Tripura, one of the north-eastern states of India, is the third smallest state in the country. It is bordered by Bangladesh to the north, south, and west, and Indian states of Assam and Mizoram to the east. According to the 2011 census, its population is 36.74 lakhs, out of which 26.17% live in urban areas and 73.83% live in rural areas. The percentage of population of SC is 17.82% and ST is 31.76%. Tripura is connected with the rest of the country through the National Highway 8 and has five mountain ranges- Boromura, Atharamura, Longtharai, Shakhan and Jampui Hills.

The state has 8 districts, 58 blocks and 1039 gram panchayats. The Tripura Panchayat Act 1993 was implemented by giving more powers to the panchayat and by enabling them to function as institutions of self-governance. Tripura Tribal Areas Autonomous District Council ( TTAADC) Act 1979 launched by the Indigenous people of Tripura, under the provision of the 6th scheduled plays an important role in empowering the Indigenous people. The broad objective behind setting up the Autonomous District Council is to hand over certain administrative and legal authority to the council in order to bring all round development of the backward people so as to protect and preserve their culture, customs and traditions.The Tripura Livelihood Mission (TRLM) has been working in three districts comprising of six resource blocks for creation of the community network and for scaling up the mission in other blocks and districts of the state. It aims at empowering the rural poor and women of the state socially and economically.

MoU for the PRI-CBO Convergence project in Tripura was signed on 15th December 2016 with 13 gram panchayat in Matabari block and 16 village council (VCs) in Killa block, 6 mentors and 2 professionals from Kudumbashree NRO. After a workshop in Agartala in May 2017 a decision was taken to saturate Matabari block, implementing the project in all the 36 GPs. To match the scale of the project 5 more mentors were brought in Matabari block. Currently 11 mentors & 2 professionals are working in the project in Tripura. PRI orientation and LRG identification are two stepping stones of the project in Tripura. The orientation of the panchayat members on the project and its objectives, happened both in district, block and GP/VC level; simultaneously potential CBO members were identified to become Local Resource Group Members (LRGs) & given a three day training on how to work as foot-soldiers of this project. The LRGs then, as a part of their assignment, had to interact with every SHG in their Village Organization (VOs) to impart their newfound knowledge. The next activity in the timeline of the project was Participatory Assessment of Entitlements (PAE) in which the LRGs organized a meeting with every SHG, individually, to discuss about their entitlements through a ribbon exercise, facilitated by mentors. After doing PAE in every SHG the VOs had to make Entitlement Access Plan (EAP) in which they prepare their demand regarding each of the centrally sponsored schemes. Now that the CBOs were well-informed about their entitlements and have a plan in place to access them the LRGs started to mobilize the CBO members to participate in Gram Sabhas in their respective panchayats through door-to-door campaign, rallies and meetings. As a result of this campaign considerable number of womenfolk turned up for the first time in gram sabha which was a spectacle for the panchayats itself. The Entitlement Access Plans were submitted to the panchayats in these gram sabhas, and almost everywhere the panchayats promised to do everything in their power to actualize them. At the same time all the VOs in the two blocks were given a two day activity-driven training to strengthen its subcommittees.

Phase 2 started in September 2018 across 12 blocks in 3 districts- Matabari, Killa, Amarpur and Tepania in Gomati district; Ambassa, Salema, Durga Chowmuhani and Dumburnagar in Dhalai district; Jolaibari, Hrishyamukh, Rajnagar and Satchand in South Tripura district. LRG identification and selection was done out of which 1404 LRGs were trained to work with their respective GP/VCs. 

Project impelementation status in Tripura as of June 2020

Rajasthan, formed in the year 1949 is the largest state in the country by area. It has 33 districts, 295 blocks and 44672 revenue villages. The state which is known as the “Land of Maharajas” is also famous for Thar Desert and the Aravalli Range. Rajasthan is rich in minerals and its economy is mostly driven by agriculture, mining and tourism. It has a population of 6.68 crores, out of which 75.13% people live in the rural area and the rest live in urban area. Literacy rate in Rajasthan has seen upward trend and is 66.11 percent as per 2011 population census. Around 13.47% of its population belong to ST and 17.83% belong to SC. It was in the year 1953, the Rajasthan Panchayat Act was established and village panchayats were established across the state. The state rural livelihood mission known as Rajeevika (Rajasthan Grameen Ajeevika Vikas Parishad) was set up on October, 2010 by the state government with a mandate to implement all rural livelihood programs associated with the SHG network in the state

Kudumbashree NRO has been working with the state of Rajasthan for implementing all the three domains- PRI-CBO Convergence, MEC Project and SVEP. 

