781 022, Assam. TABLE of CONTENTS

Social Assessment Report-2004 30868 Assam Rural Infrastructure and Agriculture Service Project (ARIASP) Public Disclosure Authorized Government of Assam (GOA) Guwahati, Assam. Public Disclosure Authorized Public Disclosure Authorized Volume I Social Assessment 2004 Public Disclosure Authorized 1 Social Assessment Report-2004 By M.C.Shivarudappa K.Shivaram MYRADA-CIDOR, Hosur. Agriculture Campus, G.S.Road, Kahanapura, Guwahati -781 022, Assam. TABLE OF CONTENTS I. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT…………………………………………..03 II. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY………………………………………….04 III. INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………...08 a. Purpose of Social Impact Assessment…………………………...10 b. Assessment methodology - Framework and Implementation….10 c. Limitations …………………………………………………………..10 III. REVIEW AND ASSESSMENT OF PROJECT COMPONENTS - BEST PRACTICES, FINDINGS ……………………………………..11 2 Social Assessment Report-2004 1.Poverty Alleviation…………………………………………………………12 a. Agriculture/Horticulture……………………………………………..12 b. Fisheries project…………………………………………………….14 c. Livestock development t……………………………………………19 2. Infrastructure Development……………………………………………..20 a. Irrigation program………………………………………………….21 b. Rural roads program………………………………………………25 . 3. Institutional Development……………………………………………….26 a. Technology Generation, Extension and Training……………….26 c. Social Mobilization & Community Organization ……………….29 d. Stakeholder Participation…………………………………………31 e. NGO Role ………………………………………………………….33 f. Environmental Concerns………………………………………….33 IV. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PHASE II:………………………………..34 a. Organizational Management Stakeholders Role (roles and responsibilities of line departments, NGOs, SMU District Administration)…………………………….34 b. Community based institutional building framework……………36 c. Capacity building process and communication system……….38 d. Sustainability framework………………………………………….39 e. Environmental concerns………………………………………….40 g. Monitoring and evaluation ……………………………………….40 Annexure 1 (Selection Criteria’s) …………………………….42 Annexure 2 (SWOT Analysis – Fishery) …………………. .. 47 Annexure 3 (Assessment of Integrated Fishery) ………….49 Annexure 4 (Input Receipt Analysis – Fishery) ……………50 Annexure 5 (Analysis of response on Rural Roads) ……..56 Annexure 6 (Socio-economic analysis of Rural Roads) …58 Annexure 7 (Case Study – Pilot Beel) ……………………….59 Annexure 8 (The Story of CMLIs) ……………………….63 Acknowledgement The social Assessment study was held between 24 - 29th December 2003 with ARIASP society at the end of phase I. The purpose of assessment was to assess the interventions in poverty alleviation programme of ARIASP society, its process and implementation strategies in the context of social development frame and sustainability factors. From the learning and experiences of the project implemented, the study would also provide inputs to develop appropriate strategic plan for the phase II. 3 Social Assessment Report-2004 The social assessment study was carried out very successfully in a short time, we could able to meet various departments functionaries, project stakeholders, beneficiaries, community based organization and NGOs functionaries. They are one who is really contributed a lot during the assessment to make this possible. We take this privilege, to remember them who supported and spare their valuable time and provide inputs to make this study. Out set our sincere thanks to the Project Director, associate staff of ARIAP Society, Government of Assam, and World Bank, who provide an opportunity and kept confidence on us to assign this work. We also extent our gratitude to the Deputy Commissioner, Marigaon, Nalbari, Sonitpur, Darrang, Dhubri & Cachar districts, extended their time, logistics arrangement and ensured the line department people are present during the field visits. Of course, let us extend our thanks to NGO functionaries, community organizations, and people of project villages too. Hoping that, the issues and concern brought out through this report would be useful to for developing the effective strategic plan for the next phase. With regards. M.C.Shivarudrappa K.Shivaram EXECUTIVE SUMMERY 1. Project : Assam Rural Infrastructure And Agriculture Service Project (ARIASP) Formulated under Government of Assam (GOA) 2. Project Period : January 1996 to December 2003( 8 years) (Extended to June 2004) 4 Social Assessment Report-2004 3. Authorized by : Project Director, ARIASP, Guwahati 4. Project objectives : a. Improve equity and alleviate poverty by Offering better opportunities for poorer farmers and women to contribute to Agricultural growth and income generation: b. Improve the nutrition of the rural poor c. Accelerate agricultural growth through Improved use of resources, relieving Infrastructural and technical constraints, and providing and enabling environment to Facilitate the grown of private sector Investments; d. Encouraged sustainability of resources use and quality of the environment; e. Improve the GOAs long tern capacity for Strategic agricultural planning. 