Golra Integrated Development Scheme (GOLDS)

Partner NGO: Village Friends Organization     

• Brief description of project objectives:
• to provide clean drinking water
• to improve solid and liquid waste management
• to decrease air and water pollution
• pave way for integrated development of the area

  Mr. Zephirin Diabre, UN Under-Secretary General receiving a briefing on GOLDS Project

• Objectives achieved:

• Structural map of the village has been prepared.
• The Master Plan in respect of sewerage, water supply, solid waste management and rehabilitation and conservation of nullah was completed.
• The commercial and traffic surveys of the area were also carried out.
• The detailed socio-economic survey along with residential / household information was carried out in target area.
• Other surveys conducted in the area include health, education, water quality, micro-enterprises and additional facilities of the village.
• Linkages and coordination were established with the line agencies and administration department.

• Principal positive aspects of the project?

• Helped in getting answers to the questionnaire of baseline survey for socio-economic conditions;
• Assisted ascertaining status of local services including public and private health and education  facilities;
• Contributed in carrying out traffic and commercial survey of the area;
• Helped in identifying the water sources feeding the local population.
• Benefits achieved for / by participants during implementation:
• Physical and demographical mapping of the target area was done, which will help in designing development activities in the future
• Baseline information on prevailing condition of infrastructure and facilities of the area has been achieved.
• Final report will help in designing a master development plan of the target area
• Capacity building of local communities in documenting and prioritizing their needs

• Mr. Zephirin Diabre, UN Under-Secretary General and Mr. Onder Yucer, Resident Coordinator UN in Pakistan visiting Ghousia Mehria Hospital in Golra Sharif

  Products generated by the project:
• Physical map of Golra Sharif
• Baseline Survey of Socio-Economic conditions
• Commercial and Traffic Survey
• Survey of local service providers including public and private health and education facilities providers
• Solid waste collection and disposal points have been identified
• Proposal for liquid waste management (rehabilitation and conservation of the main nullah, construction of secondary level sewers and trunk sewers)
• Detailed analysis of the water supply sources
• Preliminary Report for making Master Plan of the area
   
• Assessment of impact of project in the LIFE focal area:
• In the sector of safe drinking water, main water sources feeding the needs of local population, have been identified and proper water analysis has been carried out. A detailed report in this respect has been prepared.
• To improve solid waste management, collection and disposal points have been identified and suggestions have been made for proper management.
• For the collection and disposal of liquid waste, rehabilitation and conservation of the main nullah and construction of secondary level sewers and trunk sewers, have been proposed.
• Above steps will decrease air and water pollution.
• The activity carried out through this assistance is a concrete step towards the integrated development of the area.
   
• Provision of Clean Drinking Water

Local people had complained that majority of their population (total 7,731 persons), was exposed to water borne diseases. Moreover, about a million of zaireen visiting Golra Sharif annually, were also facing similar health hazards due to contaminated drinking water.

Initially the implementing NGO, in collaboration with local community identified eleven main points of drinking water in the village. Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources was approached by VFO and water samples from above mentioned points were collected. The experts of PCRWR tested each sample to determine aesthetic, physico-chemicals and bacteriological contents. It is unfortunate that all samples were found unfit for drinking.

The engineering experts of implementing organization prepared a concept paper along with cost estimates, which was presented to the Prime Minister of Pakistan by Pir Mueen-ul-Haq, Pir of Golra Sharif. The Prime Minister has already forwarded it to relevant government agencies for providing a water supply scheme for Golra village.

VFO supported by LIFE management is following this initiative. It is approaching the PCRWR to identify the source of supply for this scheme. The council will also be asked to advise improvements wherever possible in the present water supply system including water purification system. 

So the project has helped the local communities in augmenting their efforts for solving this critical problem.

• Improving Solid & Liquid Waste Management and decreasing Air & Water Pollution

The village did not have proper liquid or solid waste management system. All roads and streets are littered with solid waste. The residents throw their waste in open, which is causing extreme health hazards. Occasionally some scavengers pick some particles and the rest is thrown in the nullah, which has become main source of pollution and contamination. Local butchers throw the animal waste in it making it the source most harmful nitrates. Ironically the village collecting sewers flow in this nullah. Once a source of drinking water and beautiful panoramic view, has now become the most repulsive and disgusting site.