The MoU between KS NRO and Rajeevika was signed in August 2015. The PRI- CBO Convergence project was implemented in 67 pilot GPs of four blocks of Asind, Kherwara, Rishabhdev and Sangod in Bhilwara, Udaipur and Kota districts respectively. The project aims at strengthening local democracy through convergence of Panchayati Raj Institutions and Community Based Organizations. The activities started on field in the month of September, 2015 with Mentor RP immersion and Block level Orientation workshop as its first activity. One of the major focus of the project during its implementation has been the process based capacity building of various stakeholders involved (PRI members, SHGs and Community cadre). A pool of women interested in volunteering for local development were identified and trained as Local Resource Group (LRGs). They were the foot soldiers working at gram panchayat level to impart awareness on poverty alleviation schemes, entitlements and accessing democratic platforms like Gram Sabha by using various participatory tools (PAE, EAP and GP2RP).

25092 women of 2266 SHGs, 191 VOs and 12 CLFs in 67 Gram Panchayats were mobilized to demand for their rights and be the agents of social change. The project was implemented for two years with the technical support of KS NRO. The convergence project ended in August 2017 with selection of 100 Internal Mentors from the existing pool of LRGs. The SRLM is in talks to scale up the project activities to the remaining panchayats in the existing blocks.

Odisha, located in east coast of the indian sub-continent and is surrounded by the Bay of Bengal to the east. The state shares its borders with four states and is known as the 'land of temples', as it is home to several exotic temples and world heritage sites. It is the 9th largest state by area (155,820 km2, and the 11th largest by population (41,947,358). Out of the total population, 16.69% people live in urban regions and remaining 83.31% live in rural villages. As per census 2011, the state has a literacy rate of 72.9 percent. There are total 30 District Panchayats, 314 Block Panchayats and 6,234 Gram Panchayats in the state. Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) is an autonomous society working under the aegis of Department of Panchayati Raj, Government of Odisha, presently implementing the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and National Rural Livelihoods Project in the state. The state has also been first in the country to launch National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) for addressing rural poverty by promoting diversified and gainful self-employment to the rural poor. The mission aims at mobilizing women for the formation of SHGs and their federation, enhancing their access to financial credit, building their capacities for accessing gainful and sustainable livelihood opportunities and convergence of various schemes for their social and economic empowerment.

Kudumbashree has been working with Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) for implementing the PRI-CBO convergence model. 

The MoU between OLM and Kudumbashree NRO was signed on January 2014 for three years pilot project. In the beginning of the project scoping study was made in the pilot Panchayats of Odisha. The major objective of the study was to analyse the situation of the Panchayat and CBOs. The study showed that the participation in the Gram Sabha was very less and their access to even basic entitlements was very less. In the first phase of the project, State Resource Group and Block Resource Group were formed and a workshop was organised on PRI-CBO convergence. In the block level, orientation workshop was organised where the major stakeholders were PRI members, CBO members, block officials and OLM officials. Capacity building was the core objective of the project. The LRGs (Local Resource Group) as community cadre were identified to work in the field to bridge the gap between CBO and PRI. Around 112 LRGs were capacitated on Panchyati Raj system, CBO manual and Government schemes to work in the project. These LRGs provided hand holding support with the guidance of Mentors to SHGs in the grassroots level.

Implementation of participatory planning exercices like PAE (Participatory Assessments Plan), EAP (Entitlement Assessments Plan ) and Gram Panchayat Poverty Reduction Plan were the major activities on field. These tools brought huge impact in building an environment for participatory planning and making the local democratic process function. Within three years of pilot project, the quantitative output improved as women and households were able to access entitlements and mostly achievements were around Swacch Bharat Mission (SBM), Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, National Social Assistance Programme (NSAP), Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) and Social Inclusion.

The participation of women in the Gram Sabha increased upto 90%. The service delivery increased since women collectives accessed Panchayats. The generated demand plan for their villages were presented in the Gram Sabha and approved. With the help of Mentors the success inititiatives from the field were carried out like literacy campaign, pension adalats and health camps. At the end the of the project Gram Panchayat Coordination Committee (GPCC) was formed and provided with training programs in all the pilot Panchayats to carry ahead the PRI-CBO convergence project.

Mizoram is a state situated in the north eastern part of India. The state is located in a hilly terrain, rich in forest and biodiversity. The state was a part of Assam until 1972 and was granted statehood on February
1987 by Government of India. It shares an international boundaries with Myanmar and Bangladesh. The neighbouring states are Tripura, Manipur and Assam.The state is quite small in terms of size and has only eight administrative districts. There are 26 blocks in the state. The local development of villages is carried out by the Village Councils (VC) and there is also the presence of several NGOs.

The state is predominantly inhabited by several ethnic groups. Some of the major tribes are Lushai, Ralte, Hmar, Paithe, Pawi in Mizoram. According to 2011 census the population was 11.2 lakh. Education has been a prime concern in the Mizo society, the literacy rate is 91.58% and is highest among the northeast states, and after Kerala at the national level. 