5.Project Description: : The project is intended to benefit the poorest Segments of the rural population. To achieve This objectives, the project supported (a) the department of Agriculture including the extension services for horticulture, fisheries and livestock to poor rural communities aimed at increasing their production;(b) institutional development (technology generation and extension, seed planning and coordination); and (c) rural roads. The Project components have included improving the use of natural resources (soil and water management) and the marketing of highly perishable horticulture and fisheries products. 6.Social Assessment rational: The project period would complete by December 2003(extension for 6 months). The project has undergone with various kind of project implementation approaches and strategies, were changed different period of time due to the result of various supervision mission visit, interim studies and felt need of the people. Ultimately for the poverty alleviation programme implemented for the up - liftman of the rural poor. The project would preparing to proceed to phase II and carry the learning and experiences of the phase I. At this juncture, it is appropriate to assess the process and strategies are adopted in implementation 5 Social Assessment Report-2004 of the programme in phase I in the context of social dimensions and take inputs to refinement of the strategic plan in future aiming to of people centered project. 7.Purpose of study The Specific objectives of the social assessment are in the following areas in relation to people’s participation and minimizing adverse impact: • Assessment of process and strategies adopted by the project in planning, implementation and monitoring; • Assessment of capacity, strengths and gaps of different stakeholders; • Review of performance of Project staff associated with social mobilization; • Identify the capacity building needs and assessment; • Identify strengths, weaknesses and opportunities (SWOT); • Understand social dynamics in identifying project beneficiaries and developing participatory methodology; Make suitable recommendations for sustainability of phase II to ensure that: ¾ The project design provides opportunity to the community/ groups/individuals who are resource poor to derive maximum benefit through diversified & intensive agriculture & allied activities; ¾ A transparent procedure can be established through appropriate communication strategy; ¾ Provide appropriate mitigation measures for adversely affected community/ groups/individuals due to project intervention; ¾ Institutionalize participatory process through capacity enhancement of all stakeholders. 6 Social Assessment Report-2004 8. Major observation/issues: The following are broader area of observation and key issues of the project implemented: • Clear understanding of the project objectives and concept by primary and secondary stakeholder. • Improvement of skill , knowledge and positive attitude towards the project/project activities • Promotion of Social mobilization and community organization and people participation. • Ensuring people participation in planning and implementation was started and resulting positively but lot of improvementation and institutionalization are needed. • Poor Women participation in programme. • No credit accessibility and opportunities to invest on the livelihood activities. • Conventional methods Capacity building and training strategies of stakeholders at all level. • Monitoring and supervision of the programme need to be improved at all level. • Inadequate effort on networking and linkages for leveraging local resources at the grass-root level. 9.High lights of Recommendation: Based on the finding/observation the following are the key recommendations: • Internalization of Concept and objectives of the project among primary and secondary stakeholders. • Improvement of Intra and inter sectorial and departmental convergence and coordination. • Capacity building programme shall be the key factors and shall be the integral part of the programme strategies in various level of programme stakeholder including NGOs. • Institution building at the community level shall be the approach in development approach to ensure the participation of people and attain sustainability. 7 Social Assessment Report-2004 • People/ community shall be participate in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation (PIME) of the programme ; institution building would foster the process of sustainability of the programme. • Existing community-based organization could

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