Barmer workshop raises awareness of government welfare schemes

On 17^th November, 2015 Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF) in partnership with Zila Yuvak Kosh Samiti (ZYKS), a local non-profit, organised a district level workshop at Barmer, Rajasthan as part of its Soochna Seva project. The objective was to create awareness about various government schemes and how the benefits could reach last mile beneficiaries.  Elected members of gram panchayats, district/block officials, social activists, local influential NGOs, CBOs, self help group workers, primary health centre officials, bank officials and a few beneficiaries were the participants.

The workshop sought to build a deep conceptual understanding of the public schemes and programmes and the processes needed to avail the information/benefit. Participating stakeholders learnt how the benefits of such government schemes could reach last mile beneficiaries, especially those who are unaware of their rights and lagging behind in obtaining their entitlements. The workshop also provided participants an opportunity to explore in depth the various areas that required dissemination of information on citizen entitlements.

Sonaram Pala, member of Zila Yuvak Kosh Samiti inaugurated the event with a brief description of his organisation. He highlighted the efforts put forward by his NGO for the youth and the livelihood training provided to the underprivileged.

The event was carried forward by Shishir Purohit, District Manager of SoochnaSeva. Through a presentation he briefly explained about Soochna Seva and the importance of sharing information with marginalized and underserved people for their betterment.

Syed Kazi, Deputy Director, DEF and Program Director, Soochna Seva project concluded the workshop by emphasising the responsibility that all of us had in sharing information with all and presented each guest a small sapling as a symbol of mutual responsibility. This was followed by two group sessions.

Group Session I:

Public Schemes Information Dissemination, Entitlement Status in Barmer District

Focal points for discussion:

• Status of public schemes available at district level for citizens and community benefit
• Status of means and methods to disseminate information and ensure delivery of entitlements
• Community engagement for information access and entitlement benefits including public grievance system
• Challenges in information dissemination and delivery of actual entitlements to the needy population
• Why there is urgency to disseminate public schemes information to the needy communities and deliver entitlement benefits?

Discussion Highlights of this Session:

1. Government representatives do not reach out to people to give them information correctly.
2. Once a form is submitted, no time limit is allotted to the beneficiary.
3. Once a beneficiary receives the benefits, no follow up process is taken up by the concerned department. This leads to loopholes in the system which paves way for opportunists to take advantage of the situation and swindle the beneficiaries.
4. Most of the government departments are unaware about various schemes that are run by central as well as state governments.
5. There is no particular department or setup by the government for the distribution of application forms. The departments are dispersed in different locations which lead to confusion among the applicants.
6. Since application forms move from one department to the other, there is lack of assistance from the government officials, due to which clear status of the form is unknown to the applicants.
7. There is lack of visibility from the government. Scheme information, basic layout of the forms and contact details of the concerned authority are not displayed at the departments’ premises.
8. The poor quality of education in villages acts as a barrier for students and others to grasp the knowledge available in the online world.
9. Locals are afraid of speaking to government officials regarding any issue.
10. Public Health Centres lack proper medical facilities and doctors are not punctual.

Group Session II:

Strengthening Public Schemes Information Dissemination, Entitlement Benefits in Barmer District

Focal points for discussion:

• Innovative ways and means to improve last mile delivery and access of public schemes information and entitlement benefits for citizens
• Role of Information Communication Technology (ICT) or digital applications to improve delivery and access of public schemes information dissemination and citizen entitlements
• Whether and how Soochna Seva programme can improve delivery and access of public schemes information and citizen entitlements in Barmer District?

Discussion Highlights of this Session:

1. ANM workers should spend more time at primary health centre to provide immediate service to the needy.
2. Good quality supplementary food should be provided to every child at Anganwadi centres and a proper monitoring is required.
3. In every school a meeting between parents and teachers is required at short intervals.
4. Government should review the NREGA and increase the daily wage to Rs 250-300 to be at par with private sector market rate.
5. Provide vocational training to youth at every Panchayat level.
6. Develop saving concept among beneficiaries and make them aware about avoiding unwanted expenditure, social disadvantages, drugs etc.
7. Government should create awareness among people about linking beneficiaries with banks so that they can avail insurance schemes.
8. Information should be shared in vernacular language for better understanding of the applicants.

 ADDITIONAL ACTIVITIES:

Yusuf Khan (24) and Omar Farookh(42) from Mangaska, a suburb in Alwar city, of Alwar district played Bhapang, an ancient form of musical instrument. The duo is from the 4thGenertion of Bhapang musicians.

PARTICIPANTS

The guests who shared the space with the participants are:

1. Bhawra Ram, Sarpanch, Baitu Chimangi village, Baitu Block.
2. Rekha, Panchayat Samiti Sadasya, Kalyanpur.
3. Mahendra Yadav, Docter, Block Govt. Hospital
4. Hanumanji, Project Officer, SURE
5. Bhuraramji, Sarpanch, Mahabar village, Barmer
6. Madan Barupal, District Information Officer, Barmer
7. Shobha Gaur, Naya Agaz Mahila Paramarsh, Barmer
8. Kanhaiyalalji, Panchayat Samiti, Charlai Village, Kalyanpur
9. Sarita Mehwal, Panchayt Samiti, Dhanau, Dhanau block
10. Daularam Chaudhary, Ex-Sarpanch, Kalyanpur.
11. KarnaramChaudhari, Up-Pradhan, Kalyanpur.

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