Kudumbashree NRO is currently partnering with Mizoram State Rural Livelihood Mission (MzSRLM) in the domains of PRI-CBO Convergence and microenterprise promotion under SVEP.

PRI-CBO Convergence

Mizoram State Rural Livelihood Mission (MzSRLM) and Kerala State Poverty Eradication Mission (Kudumbashree NRO) signed Memorandum of Understanding in October 2018. It is being implemented in two blocks namely Serchhip and East Lungdar of Serchhip district. The work started with scoping study was done in August. Mentors and professionals have been engaged on the field to carry out the activities. Stakeholders meet and several orientations were also conducted before initating project activities. On January 2019, LRG selection and trainings were completed at the Block level. 

The local governance bodies in Mizoram known as Village Councils have been working hand in hand with other Non-Governmental Organizations. Civil society plays an important role in the administration of the villages and in uplifting the socio-economic condition of the people. They are spread in all the villages and have their branches within the state of Mizoram. These NGOs are: The young Mizo Association (YMA), The Mizo Hmeichhe Insuikhawm Pawl (MHIP), The Mizoram Upa Pawl (MUP). The YMA is a youth group, MHIP is a women’s group and MUP is an old age group. These groups render their services to the poor and needy and also address the concerns of the village by supporting the village councils. They are important stakeholders in the implementation of the project in the state.

For the FY 2020-21, Plans have been made to scale up in the district of Mamit. However, due to unforeseen circumstances, the plan has been pushed back until further notice.

Project implementation status as of June 2020

Meghalaya, a Sanskrit word meaning ‘the abode of cloud’, a northeastern state came into existence on 2nd January 1972. The State occupies a total area of 22,429 sq kms with a total population of 29.67 Lakhs as reported in the census of 2011. The literacy rate of the state is 74.43% in the 2011 census. The male literacy rate stood at 75.95 %. However, the female literacy rate is 72.89 %. Meghalaya is engaged in a variety of livelihoods. Agriculture, horticulture, and animal husbandry are significant economic activities. The state's abundant natural resources, including coal, limestone, and forests, contribute to mining and forestry sectors. Additionally, tourism has emerged as a growing industry in Meghalaya due to its picturesque landscapes and rich cultural heritage.The Constitution of India recognized the need to protect the interests and promote the cultural identity of the diverse communities and tribal groups residing in the region by making special provisions.

Meghalaya, falling under the 6th schedule of the Indian constitution, did not have the institutional framework of Panchayati Raj Institutions.  Taking into account the unique local context of the Khasi and Garo areas, the project was renamed to VC-VEC-CBO (Village Council-Village Employment Council-Community Based Organization) Convergence. The Village Employment Council (VEC) is established at the village level in accordance with paragraph 7A of the MGNREGA scheme. Each village forms a VEC, consisting of male and female heads of households. The project in Meghalaya aims to bring local self-governments (Rangbah Shnong/Nokma and Village Employment Council) and Community Based Organisations (Village organisations specifically) on the same platform to achieve holistic development of the village.

In September 2021, After carefully understanding the structure and the nuances of the 6th schedule, the NRO team customized the nationally followed VPRP to suit the social and structural realities of Meghalaya. The VPRP process was initiated and carried out throughout the year, with the preparation of customised VPRP sub-plans modified to the specific need and condition of the state. In order to integrate community demands and foster participatory planning, the PGSRD plan of VPRP was replaced with the MGNREGA plan. Following that, the Entitlement and Livelihood plan preparation took place, and finally, the Social Development plan was formulated. To organise Gram Sabhas in Meghalaya, extensive mobilisation efforts are carried out by the LRGs, with the support of VO members, across all blocks in the form of Announcements, Rallies, posters and online campaigns through videos and digital posters. The activities such as Awareness training, Pashu Bima, Pashu Loan and Vaccination,Mushroom Cultivation training, Seeds distribution, Power tillers, food processing training, etc. were initiated through departmental convergence. SDP undertakings under the broader areas of Health, Education, Environment, social inclusion, and women and child development are the milestone achievements of the project. 

Manipur, the northeastern state of India is located in the easternmost part of the country. The state is surrounded by Nagaland to the north, Mizoram to the south, and Assam to the west. Manipur is primarily an agrarian economy and is known for its breathtaking scenic beauty. The state also has the highest number of skilled and semi-skilled artisans in the entire region. Handlooms is the largest cottage industry in the state. According to the 2011 census, the state has a population of 28.56 lakhs out of which 29.21% live in the urban areas. Its literacy rate stands at 76.94%. Manipur comprises of 9 districts, 39 blocks and 2265 Gram Panchayats. Manipur State Rural Livelilhoods Mission (MSRLM) has been working in the area of institution building and financial inclusion since 2015. The Manipur Panchayati Raj Act 1994 was passed as per the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and the state follows a two tier structure. The state can be divided into two distinct parts - the hill area and the valley area. The hill area is governed by the Manipur (Hill Areas) District Councils Act, 1971 and is outside the purview of the 73rd Amendment Act. Whereas the valley area which comprises of only 10% of the states' population comes under the provisions of Panchayati Raj Act.

