There is a rush of VC schemes in this season because many of them such as para-road repair can be carried out only in the dry season and before boro-rice irrigation starts. By mid-December PRDP-2 received a total 80 preliminary proposals of VC schemes from participating VCs. They are being screened in different steps of (a) decision at VCM, (b) collection of UP tax, (c) decision and approval by UCCM with written certificate of UP tax clearance, (d) collection of villagers' contribution (20% of total cost), (e) securing UP contribution (10% of total cost), (f) cost scrutiny by PRDP-2 accountant, (g) approval by URDO/ARDO, and finally (f) approval by PRDP-2 headquarters (LMC). Only after going through these processes VC can start actual work to cover their own portion (30%), and upon completing their part the VC becomes eligible to request release of the remaining budget from PRDP-2 (70% of cost). In this seemingly long process, however, the decision-taking is vested only in VCM and UCCM.
It is natural that these hastily prepared schemes carry some flaws. Some are even non-appropriate for a VC scheme failing to make plans bottom-up, some have over estimates particularly in unit cost of soil-moving, some others are technically deficient (in cases typically of culvert setting). Our UDO/O and field staffs of research section are now fully engaged in the "tug-of-war" with VCs to straighten out any flaws and work out more reasonable and acceptable schemes. During this season, they have actually no more spare time to divert their efforts in any other work.
VC scheme is not just a lure to keep VCs brought in PRDP-2's sphere. We think that the building-up of micro-infrastructure of rural works such as para-road and school repairs and all-village sanitation is a typical duty for the Union to take part in under decentralized local governance. Our "tug-of-war" with accomplished village leaders over VC schemes constitutes a part of important lessons for us all to learn in preparation for the day when Union will have become a focal institution for local and rural development.
Impact of Sewing Training on Narandia Mohila Dal
Three-month long sewing training is coming to an end. It has been a long-awaited dream for Mohila Dal (MD) since PRDP-1. MD members have realized it by persistently requesting though MD, VCM, and UCCM. MD selected trainees as representatives of the village women.
This training has a positive effect on Mohila Dal. The trainees' participation in MD activated their meeting. MD members listen to progress reports of the sewing training eagerly. Some trainees have become new MD members and are playing an important role in it, like MD Secretary. At present, with their help, most of the MD have become capable of writing MD resolutions.
Main objective of our sewing training is for individual women's empowerment, but it has also helped MD become more active and stronger.
VC Members Visti a Village Library
Plans to set up village libraries have been proposed by several VCs in Kalihati. In this connection, UDO/O of Kokdahara Union organized a visit of "Charan General Library", which is in the same Union, by Kokdahara VC members who have been discussing on a plan of having their own village library. On 19 December 2006. the VC members visited the library and learned about its history and management system from its management committee members. By this visit the VC members were convinced that the village library would provide a wide window for the villagers to get to see the outside world. Safiur Rahman Khan, Chairman of Kokdahara Union and who is an advocater of village library, kindly facilitated this visit.
Pitha Mela (Cake Festival) 2006
Do you believe the fact that a large crowd of 20,000 villagers (according to the estimate of organizing committee) of Balla union witnessed 153 different types of pitha (traditional cake) displayed at Pitha Mela held at a hat ground on December 25 and 26? The mela was organized by Balla Union Parishad (Mr. Aslam Ahmed, Chairman) and voluntary Pitha Mela Organizing Committee in collaboration with PRDP-2, as a soft-type UCC scheme, partly to observe the Victory Day. Many of the 153-type pitha were new to younger generations and they were for older generations something to feel proud of showing their heritage to the younger ones.
A large variety of cultural programs was another element of attracting this huge crowd. They were songs by local artists, recitation of poems by local gluttons, magic show, drawing contest, stick game (lati khela), etc. PRDP-2 staffs showed its promotion videos on a screen and displayed various picture-albums of its activities. People felt this type of mela was essential to help protect traditional culture and heritage from dwindling and have them inherited to the coming generations. People were also proud of organizing this big gathering peacefully with no accident, chaos nor anarchy without police guard, owing to about 100 voluntary workers of the Organizing Committee.
VC Formation: A Clue for Development
Nalear Chala is a small, isolated village in Nagbari Union. In the locality, there are currently eight VCs and two Mohila Dal (MD, or Mohila Boithak MB) active in trying to reduce problems in the respective villages. Being impressed by these neighboring VC/MD activities, the villagers discussed about setting up of their VC and three leading village matabbors approached our UDO/O. Responding to their request, the UDO/O conducted general household survey on 21 and 22 January 2007, and showed them step-by-step procedures of forming their VC.
Villagers told that they were so far neglected from any type of development path because their village was far and isolated from Kalihati Upazila. They thought PRDP-2 would provide them with a clue to the path of village development. The villagers were very glad to have had the PRDP-2 staff come and conducting the survey. Women folk of the village also agreed to form a MD and work with PRDP-2. We will see both a new VC and a MD born in this village soon. .
