communicated to the partner. This
would be an important measure for strengthening DanChurchAid´s own
accountability to partners. DanChurchAid India office may also consider in the long
run identifying performance indicators for itself in consultation with partners and seek
anonymous feedback / rating by partners on its performance.
It is recommended that DanChurchAid India Office plan regular Programme
Committee meetings (e.g. on a quarterly basis) and at least one reflection/learning
programme meeting when developing their Annual Office Plans. A proper review,
sharing, approval and learning across programmes can be facilitated in structured
manner to identify gaps and make course corrections if required.
It is recommended that one or two networks at the national level be identified and
can be systematically followed in order to keep abreast of developments related to
programme areas.
It may be useful to strengthen further the advocacy and research component as this
may not be seen as, ’political’ but would certainly be effective in influencing policy
change and implementation of schemes for the rights holders.
The overall conclusion of the end evaluation is that the programme has been developing
strategically. The case studies clearly illustrate the changes that have resulted due to the
strategic interventions of the programme strategy. By and large the programme has been
effectively managed at the project and partnership levels, and has brought together a strong
group of partners who work with socially discriminated groups with a rights-based
perspective. The programme has moved ahead and is making a difference in the lives of the
rights holders and this requires to be further consolidated in the future.
5.5 Conclusion
It is important to reiterate that the PT I is a programme that needs to be continued. But what
is necessary is to relook at the strategy adopted and redesign the programme in a manner
that it is not identified by the GOI for close observation and scrutiny. However, this should
not dilute the rights based approach of work among the most vulnerable and marginalised
sections of the population. Using the Constitutional framework and working within this
framework is a way forward. To develop a roadmap that underlines advocacy and research
in major way is an area that may be considered.
Enabling the people to access the different schemes and entitlements that the government
provides for them, can be another thrust of this programme. This can be done both through
the use of legal mechanism as well appropriate engagement with the duty bearers and
advocating with them for proper implementation of government schemes etc.
Finally, it would be useful to build stronger networks across the country with other Approdev
partners so that strong synergy is developed and a wider platform established. Through this
process of collective and collaborative working, it will not only strengthen the ACT Alliance,
51
but will also help in minimising the chances of INGOs such as DCA from being singled out
for their ‘political nature’ of work by the country government. Besides such efforts will also
promote and provide a larger canvas and outreach for working towards achieving the
objective of reducing discrimination and violation of rights of the most marginalised and
vulnerable groups.
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