Kudumbashree NRO is working with Manipur State Rural Livelilhoods Mission (MSRLM) for implementing the PRI-CBO convergence model in the state. 

The MoU for partnership between Manipur State Rural Livelihood Mission and Kudumbashree- National Resource Organisation was signed in December 2017. The project was implemented in 12 Gram Panchayats in Keirao-Bitra Block, Imphal-East District and 44 Villages in Machi Block, Tengnoupal District. 

Scoping studies were conducted in the month of August 2017.  Field level activities were conducted in the month of February 2018 only. Village Level Federation (VLF) and SHG level orientation were the first set of activities conducted on field followed by orientation to the interested candidates from the VLFs and SHGs on the roles and responsibilities of LRGs in the project. A two day each extensive block level selection process was conducted in both blocks for the selection of Local Resource Group (LRG) members. During the initial interaction and discussion, the team found the need and demand for strengthening and enhancement of existing livelihoods activities from the community was the main concern. Taking the above suggestion, livelihood-based mapping activity was undertaken up in both the blocks as the initial entry point activity for the convergence project in the State followed by regular core activities of PAE, EAP and GPDP. Mentors and LRGs play a pivotal role in steering the project in the state. 

The project plans to saturate the remaining 13 Gram Panchayats in Keirao-Bitra Block and 22 Villages in Machi Block, Tengnoupal District. The saturation will be carried out by the Internal Mentors after selection. Expansion to a new block consisting of 17 Gram Panchayat in Sawombung Block, Imphal-East district has been also proposed.

Project status in Manipur as of June 2020

Maharashtra is a state in the western region of India and is India’s second-most populous state (11.23 crore inhabitants) and third-largest state by area (307,713 sq km. Out of the total population, 54.78% reside in rural areas while the rest live in urban places. Literacy rate of Maharashtra is 82.34 percent as per 2011 population census. Implementation of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Maharashtra has been in accordance with the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution. Local self governance institutions in rural areas include 34 District Panchayats, 355 Block Panchayats and 27,993 Gram Panchayats. Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission (MSRLM) which is also called Umed, has been launched throughout Maharashtra in July 2011 as a registered organisation under the aegis of the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) with an objective of reducing rural poverty through a range of comprehensive and strategic livelihoods interventions in a time bound manner.

Kudumbashree has been working with Umed (Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission) for implemening PRI-CBO Convergence and MEC project in the state. 

The MoU between Kudumbashree NRO and Umed-Maharashtra SRLM for providing technical assistance and implementation support for PRI-CBO Convergence Project was made effective from January 2014. A total of three blocks, namely Deoli, Shahpur and Mohol were selected from Wardha, Thane and Solapur districts for piloting the Convergence project. Initially a total of 12 Kudumbashree mentor resource persons were deployed in these three blocks for handholding the SHG network and the Local Resource Group.

The major objectives of the Convergence project include the strengthening of the SHG network, increase awareness and access to various rights and entitlements, strengthening the Gram Sabha for enhanced participation of SHG women, bring a synergy in developmental initiatives of Gram Panchayat and the Community Based Organisations and for creating convergence platforms for institutional convergence. Maharashtra had always been a testing soil for the pilot initiatives of Kudumbashree NRO. The concept of LRG trainers was evolved from the experiences from Maharashtra. Apart from that, various tools for enabling convergence, particularly Participatory Assessment of Entitlements (PAE) and Entitlement Access Plan (EAP) were piloted in Maharashtra before implementing them in other partner states of Kudumbashree NRO. Kudumbashree NRO started withdrawing from the field by 2016, cutting the number of mentors into half and building the capacity of the LRG. After the completion of PAE, EAP and GP2RP and the MoU period in 2017, a total of 107 internal mentors were identified and selected from the existing LRG pool for supporting the Maharashtra SRLM in various other projects.

Karnataka, located in the south western region of India was formed on November, 1956. It is the 8th biggest state by population comprising of 6.11 crore people out of which only 38.67% people live in urban areas. The state has an SC population of 17.14% and ST population of 6.95%. It is the seventh biggest state by size with an area of 191,791 square kilometres, and covers 5.83 per cent of the total geographical area of India. The state is bordered by Arabian Sea to the west and is surrounded by six states. Karnataka is amongst one of the top states in the country with high economic growth and also has a pioneering IT industry. It has a literacy rate of 75.36% according to 2011 census. It was in the year 1993, the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act got implemented with an objective of achieving democratic decentralization especially in the rural areas. Karnataka has been a pioneer in the SHG movement and has a history of women collectivization dating back to 1984. The state also has a rich history of entrepreneurship promotion and the RUDSETI model which took birth in a small village Ujire near Dharmasthala in Karnataka. The state has 30 districts, 176 blocks and 5635 Gram Panchayats. In Karnataka, the State Rural Livelihood Mission- Sanjeevini works for improving livelihoods and for enhancing the social and economic empowerment of the rural poor especially women.

