Demand Driven Community Managed Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board Newsletter Year 9 Vol 23 2008 Women s Technical Support Services Group Effectiveness in Women s Empowerment The Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP- II) started in 2004 by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) is the follow-on to the successful completion of the First Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP-I). The Board, since its initiation in 1996, has been delivering water supply and sanitation services to the rural population and its programme has been spread in 71 districts of the country. The Women Technical Support Service (WTSS) is an integral and important programme component of the project. The Board has In This Issue 3 4 5 6 7 8 Community Able to Feel Ownership in the Scheme Community Feels Responsibility for Operation and Maintenance Five Main Aspects to Improve Living Standard Thirsty Trikol Community Eager and Ready to Contribute and Work Together No Open Defecation, Please!
2 KHASKOSH accorded high priority in women s empowerment through utilization of their saved time, as water brought closer to their house yards, in income generating activities. It has been proved to be helpful to institutionalize their groups and also empowered them for active as well as meaningful participation in project planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation and more importantly in operation and maintenance of the project. At least one Women Technical Support Service (WTSS) Group is ensured to form in each community/scheme area. The Board provides a grant support of up to NRs 10,000 per community for their skill enhancement. However, in most cases they use it as the seed money to start their own Saving and Credit programs. Members of the WTSS Group deposit some money (usually from 5 to 50 rupees) every month in their established S/C Fund and take loans whenever needed for the purpose of utilizing it in income generating activities such as goat keeping, poultry farming, cattle farming, vegetable farming, sewing and groceries. As per WTSS s decision, the members repay it after some time (usually 3 to 6 months) with a small but specified interest rate. These activities have supported the women financially. Their role in decision making has also increased. WTSS groups held regular monthly meetings which help them to share ideas and experiences among them and to increase the level of their awareness. The program has helped to bring the marginalized, the disadvantaged, dalit, the janajatis and the illiterate women into the social mainstream. Non-formal education to women is another component of the project. The women benefiting from this program have become able to read and write, perform basic accounting and to utilize the loan amount properly. Thus, through the spare time involvement in income generation and other social activities, they have been able to improve their standard of living to some extent. A study conducted by the Board (Modification of WTSS Component: 2007) also shows that most of the WTSS groups are involved in incomegenerating activities. The study has also found that the program has significantly contributed to the economic development as well as social awareness in the rural areas. Women s role in household decisions has also increased. In order to make women more functional, encouragement and sustainable empowerment, the Board has taken initiative to introduce Jeevika Karyakram: A New Approach recently in January 2008. In this regards, the Board has done a contractual agreement with CEAPRED that would provide skill to the members and link WTSS groups with the Banks and BDS. Similary, the Board has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal Bank Ltd (NBL) and Rastriya Banijya Bank (RBB) on July 16, 2007 for getting access of credit facility to the WTSS members. Representatives of the Nepal Bank, the Rastriya Banijya Bank, and the RWSSFDB Executive Director, Arjun Narshing Rayamajhi, signing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). After accomplishing their water supply and sanitation scheme, water users in Harkapur village, Nuwakot, are attracted to activities such as vegetable farming and goatkeeping. Cover Photo: Members of the Women s Technical Support Services Group in Birendranagar-8, Chitwan (beneficiaries of the Shital Tole Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme) in one of their Monthly group meetings.
