One of the prime developmental objectives of Government of Tamil Nadu is alleviating poverty and ensuring inclusive growth. An important intervention in this direction is the World Bank funded Vazhndhu Kaattuvom Project which was designed based on a concept note ‘Tamil Nadu Poverty Reduction initiative’ developed in 2000 – 01. The Vazhndhu Kaattuvom Project was
approved vide
G.O.(2D).No.63, SW & NMP (SW3) Dept., dt. 24.10.2005. and launched in November 2005 and will be implemented over a 6 year period with World Bank assistance. The total outlay of this project is Rs. 717
Crores.
The target population of this project will be poor households, the most vulnerable sections including the physically challenged and the marginalized communities. The project adopts community driven development approach involving Village communities at every stage of project implementation. The target population is identified by Village communities using participatory methodologies.
3.1.1 Project Area
The project will be implemented in 2,480 Village Panchayats in 70 backward Blocks spread over 15 districts.
Table 3.1.1
Details of Project Area
| Sl.No. |
District |
Number of
Blocks |
Number of
Village Panchayats |
| 1 |
Coimbatore |
5 |
80 |
| 2 |
Cuddalore |
4 |
236 |
| 3 |
Kancheepuram |
4 |
231 |
| 4 |
Nagapattinam |
4 |
182 |
| 5 |
Namakkal |
6 |
121 |
| 6 |
Ramanathapuram |
4 |
164 |
| 7 |
Salem |
6 |
146 |
| 8 |
Theni |
4 |
81 |
| 9 |
Tiruvallur |
5 |
203 |
| 10 |
Tiruvarur |
4 |
159 |
| 11 |
Tirunelveli |
6 |
156 |
| 12 |
Thiruvannamalai |
4 |
160 |
| 13 |
Thoothukudi |
4 |
154 |
| 14 |
Vellore |
5 |
211 |
| 15 |
Villupuram |
5 |
196 |
| Total |
70 |
2,480 |
3.1.2 Institutional Arrangements
The responsibility for implementation of the project vests with the Vazhndhu Kaattuvom State Society at State level and District Vazhndhu Kaattuvom societies in the project districts. At the cutting edge level, a 5 member project facilitation team covers 10 – 15 Village Panchayats constituted into a cluster. At the Village Panchayat level the implementation agency is an inclusive community organization by name Village Poverty Reduction Committee (VPRC). In addition, a Social Audit Committee (SAC) is constituted by Grama Sabha which plays role of guardian of the project principles.
3.1.3 Village Poverty Reduction Committee
The Village Poverty Reduction Committee is a community organization formed under the project pre-dominantly with representatives of the target population. Each hamlet of the Panchayat is represented by a woman SHG member from the target population in the VPRC. The PLF Secretary, a representative of the disabled, 2 members representing other Village level committees are also nominated to the VPRC by the Grama Sabha. The Village Panchayat President is Ex-officio Chairperson of the VPRC.
VPRC Meeting - Members taking a pledge
3.1.4 Social Audit Committee
A 5 member Social Audit Committee nominated by the Grama Sabha monitors project activities and ensures adherence of the project principles during implementation. The Committee is accountable to the Grama Sabha and reports to the Grama Sabha on a regular basis.
3.1.5 Project Implementation Cycle
The project activities to start with are aimed at social mobilization of the poor and marginalized. After formation and building capacity of the community organizations, the project focuses on livelihood promotion of the target population. The implementation stages of the project are:
a. Initiation stage:
• Communication campaign to create awareness about the project.
• Release of Panchayat initiation fund to participating Village Panchayats.
• Identification of the target poor by participatory methodology.
• Formation of VPRC and SAC.
b. Capacity Building stage:
• Mobilizing the left out poor, disabled into new SHGs.
• Building the capacity of VPRC, SAC and SHG members.
• Employment oriented skill training for youth.
• Promoting credit linkage to SHGs.
c. Livelihood stage:
• Livelihood resource mapping to identify potential economic activities at Village level.
• Assistance for individual livelihood activities as well as group activities.
d. Consolidation stage:
• Formation and strengthening economic activity federations and SHG federations.
• Establishing partnerships and linkages with corporate sector and other resource institutions.
3.1.6 Progress in project implementation
The project implementation was taken up in 15 Blocks in the first phase from October 2006 and another 15 Blocks in the second phase from April 2007. The project activities are in progress in 1,177 Village Panchayats in the first two phases. The following activities have been accomplished as on 31.3.2008.
• The project staff both at district and cluster levels are in position in all districts after induction training.
• Village Panchayat initiation fund of Rs.35,000/- per Village Panchayat has been released to all 1,177 Village Panchayats.
• Participatory identification of the poor has been completed in 1,154 Village Panchayats and the list approved by Grama Sabha.
• VPRC and SAC have been formed in 1,135 Village Panchayats. In addition 42 special VPRCs have been formed exclusively in tribal areas.
• The first instalment of VPRC fund of Rs.19.41 crores has been released to 664 VPRCs.
• 2,387 new women SHGs have been formed from among the left out poor. Similarly 1,589 new SHGs have been formed among the disabled.
• 12,880 disabled persons have been given national ID cards through the intervention of the project.
• 2000 unemployed youth have been imparted job oriented skill training in collaboration with Mahalir Thittam.
A sum of Rs.90.76 Crores was provided in the year 2007-2008 for the
project activities vide G.O.(Ms) No. 131 RD&PR (CGS-I) Dept. dt. 19.7.2007. A sum of Rs 114.22 Crores has been provided in the
budget estimate for implementation of the project in the year 2008-2009.
The third phase of project implementation has commenced in February 2008 in 19 Blocks covering 591 Village Panchayats. The fourth and final phase of the project implementation is proposed to start from July 2008.
3.1.7 Convergence of Mahalir Thittam and Vazhndhu Kaattuvom Project
Mahalir Thittam is being implemented in Vazhndhu Kaattuvom project Blocks through Vazhndhu Kaattuvom project staff and Village Poverty Reduction Committees. This has helped in converging the efforts of Mahalir Thittam and Vazhndhu Kaattuvom and has avoided duplication of efforts. VPRCs have entered into an agreement with Mahalir Thittam for forming, training and monitoring SHGs and have been treated on par with NGOs for these activities.