Kudumbashree NRO has been working in Karnataka for implementing the PRI-CBO Convergence and MEC project.

The MoU of PRI-CBO convergence project with Karnataka was signed on January 20th 2014. PRI-CBO Convergence Project is running across 40 panchayats of four talukas of Koppal and Pavagada district – Koppal taluk and Gangavathi from Koppal district and Pavagada and Gubbi Taluk from Tumkur district. 10 panchayats are selected from each taluk for the project. The CBO structure of Karnataka is in such a way that SHG is at the grassroot level which federated to Ward Level Federation (WLF) at village level and a Gram Panchayat Level Federation (GPLF) at panchayat level. Local Resource Group (LRG) members are facilitators of the project activities at the grass root level providing handholding support to SHG network and PRI

representatives.173 LRG’s are active in the field as of December 2016.

A field level Assessment was conducted in July 2015 after the strategy setting workshop in April 2015. Capacity building and skill training programs for Panchayati Raj members, LRG’s and CBO representatives was a continuous process throughout the project. PAE, which was named as ‘Hakkigagi Dappugalu’ was conducted in 1440 SHG’s in Karnataka followed by Entitlement access plan (EAP) preparation in 213 Ward level federation (WLF). A state level five day workshop on Grama Panchayat Poverty Reduction Plan was conducted in Koppal District Office for all the mentors in Karnataka. Mentors were oriented about the preparation of an inclusive demand plan for local development from the community itself. After their orientation, taluk wise one –day orientation was given to the LRG’s of both Koppal and Gangavathi Taluka. SHG plan includes household demands for Livelihood, Entitlement and social inclusion. All 40 panchayats of all talukas prepared the GP2RP plan. Gram Panchayat Coordination Committee was also formed in 14 panchayats in Karnataka.

Jharkhand, located in the eastern zone of India is famous for its rich mineral resources, forests and woodlands. The major portion of the state lies in the Chota Nagpur Plateau region, and the population is largely tribal. The state was formed on 15 November 2000. According to the 2011 census, the state has a population of over 32.98 million out of which 26.20 per cent is tribal while 12.08 per cent belong to scheduled caste. Jharkhand has 24 districts, 260 blocks and 32,620 villages out of which only 45 per cent have access to electricity while only 8,484 are connected by roads. Jharkhand is the leading producer of minerals endowed as it is with a vast variety of minerals like iron ore, coal, copper ore, mica, bauxite, graphite, limestone, and uranium. Being a tribal dominated state, nature has been given utmost importance in every sphere of life and culture. In Jharkhand, the three tier panchayati raj system was established in 2010. The states rural livelihood mission- Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) was established in September 2011 by the state government to anchor the program. Kudumbashree NRO has been working with Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS) in all the three domains - PRI-CBO Convergence, MEC Project and SVEP.

The project began with 9 Gram Panchayats of 3 Blocks of 3 Districts in 2014-15. These three blocks are- Khuntpani (resource block), Bundu (intensive block) and Ghatsila (non-intensive blocks). In 2015-16, the coverage area of the project increased and touched more 3 blocks and 20 Gram Panchayats. In 2016, the number of Gram Panchayats and blocks increased and the total number of Gram Panchayats were 79 in 26 blocks of 10 districts. And in 2017-18, the coverage area of the project touched 1100 villages of 179 Gram Panchayats across 36 blocks and 10 districts. The expansion plan for the year 2018-19 is an addition of 177 Gram Panchyats of Antyodaya Mission blocks. Hence the project covers a total number of 357 Gram Panchayats and 36 blocks. The professionals and community cadre of KS-NRO are engaged for providing technical support to the project. A large pool of community cadre has been developed since the project started. The community cadres include LRGs, Internal mentors and Block Anchor Persons (BAPs).

The Major Activities under the Project are

• Cadre development
• LRG Orientation about project and their roles in project
• Participatory Assessment of Entitlements exercise with SHGs and Entitlement Access Plan with VOs
• Supporting Gram Panchayats for developing Gram Panchayat Profile
• Orientation and formation of GPCC
• Gram Sabha Jan Jagriti Abhiyan ( GSJJA)
• Capacitation of Cadre on Schemes, PRIs and Participatory Training Management
• CRP drive to facilitate the formation and strengthening of Standing committees 
• Training to PRs and SAC ( VOs) on Schemes, Govt Circulars.
• Formation and Federation of Balsamuh
• Exposure visits of community leaders Panchayat representatives and professionals of JSLPS

Himachal Pradesh is a state renowned for its picturesque landscapes and mountainous terrain in the northern region of India. With a population of approximately 7.5 million, the economy thrives on agriculture, horticulture, and tourism, with apple orchards, diverse crops, and livestock rearing being prominent livelihood activities. The Panchayati Raj Act of Himachal Pradesh was enforced in the year of 1994 and a three tier structure of governance was established comprising Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis, and Zila Parishads. The Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (HPSRLM) was formed in the year 2011. It follows a three tier structure having State Mission Management Unit at state level, District Mission Management Unit at district level and Block Mission Management Unit at the Block level.