Workshop for Reducing Mother and Child Mortality
Jagatpur Union (Mr. Humayun Kabir, Chairman) and Upazila Family Planning Department jointly organized a Workshop on Reducing Mother and Child Mortality at Jagatpur UDC on 15 January 2007. A guest speaker from Dhaka-based Mother and Child Health Organization (NGO), Dr. Zarin advocated GOB's goal of reducing the mortality rate down to 3.2% by year 2015. In this connection, she suggested to make good use of the five trained birth attendants available in this Union, who are placed, as an obligation, to visit every village in the Union, collect names of pregnant women, and give them advice and provide health care services. Participants were UP members, Village Committee members and other villagers. PRDP-2 staffs helped organizing this workshop.
National Polio Vaccination Day Observed
iPRDP-2 staff of Meherpur Sadar joined in the campaign for polio vaccination on 14th National Vaccination Day which was observed on 23 December. Under the slogan of "No one will be missed out from polio vaccination" for 0-5 years old children, all concerned organizations and groups participated in the program: Family Planning Department workers provided the vaccination; Save the Children, an international NGO broadcast the news by loud-speakers; Mosque committees also joined by announcing the event through their loud-speakers. Prior to the Vaccination Day, FPD asked all the participants to give helping hands to publicizing the Day at UCCM of Pirojpur and Kutubpur Union. Responding to the request, PRDP-2 staffs visited many remote villages for the awareness campaign. On the Day, PRDP-2 staffs attended FPD camps to help local people take the vaccination.
Group Excursion to Panchayeti Raj System,
West Bengal, India
A 20-member group of PRDP-2 visited West Bengal, India from December 26 to 29 to collect information from, and share experiences with Panchayeti Raj System. The group was consisted of sub-groups of UP Chairman-Secretary-UDO-O of three selected unions, three JOCVs and five project personnel from LMC, LMTC and Kalihati office. The excursion was organized by the research-cum-training State Institute of Panchayet and Rural Development (SIPRD) located in Kallani, Nadia, West Bengal following our preparatory visit of last September. This is the first batch of our four-year annual visit program to West Bengal.
West Bengal has a five-tier local government system under the Panchayeti Raj System, viz., Zela Parishad, Panchayet Samiti, Gram Panchayet, Gram Sabha and Gram Sansad, corresponding approximately to our Zela, former Sub-Division, Upazela, Union Parishad and Gram. Not only have we exposed to functions and activities of Panchayet Samiti and Gram Panchayet, we had chances of visiting field level institutions such as women development association and its Self Help Group activities, total sanitation campaign, and agricultural extension work, etc. Although the period of visit was short, we have had very intensive discussions with SIPRD instructors, officials of different tiers and field level workers in Bengali, which is the common language of us all. Upon completing joint reports of excursion, we plan to hold a seminar (Study Forum) in February 2007..
Three-month long sewing training is coming to an end. It has been a long-awaited dream for Mohila Dal (MD) since PRDP-1. MD members have realized it by persistently requesting though MD, VCM, and UCCM. MD selected trainees as representatives of the village women.
Plans to set up village libraries have been proposed by several VCs in Kalihati. In this connection, UDO/O of Kokdahara Union organized a visit of "Charan General Library", which is in the same Union, by Kokdahara VC members who have been discussing on a plan of having their own village library. On 19 December 2006. the VC members visited the library and learned about its history and management system from its management committee members. By this visit the VC members were convinced that the village library would provide a wide window for the villagers to get to see the outside world. Safiur Rahman Khan, Chairman of Kokdahara Union and who is an advocater of village library, kindly facilitated this visit.
Do you believe the fact that a large crowd of 20,000 villagers (according to the estimate of organizing committee) of Balla union witnessed 153 different types of pitha (traditional cake) displayed at Pitha Mela held at a hat ground on December 25 and 26? The mela was organized by Balla Union Parishad (Mr. Aslam Ahmed, Chairman) and voluntary Pitha Mela Organizing Committee in collaboration with PRDP-2, as a soft-type UCC scheme, partly to observe the Victory Day. Many of the 153-type pitha were new to younger generations and they were for older generations something to feel proud of showing their heritage to the younger ones.
Nalear Chala is a small, isolated village in Nagbari Union. In the locality, there are currently eight VCs and two Mohila Dal (MD, or Mohila Boithak MB) active in trying to reduce problems in the respective villages. Being impressed by these neighboring VC/MD activities, the villagers discussed about setting up of their VC and three leading village matabbors approached our UDO/O. Responding to their request, the UDO/O conducted general household survey on 21 and 22 January 2007, and showed them step-by-step procedures of forming their VC.
A 20-member group of PRDP-2 visited West Bengal, India from December 26 to 29 to collect information from, and share experiences with Panchayeti Raj System. The group was consisted of sub-groups of UP Chairman-Secretary-UDO-O of three selected unions, three JOCVs and five project personnel from LMC, LMTC and Kalihati office. The excursion was organized by the research-cum-training State Institute of Panchayet and Rural Development (SIPRD) located in Kallani, Nadia, West Bengal following our preparatory visit of last September. This is the first batch of our four-year annual visit program to West Bengal. 
