Conflict Resolution Through Social Mobilization

By KRISHNA MAN PRADHAN

Background : The SNV had initiated the program of social mobilization in Panchthar district with priority in the third phase of Mechi Hill Development Project. Initially, the SNV had started the program for three years in 6 VDCs of Panchthar in partnership with district-based NGOs. The Panchthar DDC, impressed by the program’s success in reducing poverty and increasing awareness, has requested the Project to extend the program to eight more VDCs. And the SNV had agreed to this request. Even the NGO Federation had been impressed by this program. Around the same time the third phase of the Project came to an end and the whole program was transferred to the DDC. Since then, the DDC had been implementing and coordinating the program in two separate manner. In 2004, after the SNV assistance could not become regular due to various reasons, the DDC had embraced two methods in giving continuity to the programs – one, in which the DDC, under its full management and coordination, the program is being implemented through the NGOs and second, in which the programs are implemented directly through the VDCs.

With the objective of finding out how the program of social mobilization can be given continuity in the present political context along with identifying the problems faced by the program and likely ways out; the Rural Development Foundation (RDF) recently held an interaction/discussion program in Panchthar with the help of SNV.

The RDF has been active for the last ten years in programs aimed at enhancing the situation of rural women, backward communities, increasing the participation of stakeholders and common people to strengthen good governance and decentralization. It has worked as an independent NGO in sectors like local self-governance; local bodies and decentralization; women empowerment; human rights; social justice and resource management. Particularly, the Foundation has been involved in campaigns to raise awareness; research-oriented programs and provide policy support at the center.

Social Mobilization Program

The Mechi Hill Development Project has been conducting the social mobilization program in 14 out of 41 VDCs and in 2004, after handing over the program to the DDC, the latter has been directly responsible for its management and resources. The DDC is implementing the program in six VDCs – Amarpur, Nagi, Panchami, Subhanka, Limba and Durdimba – through the Local Development Fund. In eight VDCs – Ektin, Ochap, Yangnam, Nagin, Batane, Kurumba, Arubote and Syabarumba – the DDC is conducting the program through NGOs. In these 14 VDCs, around 1000 groups are actively working. Initially, the Mechi Hill Development Project selected VDCs in a transparent manner and held interactions and discussions to organize the program of social mobilization. Following that, it appointed social mobilizers and formed 45 groups. In order to manage and monitor these groups, an umbrella group was created in VDC headed by chairman and secretary. These umbrella groups, in turn, represented all the groups in the annual meeting and presented their VDC-level program and its review. Each of the village-level group identified various projects including those on drinking water, village road, livestock, savings program etc and implemented them with the support of local people, donors and DDC. As a result, the local people did not have to approach banks for completing petty tasks in their villages.

Problems Of Social Mobilization Program

Total population of Panchthar is 213,864 and it has 55.31 percent literacy rate. The literacy rate of the women who have taken the leadership of the mobilizer group is only 44.03 percent. Average number of family members per household is six but due to lack of awareness about family planning and conservative values, majority of households have 8-10 members. Local people say that initially due to the involvement of donor and good political environment, the program had gone exceedingly well. However, at present the social mobilizers are pressured to resign from the position by the conflicting parties and there is an environment of insecurity in villages. Many mobilizers have not been able to return to their villages while the presidents, vice presidents and members of DDC nominated by the state are not in a position to enjoy support from local people and political parties. On the other hand, the rebels have pressured the officials to resign and one cannot believe that people’s aspirations can be met and development take place under the protection of military alone. The people are not in a position to expect much from the donors as well at a time when the latter have maintained only a nominal presence in their district-level offices. The questions raised by the local people on the situation of development seem justified given the exodus of youngsters from the villages in search of jobs overseas.

Recommendations

If the program of social mobilization is to be taken to the people’s level, first of all the state and the rebel should abandon their obstinacy, identify the needs and desires of the people and implement development works by forming coordination committee by including conflicting sides. And if the donors, too, want real development of Nepal , they should penetrate the villages through programs of social mobilization. For this purpose, it is essential to have a village-level discussion with the participation of political parties, local bodies, Maoists, NGOs, umbrella groups to identify and formulate future strategies.

The donors should not only appoint social mobilizer but support in actual development programs. In every VDC, there are around 100 lady teachers and 10/15 NGOs and these very groups can play crucial role in social mobilization.

If Panchthar district gets the opportunity to implement the program of social mobilization as said above, it can become a prime model for conflict resolution in Nepal .

(Pradhan is president of RDF)