In February 2022, the Himachal Pradesh State Rural Livelihood Mission entered into a partnership with Kudumbashree-NRO for implementing PRI-CBO convergence project. This collaboration facilitates technical assistance and support for the convergence of local government bodies and the Self-Help Group (SHG) network. The PRI-CBO Convergence project has been successfully implemented across two districts of Himachal Pradesh, namely Shimla and Sirmaur, encompassing 40 Gram Panchayats.

Since February 2022, the initiatives have been focused on enhancing the capacity of Community-Based Organization networks and fostering collaborative partnerships between the Panchayati Raj Institutions and CBOs. The ultimate goal is to promote participatory planning by strengthening Gram Sabhas, ensuring that the voices of the community are heard and considered.

To facilitate this process, a range of effective tools such as Participatory Assessment of Entitlements (PAE) and Entitlement Access Plan (EAP) have been used. These tools have played a pivotal role in assessing the needs and entitlements of the community. 

Emphasizing social development as a core pillar, comprehensive efforts have been undertaken across various domains such as healthcare, education, environment, social inclusion, and women and child development. Major initiative undertaken by the team are awareness rallies against alcohol addiction and drug abuse, health camps, yoga classes, distribution of medicines, formation of bal sabha, ALMSC strengthening, Anganwadi infrastructure development, nutri garden, cleaning drives, plantation and afforestation, legal literacy awareness classes, menstrual hygiene awareness session, etc. By prioritizing the social development initiatives, the Village Poverty Reduction Plan (VPRP) has been effectively implemented, paving the way for holistic and sustainable progress in the community. Through collaborative efforts and participatory planning, these initiatives aim to create positive change, fostering inclusive growth and improving the overall quality of life. 

The HPSRLM state team visited the pilot GPs of the Rajgarh and Theog block in the month of February, 2023 to interact with the community, LRGs, and Panchayat officials. The visit served as a platform to recognize and appreciate the efforts of various stakeholders, fostering a collaborative environment towards continued development.

Chhattisgarh which also means thirty six forts, is a resource rich state located in the central-eastern part of the country. It is the tenth-largest state of the country, with an area of 135,194 square kilometer and a population of 25 million. The state has a high forest cover and is known for its temples and waterfalls. As per census 2011, the state is having a literacy rate of 65.99%. 76.76 percent of the state’s population resides in rural areas. As the state was part of Madhya Pradesh, the Panchayati Raj legislation which was in force became applicable to Chhattisgarh and came to be known as Chhattisgarh Panchayat Raj Adhiniyam, 1993. The state operates a three tier panchayati raj system. There are 27 District Panchayats, 146 intermediary (Block) Panchayats and 9655 Gram Panchayats. Chhattisgarh State Rural Livelihoods Mission (Bihan) is working in the state with the primary objective to reduce poverty by promoting diversified and gainful self and wage employment opportunities. A large portion of the state has been declared as “Schedule V areas” under the constitution giving them special rights. Kudumbashree NRO has been working in Chhattisgarh for implementing PRI-CBO Convergence project and SVEP.

The MoU for providing technical assistance and implementation support in Model Convergence Block Project was made effective from 1st May, 2017. A total of five blocks namely Balrampur, Bastar, Chhurra, Narharpur and Rajnandgaon across five districts of Chhattisgarh were identified for the Model Convergence Block Project. Out of the five blocks under MCBP, Kudumbashree- NRO is providing technical support in one cluster in each of the five blocks. Kudumbashree-NRO is engaged in total of 87 Gram Pancahayats of five clusters in five blocks. The Model Convergence Block Project envisages to build capacity of Self Help Groups and its Federations for departmental and Panchayat Raj Institution convergence, to nurture and groom Convergence-CRPs into potential mentors to scale up the Project. The other objective of the project is to strengthen Gram Sabha for enhancing the participation level of SHG women, identification of beneficiaries and prioritisation of the same, implementation of centrally sponsored schemes and State sponsored schemes in the partnership with Community Based Organisation, strengthening CBOs for micro planning and demand articulation using participatory tools like PAE, EAP and GP2RP.

