GO-NGO COLLABORATION TO COMBAT COVID-19 PANDEMIC: MY TAKE
I am a strong advocate of GO-NGO Collaboration to combat any disaster and minimise the impact. I have several success stories to share. In 90s, there was an epidemic of cholera in Koraput and the progressive Collector had a discussion with me and I have suggested to built up a communication system so that the affected patients are brought immediately to hospitals. For this at the Panchayat Level the Government Functionaries like RI, VLW, Teachers along with NGO Volunteers form a team and if there is any patient affected in the interior area, the communication is immediately reached to the BDO, Tehasildar, the Doctor and Control Room in the Collectorate . Thus, immediate action was taken to send the Ambulance or send the medical team to the spot and patient was given due treatment. Thus, hundreds of lives were saved. Later on such. system was followed in many districts.
I am a strong advocate of GO-NGO Collaboration to combat any disaster and minimise the impact. I have several success stories to share. In 90s, there was an epidemic of cholera in Koraput and the progressive Collector had a discussion with me and I have suggested to built up a communication system so that the affected patients are brought immediately to hospitals. For this at the Panchayat Level the Government Functionaries like RI, VLW, Teachers along with NGO Volunteers form a team and if there is any patient affected in the interior area, the communication is immediately reached to the BDO, Tehasildar, the Doctor and Control Room in the Collectorate . Thus, immediate action was taken to send the Ambulance or send the medical team to the spot and patient was given due treatment. Thus, hundreds of lives were saved. Later on such. system was followed in many districts.
During this COVID-19, we must establish such a strong communication system to know the households in distress and to check whether PDS and Cash are reaching the beneficiaries or anyone is starving or needing livelihood support. The GO-NGO collaboration in the country and in the state of Odisha is perhaps not very strong. I have been interacting with the MD, OSDMA, the Chief Advisor to the CM and sharing my views requesting them to strengthen the GO-NGO framework in this terrible time. Things have started to move and in many districts, the GO-NGO Co-ordination meeting has already been held. Some of the Collectors like Nabrangapur, Koraput, Kandhamal, Bolangir, Gajapati etc are very proactive while quite a few Collectors are stonewalling it.
On the initiative of MD, OSDMA, a dialogue with the NGOs is very productive and our NGOs/CSOs are giving very valuable suggestions and feed backs. The NGOs are not begging for Government Assistance but are wanting to help the Government which is and should be the Major Actor. I am sharing my suggestions which I have shared with the MD, OSDMA given below:
COVID 19 response – Notes on MGNREGS And Other Issues
MGNREGS
• Co-ordination meeting between GO-NGOs. Sarpanches-BDOs-NGOs to collectively plan out Block level co-ordination and implementation of MGNREGS work benefitting the most vulnerable communities. Immediate payment needs to be ensured to the people for the emergency cash requirements for the family.
• Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha meetings and approval will not be required for starting of MGNREGS work during the pandemic/emergency.
• Identification of high risk groups and vulnerable individuals involving all stakeholders – Government, NGOs, civil society groups etc..
• Identification of people having job cards and those who do not have job cards involving all stakeholders – Government, NGOs, civil society groups etc. Steps may be taken to issue Job Cards.
• MGNREGS List of village wise works and budget to ensure transparency and accountability. Social audits to continue.
• Village wise listing of works especially during Summer months, provision of drinking water, shade, crèche, soap, sanitizers etc. Womens groups like SHGs can play a lead role to ensure care and support for these initiatives with full payment of wages for their services.
• A group of maximum 5 persons can be engaged in undertaking the individual works and co-ordinated groups can be assigned the responsibility for undertaking larger community development works, including work on village commons and other common property resources. Land development works like bunding, open wells, farm ponds, trenches, afforestation works, waste weir, desiltation of tanks etc can be undertaken. For large items of work, several team of 5 persons may be engaged by ensuring Social Distancing and other COVID-19 Guidelines.
• Persons above 60 years should not be provided work under MGNREGS. They need to be identified and linked with Government social security and development schemes and benefits.
• MGNREGS village leaders can be identified by the Block administration, NGOs and given specific responsibilities for community mobilization and co-ordination of works
• 2 Volunteers can be supported for one Gram Panchayat by NGOs and civil society groups to support the Government in awareness and linking vulnerable people to Government development schemes and social security measures.
• NGOs and civil society groups can support the BDO and the Sarpanch with additional manpower (Volunteers) for uploading of data, information and progress on MGNREGS works at the Block and GP level.