Mid-Term Review by The World Bank Community Able to Feel Ownership in the Scheme World Bank s Nepal Director Visits Board s Office KHASKOSH 3 Benefits to Community Appreciated Tashi Tenzing, team leader of the World Bank Mission (second from left), sharing ideas with staff members of the Fund Board The Supervision Mission of the International Development Agency (IDA) carried out a Mid-Term Review (MTR) of the Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP-II) during the period of May 10 to 25, 2007. The main objectives of the MTR were to assess the performance of the project to date, review the adequacy of the project design and scope, identify issues and recommend solutions including restructuring, if relevant. Conclusion of the Mid-Term Review The Project s concept and the design are delivering results as intended at the community level. The schemes completed under the First Project as well as under Batch-V are meeting their intended development objectives cost effectively. The Project s demand driven and participatory approach, including community development activities, non formal education, health and sanitation education, and Women s Technical Support Services have been very effective in empowering the communities, including women, and have resulted in strong community ownership. Most of the communities are sustaining their efforts at operating and maintaining their schemes even after several years of completion. The mission suggested for more efficient implementation of the schemes by strengthening the Board s internal management aspect. The Mission was led by Tashi Tenzing, Sr. Sanitary/Environmental Engineer/Mission Leader of the World Bank. Vigyan Pradhan, Sr. Financial Management/Operations Specialist, and other specialists from the World Bank were also included in the MTR team. The review Mission held discussions with officials from National Planning Commission, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, Raj Babu Shrestha, Executive Director of Poverty Alleviation Fund (PAF) and former ED of the Board and the executive members as well as other staff of the Board. It also held interactions with the officials from the associate organizations, service agencies, Rastriya Banijya Bank and Nepal Bank Limited. The Mission met with members of the communities and the staff of the support organizations during field visits in the project areas. World Bank s Country Director for Nepal, Susan Goldmark, visited the office of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) on August 21, 2007 and acquainted with the programs being implemented and progress made by the Board. The Board s Executive Director Arjun Narsing Rayamajhi apprised for her visit in the Board and explained all about the progress made in the water supply and sanitation being implemented across the country. He also briefed Goldmark about the Board s contribution in the water supply and sanitation sector of Nepal. Goldmark appreciated the Project s implementation process and expressed happiness over the fact that communities are benefiting from the Board s programs. She also held talks with the staff of the Board and shared experiences regarding the water supply and sanitation project. Goldmark is the World Bank s country director for Nepal since July 2007. Earlier, Dr Kenichi Ohashi was the country director. The World Bank s loan support constitutes the main assistance for the water supply and sanitation schemes under this project. Following the success of the First Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project, the World Bank has supported the Second Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project (RWSSP-II).
4 KHASKOSH Community Feels Responsibility for Operation and Maintenance Hardi Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme in Nawalparasi is one of the schemes constructed under Batch-I of RWSSP-I of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) which has been running and maintaining till date. The villagers borne a lot since the floods damaged scheme s structures several times. For the first time, the water intake was swept away by flood but the villagers were not discouraged rather joined hands and reconstructed it. They shouldered more troubles as the source and the intake both were swept away for a couple of times. But members of the community mended it and the water supply became regular in their taps even today. Villagers extend thanks to RWSSFDB and GYC for encouraging them to organize community people for collective work and benefit in this way that they become able to find solution of any such problem. One of the women says If the community had not been organized, we would not have been able to fetch water in the village. As a support organization, Gaindakot Youth Club played crucial role in implementing the Hardi Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme. The site is located on the bank of the Kali Gandaki River, at the north-eastern corner of Nawalparasi District. Although flanked by Tanahun and Chitwan districts, the village has no access to electricity and road. Commuters reach the place either by canoeing across the Kali Gandaki River or trailing a long route through the jungle. that year, the scheme started delivering the result. A flood in 2003, however, totally swept away the source of the Scheme. The water reserve tank as well as about 500 meters of pipes was damaged. But the community mended it. Three years later, flood caused even bigger damage. The community mended it again. But for three months during the maintenance works, they had to suffer the same old problems and inconvenience for water. Now, it has been nine years older scheme and the community is benefiting from the water supply scheme. The trainings and suggestions received from the support organization as well as the Board remained highly useful while working to complete the Scheme says Ram Krishna Paudel, chairman of the Water Supply and Sanitation Users Committee (WSUC). Each family has contributed to the scheme, either through labour or cash contribution; so we love the scheme by heart, he says. We were shocked when it was damaged and felt that we should mend it ourselves by using the money deposited in O & M Fund Paudel adds. Actually, the community was groomed to feel the ownership and responsibility for the scheme and its status ever since the Scheme was launched in the village. Today, there s no shortage of drinking water in this village. The water supply is regular, and the villagers are using it even for vegetable farming and other purposes. After the completion of Development Phase, the construction of scheme was completed in 1999 and since the autumn