Before rolling out the field level activities in the block three days orientation program was kept for the state, district officials and block officials to brief them about the project, participatory tools for convergence and also to devise field level activities for the block. Selection and finalisation of the Convergence-CRPs in each village was done by Bihan without much support from the Kudumbashree (LRGs in Chhattisgarh are called as Convergence-Community Resource Persons (C-CRP/ Yojana Didi). Preceding the PAE roll out in the field, initial orientation to 3226 VO members and one to one orientation about the project to PRI members were given. After the completion of this activity, PAE was rolled out in 1787 SHGs of five clusters across five blocks. 113 Convergence CRPs were trained upon PAE tool and schemes to facilitate the entire activity. 112 VOs consolidated their PAE data and presented it in 15th August and 2nd October, 2017 Gram Sabha.

After the completion of PAE, training on EAP was provided to 158 Convergence-CRPs of five clusters. This was done to facilitate SHG leaders to formulate plans for accessing entitlement gap in their respective VOs. 112 VOs in five clusters of five Blocks have completed preparing their EAP. As the EAP has been completed in the VOs, it necessitates to put in place a system for community based tracking system known as Entitlement Tracking Register (ETR) at village level which will empower CBOs in understanding and documenting entitlement access. It will also help to have a plan of action for accessing entitlements and jointly plan with Panchayat and departments for eradicating poverty at the village level. Yojana Didi and VO Executive Committee members were trained in the upkeep of ETR registers. The MoU between Kudumbashree and Bihan came to an end on 30th June, 2018.

Project Status: Pilot

Bihar State Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS) with the technical and implementation support of Kudumbashree - National Resource Organisation (NRO) has implemented the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) - Community Based Organisation (CBO) Convergence Project in 6 blocks of 3 Districts (Patna, Nalanda and Muzaffarpur). The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two organisations came into effect from February 2022. The PRI-CBO Convergence Initiative was rolled across 469 Village Organisations (VOs) within 10 Cluster Level Federations (CLFs).

Panchayat Institutions have been a major stakeholder in the project. Bihar has a three-tiered system of local governance as per the Bihar Panchayat Raj Act, 1993 with the Zila Parishad serving at the district level, Panchayat Samiti serving at the block level, and Gramme Panchayat serving at the gram panchayat level. Provision of Gram Kachari is an unique feature of Bihar that consists of Sarpanch, Panch, Sachiv and Nyaya Mitra to intervene in the quasi judicial matters of the community. 

The implementation of the project started in the field orienting the CBOs on the importance of convergence between Panchayati Raj Institutions and Community Based Organizations. 724 CLF RGB members and 16614 VO RGB Members were oriented during the process. To initiate the engagement with the Panchayati Raj Representatives, both block level and GP Level orientation were conducted in the presence of The Block Development Officer (BDO) and the Block Panchayati Raj Officer (BPRO) at the block level. a Total number of 397 Panchayat representatives were oriented at the block level and 1401 Representatives were oriented in 49 intervention GPs. 

Panchayat Coordination Committee (PCC) was formed as a platform to facilitate convergence at the CLF level, with one CBO representative from each Gram Panchayat. The representatives establish convergence and coordination with their respective Gram Panchayat Committees through the platform of Gram Panchayat Coordination Meetings that take place once in a month or whenever required. These platforms were formed to foster direct relation and communication between the Panchayats and the CBOs. 

For the implementation of the project, a community resource pool was created known as the Convergence Facilitators (CF) who were trained to be the foot soldiers at the community level for the project. A total number of 434 Convergence Facilitators were selected and trained throughout the implementation phase. 

Participatory Assessment Entitlements (PAE) is a participatory planning process which also generates awareness amongst the SHG network on various entitlement schemes and benefits, was conducted in 6370 intervention SHGs reaching out to more than 63,000 Households. Major nine schemes were covered under this participatory planning tool which are – MGNREGA, Lakshimbai Samajik Suraksha Pension Yojana, CM Kanya Suraksha Yojana, Fasal Bima Yojana, Bihar Viklang Pension Yojana etc. 472 VOs have conducted the EAP process after PAE which is an Entitlement Access Plan for the CBO to set targets of demand fulfilment. 

As an outcome of the interventions, several activities were taken up by the CBO in collaboration with the panchayat to address issues related to the community. activities such as Adult Literacy Camps, Formation of Adolescent groups, weekly markets etc. were organised by the CBOs with the support of the PRIs. 

Assam is a state located in the north-eastern part of India and is renowned for its tea plantations, rich culture, wildlife and biodiversity. The state shares its border with seven states. Its economy is based on agriculture and oil. According to 2011 census of India, Assam has a population of 3.12 crore out of which 2.68 crore (86%) lived in the rural areas and 0.44 crore (14%) lived in the urban areas. The state’s literacy rate has been recorded at 73.18%. As on June 2016, the state has 33 administrative districts, 247 blocks and 2614 gram panchayats. Since independence the Government of Assam has enacted four Panchayat Raj Acts aimed at establishing and strengthening panchayats in Assam for the development of the rural areas. When the 73rd constitutional amendment was passed in the year 1992, the Government of Assam adopted the Assam Panchayat Raj Act 1994 broadly in conformity with its provisions. The Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Society (ASRLMS) was set up on November 2011 for enhancing the social and economic empowerment of the rural poor of Assam

Kudumbashree NRO has been implementing PRI-CBO convergence model in the state of Assam.