 The animals including goats, buffaloes and cows are eating the perilous trash and the harmful ingredients are transferred to human being through their milk and meat. The debris and garbage in open spaces is polluting the air and water.

 VFO with the group effort of local people identified the main points where presently solid waste collection points could be developed. Initially the residents of village will be asked to deposit their refuse at these places where collecting containers will be placed. A tractor equipped with lifter will transport this to a deposit area already identified by local communities. A proposal in this regard has been designed by the engineers of VFO and presented to Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund, who has principally agreed to finance it. Subsequently community organizations will be developed to ensure sustenance of the activity through contributions by the users.

Mr. Zephirin Diabre, UN Under-Secretary General planting a tree in Golra Sharif

Similarly, the engineering experts hired by VFO have surveyed every inch of the nullah and proposed its rehabilitation and conservation. A trunk sewer will be constructed on the left bank of nullah. All collecting sewers will be directed in it. Stone pitching will be done to provide a protection wall along the whole length of this water channel. It is also planned to flatten the bed of nullah to give it an aesthetic look and fill the sides with trees, shrubs and flowers. In result of this, the nullah is going to develop into a delightfully panoramic and aesthetically wonderful visiting spot for local population as well as visitors coming from far and nearby places.

• Describe the strategies employed, indicating what works and what does not.

As soon as some activists from local area approached VFO for assistance in solving their felt needs, VFO consulted the local community for designing a proper strategy for accessing technical and financial resources for study of current socio-economic conditions of the area.

VFO supported by the experts and engineers from Lodhran Pilot Project surveyed the area and collected primary and secondary data from all concerned. A proper map of Golra was prepared and data was collected and analyzed on water supply, education, health, commerce, business, infrastructure, energy, traffic.

The identified needs were developed into proper proposals with detailed cost estimates. Out of these proposals, Prime Minister of Pakistan agreed to support the construction of a water supply system and infrastructure (roads) of the village. PPAF has agreed funding for rehabilitation and conservation of nullah, solid waste management, construction of collecting and trunk sewers and pavement of streets.

Proper care and attention was focused for realistic approach to solving the felt needs of the people and maintaining a balance among their expectations and available resources. Self-help based approach was adopted to support those activities in which the community had stakes and interest so that the sustainability could be ensured.

Government is the main stakeholder of community development and its support was sought to augment the community initiatives. This on the other hand will help in improving the government policy on reaching and helping the poor at grassroots.

The total dependency on the community did not work. The socio-economic survey initially handed over to local community did not bear any fruit and they wasted time in minute details and tiny arguments. Initially the community requires outside support to build their confidence and interactions with each other.

Depending too much upon line departments and other governmental agencies was also a bottleneck but with repeated efforts closed doors were opened. The first reaction from governmental agencies was always cold and non-responsive but they wield certain skills and knowledge, which can be utilized for the benefit of the community through constant co-ordination and repetitive efforts.    

 Generally, it is thought that poor communities cannot contribute in community building activities. During the implementation of the present project activities, it was felt that with proper mobilization and incentives, the poorer of the poorest can also contribute in their development, but that needs proper skills and tactics.

• Participation of women and men in planning, implementing, and evaluating the project:

Golra is basically a blend of rural urban mix. It has lots of primitive practices but is also practicing moderate traditions in their society. There are several occasions of mixed gatherings particularly on religious events but usually local women cannot interact with outside males. Female folks enjoy free movement but only to attend their routine business, occupation, religious and family ceremonies.

The project focuses the women as the activities proposed equally influence their lives. However, at the planning stage their input was limited to some occasional meetings with local school teachers, health staff and other service providers. Proper participation of females in the project has been designed through social mobilization by the project staff. They will help in organizing the local women initially into small groups, then local community organizations finally federating into an apex female body of the area.

· Project sustainability:

 The present project is a pilot activity for a larger activity to be carried out in sequence after completion of this act. Actually the sustainability has been ensured through community participation at all cycle of the project. Other such projects or programs have to keep this in mind that community involvement increases the level of sustainability.

This project provided seed money for an extended activity. Its output has helped in generating funds from other sources including Government of Pakistan and Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund. Still more funding is being sought from other donors with the assistance of LIFE, elected representatives and spiritual leaders of Golra Sharif. Over ambitions and over expectations should be avoided which can cause harm from the community side as well as from the donor side.