Trainings Completed KHASKOSH 5 World Bank Evaluators Visit Scheme Sites Five Main Aspects to Improve Living Standard With a view to promoting awareness and enhancing capacities of the Support Organization (SO) staff to implement the water supply and sanitation schemes in effective, reliable and cost-effective manner, the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) held various trainings on different dates. In December 2007, George Keith Pitmann, evaluator from the World Bank, visited RWSSFDB and various Board assisted Water Supply and Sanitation scheme sites. Pitmann met and discussed with members of WSUCs and communities and gathered information about the scheme situation, impacts and benefits they were taking from the various schemes implemented under different batches. He also discussed the changes in the sanitary habits of community people, such as washing hands, brushing teeth etc, resulting from access to sufficient water supply. Pitman asked to the community people as to how they felt about the changes after the operation of the scheme. He also sought to gather information for five main priorities of the community for improving their living standard, in case they got a supporting program. The people in the community answered irrigation as first priority then computer education in schools, income generation for women, electricity and road access were the most pressing areas for improving their living standard. During December 2-5, 2007 Pitmann visited Danda Gaon, Bhote Kholsi, Kalikhola, and Sundar Water Supply and Sanitation Schemes in Ilam. Likewise, he visited Paundurkot, Dahregauda, Simle Kusende and Nursury Water Supply and Sanitation Schemes in Kaski, and Kaldhar, Rabiopi Dhundamukh and Dhaneshwar schemes in Kavre, during December 10-13, 2007. Paul Sha, Independent Consultant for the World Bank, also took information about the schemes being implemented in Kavre. In this regard, a 5-days training on Community Action Plan (CAP)/HHS including Conflict Management was held in Bhaktapur during July 17-21, 2007 and in Chitwan during September 3-7, 2007. The training was organized primarily for new team leaders and field coordinators of the SOs. Likewise, a 17-days long training on Community Action Plan (CAP)/HHS including Conflict Management for community workers and community technicians was held in Itahari during September 25-October 11, 2007 and in Nepalgunj, Chitwan and Pokhara during September 24-October 10, 2007 for around 360 participants. Similarly, a 10-day long training on scheme design and supervision was held for technical supervisors in Chitwan and Pokhara during October 30- November 8, 2007, in Nepalgunj during November 15-24, 2007 and in Itahari and Biratnagar during November 20-29, 2007.
6 KHASKOSH Thirsty Trikol Women of Trikol VDC of Saptari district gather around the well to fetch drinking water as early as 3:00 a.m. that is, long before dawn. There is almost a tussle among the crowd for getting one s turn to pull out the water from the Dug well. Sometimes there s even squabble. Within a few hours the well gets empty. They have to wait again to let the water collect in the well. Again the scene repeats. Again squabble. It s as if this is a routine work in their life. These women dedicate almost five hours a day to the job of fetching drinking water for their household chores. This is a case from the plains of Terai. It s hard to believe that the shortage of drinking water exists even in the Terai. This is Trikol. The place is situated about 5 kilometers away from Bhardaha in Saptari district and predominantly inhabited by dalits and janajatis. Most of the inhabitants here are very poor. As there s no school, people are mostly illiterate. Sanitary awareness too is missing. Who would see our plight? We ve been doomed to scuffle for drinking water. This is what Sansari Devi Mandal, a local inhabitant, feels. There s only one well in the entire village, otherwise we would have to walk for drinking water one kilometer away. She points out towards the children around the well and says that none of them goes to school. Their parents have to send them for fetching water, she says. Most of the villagers here work as farm labourers. So they have to go to work. Punam Devi Sada, a housewife, says that, on the one hand there is no school nearby. On the other hand, parents have no choice other than to keep their children in queue for water. Without this, their bread won t be ready for the evening. Is this house yard or latrine? One can t or very difficult to distinguish. Children or grown ups, they litter around wherever they feel comfortable. There are some 245 households in the settlement. Outbreaks of Diarreoah and the deaths associated with the epidemic are nothing unusual here. Since recently, however, the village is showing signs of improvement. Residents in Ward No 3, 4, 5 and 6 are particularly giving this impression. Illiterate women have begun attending classes in non-formal education. And they have also begun to keep their homes and house yards clean. The change is felt particularly since July 2007. Women have started a savings program by collecting Rs 10 from each member every month. Some of them have borrowed loans from this fund to invest in goats, buffaloes, or small shops. Presently, members in this community have also taken initiative to bring a water supply scheme in the village. For this, they even expressed commitment to make some financial contribution, personally. The work is now in progress under the Batch-VII of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme. Supported by the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board, the scheme is being implemented by this community with the technical support from Kankalini Multipurpose Services Center.