The Assam State Rural Livelihoods Mission Society (ASRLMS) has partnered with the Kerala State Poverty Eradication Mission, Kudumbashree – NRO for implementing the PRI CBO Convergence Project in Assam. The Memorandum of Understanding for the partnership was signed by the two Missions on 20th January 2014. Kudumbashree National Resource Organization (NRO) provided technical and implementation support to ASRLM for the pilot project. The project was implemented in 36 pilot GPs of two blocks of Laharighat and Bajiagaon in Morigaon and Nagaon districts respectively.

Activities started in field in the month of March, 2014 with the scoping study as first activity. One of the major focus of the project in last three years has been the process based capacity building of various stake holders in field (PRI, CBO and Community cadre).Various activities and tools have been used for the capacity building of the stake holders – namely PAE, EAP and GP2RP. Local Resource Group (LRGs) from the community and Mentor Resource Persons (MRPs) were the main driving force in carrying out the field activities. Institutional Platforms were cerated to develop synergy between Panchayat Raj Institutions and Community Based Organisations. 

The project was further scaled up to 51 GPs in four new blocks of Barhampur, Laokhowa, Borsola and Dhekiajuli in Nagaon and Sonitpur districts respectively. The MoU for the scale up project was signed in June 2017 for a period of one and a half years. The scale up is being carried out with the support of internal mentors from pilot locations of Laharighat and Bajiagaon blocks. 30 LRGs have been selected as internal mentors from these blocks from the phase one panchayats. A second set of selection of Internal mentors was also conducted from the phase II panchayats of the pilot blocks and 30 new Internal mentors were selected. 47 Internal mentors are at present deployed on the field after 2 days of training. 

Arunachal Pradesh has a population of approximately 1.4 million as of 2011, and occupies an area of 84,000 square km, resulting in a population density of about 17 people per square kilometer. The state is home to 26 major tribes and over 100 sub-tribes. Over the years, literacy rates have shown improvement, with official figures indicating a rise from 54.74% in 2001 to 66.95% in 2011. The literate population is estimated to be around 789,943, with 454,532 literate males (73.69%) and 335,411 literate females (59.57%). The sex ratio in the state stands at 938 females per 1,000 males.

Arunachal Pradesh shares borders with several Indian states to the south of the state and has international borders with Bhutan in the west, Myanmar in the east, and China in the north. The state is predominantly characterized by hilly terrain, and its tribal communities engage in livelihood activities such as Jhum cultivation (slash-and-burn agriculture) and livestock rearing. In Arunachal Pradesh, the current local self-government system came into power in December 2020, following a transition from a three-tier to a two-tier system of local governance.

The MoU between Arunachal State Rural Livelihood Mission and Kudumbashree NRO was signed in October 2021. In the initial phase, the project was implemented in 55 Gram Panchayats across four blocks: Namsai (Namsai district), Roing (Lower Dibang Valley), Sagalee (Papumpare), and Yachuli (Lower Subansiri). During this phase, Kudumbashree National Resource Organization (NRO) provided technical support and served as the implementing agency for the pilot area.

Our initial approach focused on creating formal and informal platforms for dialogue among ArSRLM officials, SHG federations, PRI members, and traditional leaders. Orientations were conducted at various levels, including block-level PRI members, GP-level PLF members, and village heads. Stakeholders actively participated in activities like Gram Panchayat mapping and special Gram Sabhas to address local issues. Involving traditional leaders like Gaon Buras and Bango Secretaries facilitated dialogue between PRI members and the SHG network. Collaborative identification of local issues, action planning, and resource mapping led to joint implementation by PRI members, line departments, and SHG networks. Regular coordination with the district administration ensured progress updates and support for community-driven initiatives, resulting in successful convergence programs and recognition of SHGs’ role in local development.

The LRGs played a critical role in the successful implementation of the project by mobilizing SHG members and other stakeholders, facilitating demand-driven social action, bridging the gap between the community and line departments, and organizing social campaigns. The attempt to involve the Social Action Sub-Committee of the Primary Level Federations (PLF) in convergence activities was one of the crucial strategies adopted. The PRI members transformed their approach by actively engaging with the SHG network, holding joint meetings to address local issues, and seeking support from LRGs for data collection. The support extended by line departments and the administration in initiating social interventions and addressing VPRP demands were substantial. The district administration and CDPOs played vital roles in areas like adult literacy classes, reopening Anganwadi centers, and ensuring access to entitlements and service delivery.