Development as Community-led Journey Learnings from Community Mobilisation Processes JOSEPH XAVIER Research Team Prof. Sushma Batra, Ms. Srividhya Sainathan, Ms. Alpa Ganatra, Ms. Anuradha Gharti, Dr. Sadanand Bag, Dr. Alwyn Prakash D’Souza © Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru Caritas India, New Delhi First published in 2020 ISBN Published by Caritas India CBCI Centre, 1 Ashok Place, New Delhi - 110001 Web: www.caritasindia.org Indian Social Institute 24 Benson Road, Benson Town Bengaluru - 560046 Email: [email protected] Web: www.isibangalore.com Cover and Design: Jyoti Printers This publication can be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, with due acknowledgement to the publishers. Caritas India and/or Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru will have full rights to translate, update and republish the material by themselves or in partnership with likeminded organisations with due acknowledgement to the other entity for non-profit purposes in future. 2 Development as Community-led Journey Contents Foreword . 04 Acknowledgements ............................................ 06 Abbreviations ................................................. 08 List of Tables ................................................. 10 List of Charts ..................................................11 Executive Summary . 13 Chapter 1 : Introduction . 17 Chapter 2 : Community Mobilisation Approaches, Strategies and Gains . 29 Chapter 3 : Fascinating and Transforming Narratives - Affirming Citizenship . 77 Chapter 4 : Systematization of Select Experiences . 99 Chapter 5 : Modelling Community Mobilisation . 133 Endnotes ....................................................160 Annexures: 1. Interview Schedule for Respondent ......................... 161 2. Profile of acilitatingF Organisations and Overview of Project Areas . 174 3. Analysis of Samples and Profile of the Respondents ............ 182 4. List of Persons Interviewed . 187 5. List of Persons Assisted in Workshops/Data Collection . 190 6. Research Team . 191 Development as Community-led Journey 3 Foreword Dear Friends, It gives me immense pleasure to present “Development as Community-led Journey” - a study developed by putting together the initiatives taken by our indigenous pioneers on the ground in this direction. It is a culmination of their voices, experiences, skills, perceptions and knowledge that have added value towards enhancing their stake in the wider context of social development. This study intends to develop scientific understanding of the process of “Community Mobilisation for empowerment through animation of the vulnerable communities” by analyzing and compiling experiences, processes formation of groups, knowledge generated, methodologies deployed, inputs given to develop skills and capacities and outcome realised in improving the quality of life of the communities over a period of time. Animation was defined by Caritas India as “an awakening and action- oriented process, aimed at social transformation; specifically, for the poor and marginalised”. It is an educative process of awakening the conscience of the marginalised through a critical analysis towards the exploitative forces and motivating and building their confidence to come together and take collective action to transform the present social reality. Within the ambit of Animation, Community mobilisation has been a very strong directive of Caritas India to bring about self-driven change in the situation of poverty, marginalisation and affirming their dignity as persons to create a more just society. At the juncture of completing 50 years, Caritas India revisited the ideological framework and praxis of the Animation concept. Having realised that the framework had remained intact over the years, we were resolved to make appropriate course correction in the praxis of animation considering the geopolitical climate and the kind of emerging trends in the society. Understanding responsibility of Caritas India to mobilise communities for change, we firmly believe that community has the solution. Furthering to this thought process, the whole animation thrust must be centred around community itself, bringing a new narrative in terms of community as the owners and subjects of change. 4 Development as Community-led Journey With this perspective, Caritas India joined hands with Caritas Germany, who has been a co-traveller guiding the communities through an empowerment process to analyze their context through a process-oriented intervention, during the years gone by and by critiquing the trajectory through a community focussed research. Indian Social Institute was awarded this study to articulate and share transforming narratives of change. The research brings out very strongly the underlying message of how ‘community intelligence’ enhances citizenship of individuals and community consciousness towards improved quality of life of the marginalised. The study analyses major community mobilisation strategies/methodologies adopted and how these strategies have enhanced self-realisation and self-determination, leadership development, collective understanding of realities, analysis and prioritisation of issues for action and personal and institutional changes. The study also explores communities’ partnership building and negotiating efforts with immediate stakeholders, network and advocacy partners, and administrative and governance structures. These recommendations and findings will certainly create a roadmap for all who are engaged in praxis of community building, to understand the concept and staying with the ideological framework bringing new narratives of change, taking community on board and bringing societal outcomes. May this study leverage the scope of community oriented approach by adopting right methodologies and processes. I would like to acknowledge and place special appreciations to the tireless efforts of our research colleagues under the able leadership of Dr. Joseph Xavier, and to the dioceses of Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Delhi, Ujjain and Gorakhpur, for their relentless support and bringing out this dynamic analysis. We hope that this research book shall be a referral in the coming days to strengthen and amplify the strength of our community and giving a pathway for a more inclusive, evolving and diverse understanding of governance and development. I hope that this report will inspire all the stakeholders to intensify their efforts through a community led perspective. The current pandemic of Covid-19 has indeed got the best of human thinking and living. It has, in many ways, ignited and paved new pathways and breakthroughs and redrawn the lines of commune in our society. It remains crucial for us, as development actors to scale up solutions co-produced by our local communities and focus on strengthening new alliances. Community-led solutions are necessary but insufficient. Building alliances, networking and collaboration can direct new transformative plans to evolve from within our community institutions in fostering social justice. Fr. Paul Moonjely Executive Director Caritas India Development as Community-led Journey 5 Acknowledgements With immense joy and gratitude, I would like to acknowledge the contribution of several persons who provided unconditional support in carrying out this study. I could not have imagined that a study of this magnitude, spread across five states, spanning from east to west of the country, would have been completed in a short span of time, but for the active and wholehearted collaboration of many. From the beginning till the end, Mr. Peter Seidel, Asia Desk, Caritas Germany, Fr. Paul Moonjely, Executive Director, Caritas India, Mr. Rajesh Upadhyay, Head of Programmes, Caritas India and Mr. James, Consultant, Caritas Germany generously offered their support in coordinating with the partners, preparation of tools and offering valuable comments after reviewing the draft report. To each of them, I express my sincere gratitude. The study areas were SKC - Kolkata, Chetanalaya - New Delhi, SXSSS - Ahmedabad, Kripa - Ujjain and PGSS - Gorakhpur. The five directors – Frs. Franklin Menezes, John Britto, Isaac Rumao, Sunil George and Jaison Manuel of the social service centres, and Fr. Rajeev Chakranarayan, the former director of SXSSS, Ahmedabad, with whom the research team interacted closely, provided effective support and collaboration. Every one of them was welcoming, extremely cordial and helpful. It has been a joy to listen to their inspirational narratives. I was personally touched by their convictions and commitment. The project coordinators and staff of the organisations were extremely helpful in many ways. They extended full support in data collection and in identifying right persons from the community and other stakeholders to apply various qualitative tools professionally. Very specially, I also extend my appreciation to all the people in the study areas, who frankly shared their views and perceptions and inspired the research team with their transformative accounts. Those who were interviewed, especially the elders, religious leaders, PRI members, network partners, 6 Development as Community-led Journey teachers, government officials, priests and bishops, participants of FGDs and systematization workshops, members and leaders of women, youth, children and CBO groups as well as individuals provided us with valuable insights from their personal and collective experiences. This helped us to capture collective the intelligence of the community. I am grateful to all of them. The staff