• Priority may be given to Development of Land given under Forest Land Rights Act.
MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCE
The Farmers are in terrible distress as they are not able to sell their produce especially Vegetables. So mechanism should be established so that the produce from a specific area where there is substantial Marketable Surplus, can be transported to cities where there is a market. ORMAS/OLM may be engaged to facilitate this process to protect the interest of the Producers as well as consumers as in the cities vegetables are sold at a very high price due to scarcity situation. Let there be a rapid appraisal of the Areas across the State and effective linkages are to be established. The NGOs/CBOs may be involved for mobilisation.
GO-NGO COLLABORATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL
The Government may issue a Guidelines/Instructions to the District Administration to involve the NGOs/CSO in fighting COVID-19. There should be issue of Passes ( in Limited Numbers ) to NGO Staff and Volunteers and Community Communicators immediately to facilitate village visits and interactions with the High Risk and Vulnerable Groups.
COMMUNITY MONITORING OF VARIOUS ENTITLEMENTS
Let there be a Mechanism in place involving the NGOs /CSOs to have a Community Monitoring System to ensure if the entitlements like PDS, Pensions, Cash Compensations, MGNREGS Employment etc. are reaching the poorest of the poor.
MGNREGS
• Co-ordination meeting between GO-NGOs. Sarpanches-BDOs-NGOs to collectively plan out Block level co-ordination and implementation of MGNREGS work benefitting the most vulnerable communities. Immediate payment needs to be ensured to the people for the emergency cash requirements for the family.
• Gram Sabha and Palli Sabha meetings and approval will not be required for starting of MGNREGS work during the pandemic/emergency.
• Identification of high risk groups and vulnerable individuals involving all stakeholders – Government, NGOs, civil society groups etc..
• Identification of people having job cards and those who do not have job cards involving all stakeholders – Government, NGOs, civil society groups etc. Steps may be taken to issue Job Cards.
• MGNREGS List of village wise works and budget to ensure transparency and accountability. Social audits to continue.
• Village wise listing of works especially during Summer months, provision of drinking water, shade, crèche, soap, sanitizers etc. Womens groups like SHGs can play a lead role to ensure care and support for these initiatives with full payment of wages for their services.
• A group of maximum 5 persons can be engaged in undertaking the individual works and co-ordinated groups can be assigned the responsibility for undertaking larger community development works, including work on village commons and other common property resources. Land development works like bunding, open wells, farm ponds, trenches, afforestation works, waste weir, desiltation of tanks etc can be undertaken. For large items of work, several team of 5 persons may be engaged by ensuring Social Distancing and other COVID-19 Guidelines.
• Persons above 60 years should not be provided work under MGNREGS. They need to be identified and linked with Government social security and development schemes and benefits.
• MGNREGS village leaders can be identified by the Block administration, NGOs and given specific responsibilities for community mobilization and co-ordination of works
• 2 Volunteers can be supported for one Gram Panchayat by NGOs and civil society groups to support the Government in awareness and linking vulnerable people to Government development schemes and social security measures.
• NGOs and civil society groups can support the BDO and the Sarpanch with additional manpower (Volunteers) for uploading of data, information and progress on MGNREGS works at the Block and GP level.
• Priority may be given to Development of Land given under Forest Land Rights Act.
MARKETING OF FARM PRODUCE
The Farmers are in terrible distress as they are not able to sell their produce especially Vegetables. So mechanism should be established so that the produce from a specific area where there is substantial Marketable Surplus, can be transported to cities where there is a market. ORMAS/OLM may be engaged to facilitate this process to protect the interest of the Producers as well as consumers as in the cities vegetables are sold at a very high price due to scarcity situation. Let there be a rapid appraisal of the Areas across the State and effective linkages are to be established. The NGOs/CBOs may be involved for mobilisation.
GO-NGO COLLABORATION AT THE DISTRICT LEVEL
The Government may issue a Guidelines/Instructions to the District Administration to involve the NGOs/CSO in fighting COVID-19. There should be issue of Passes ( in Limited Numbers ) to NGO Staff and Volunteers and Community Communicators immediately to facilitate village visits and interactions with the High Risk and Vulnerable Groups.
COMMUNITY MONITORING OF VARIOUS ENTITLEMENTS
Let there be a Mechanism in place involving the NGOs /CSOs to have a Community Monitoring System to ensure if the entitlements like PDS, Pensions, Cash Compensations, MGNREGS Employment etc. are reaching the poorest of the poor.
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