KHASKOSH 7 Community Eager and Ready to Contribute and Work Together Finding a source of water in the beginning was a tough job for residents of Dandagaon, Ilam. Ultimately they found a source but the water supply was sufficient to meet only for 124 households demand of the community. The current water supply scheme was designed for and drinking water supply service was delivered to 124 households. The number of households has now crossed 150 and population growth is continuing. Growing migration of people from other parts also contributed to the shortage of drinking water supply. These days, WSUC in the community are organizing meeting regularly to discuss and find another source of water to solve the problem. Apart from finding a source, they are also concerned for financing the new scheme. WSUC Treasurer Padam Paudel says finding additional source is essential for them even for the sustainability of the Scheme. Three years ago, they had brought the water supply from a brook of Sunbheg, eight kilometer away from the village. The Dandagaon Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme of Batch-IV was implemented with the technical support of local SO (Sungava Club) and financial assistance from RWSSFDB. There are two dozen tap stands in the community and the WSUC has appointed a Village Maintenance Worker (VMW) to look after the water supply system. The WSUC provides him a monthly salary of Rs 1200. The community collects Rs 10 per month from users and deposits it in the O & M Fund. The O & M Fund already has a collection of about 50 thousand rupees. After access to water supply, community people also constructed toilets in their houses, utilizing the Sanitation Revolving Loan Fund (SRLF) and self-help. Now the people are also aware about sanitation. Waste water from the taps is used for irrigating vegetable farms. There are also noodles factory and a milk chilling center in the community. These facilities also add to the demands of water. WSUC chairman Radha Krishna Shrestha claims that the old water source itself has the potential to meet the demand. He regrets that they used smaller pipe-line at that time. Even for changing the pipeline, we would require fund, and the community alone cannot do anything, Shrestha adds. He says getting resources has become their prime concern now. A former MP of the district has assured them of providing financial assistance of Rs 50,000. We have also raised the issue with some donor agencies, he adds. According to him, if they get some donor support, community people are also ready to contribute in whatever way they can.
8 KHASKOSH No Open Defecation, Please! The Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board (RWSSFDB) has been implementing Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Schemes in 71 districts of the country. The schemes are focused in providing clean drinking water as well as promoting sanitary awareness in the communities. At least one fourth of the households that have no toilets get a sum of Rs 2,000 in loan from the Sanitation Revolving Fund. This is done in order to encourage the community to build toilets and improve sanitary habits. Recipients of such loans add some amount to this fund and construct toilets. So far, a total of 1,264 water supply and sanitation schemes have been implemented by the Board throughout the country. An impact study of 241 of those schemes suggested that 33 percent of the communities in the areas covered by the schemes have built the toilets and are using them satisfactorily. The study, based on random selection, was done among the concrete or durable toilets and their users. People using crude or temporarytype toilets number even more. The way community people are making toilets is spontaneous rather than imposed. This proves that the sanitary awareness has grown impressively among the rural communities. It is reported that many communities in the areas where Water Supply and Sanitation Schemes are being implemented have declared their areas free of open defecation. The latest to make such announcement was the Laxmi Bazar of Gorkha, which announced the scheme-area as free of open defecation. The announcement was made recently by Minister for Physical Planning and Works Hisila Yami. World Bank Sector Director Visits Scheme Sites The World Bank Sector Director Ms. Constance Bernard (Sustainable Development Division) on November 03, 2007 visited the Water Supply and Sanitation Scheme being implemennted in Kavre in cooperation of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Fund Development Board. During the visit, she made an observation that the scheme has brought clean drinking water in the community. She also expressed the view that the scheme had also brought about better community awareness in matters of sanitation. She also shared the community s experience about the change in their sanitary habits after the implementation of the scheme. The WB Sector director inspected the Seti Devi and the Jaishi Thok water supply and sanitation schemes, as well as a pilot (model) scheme launched under the Jantako Khanepani Tatha Sarsafai Karyakram (JAKPAS) even before the start of the Board. On the occasion, she expressed happiness over the continued operation and maintainence of the scheme under the active community participation. Operation Effective On November 17, the World Bank s country director for Nepal, Susan Goldmark, visited the Water Supply and Sanitation Schemes being implemented in Kavre district. During the visit, she appreciated the community participation in the operation and maintainance of the scheme. She expressed happiness over the Community s active participation to operate the scheme. On the occasion, she also interacted with members of communities on the various ways they are involved in the operation and maintainance of the schemes. Goldmark had also visited the schemes being implemented in Kaski district. For the quarterly publication of newsletter KHASKOSH Editorial Advisor: Arjun Narshing Rayamajhi Editor: Ravi Kumar Shrestha Contact Address: KHASKOSH Newsletter P.O. Box No 12414, Lazimpat, Kathmandu, Nepal Phone: 977-1 - 4410761 Fax: 977-1 - 4417899 Email: khaskosh@rwss.org Website: www.rwss.org