Service Delivery
In Kerala the LSGIs started functioning a Quasi-Government organisations. It was intended to deliver some services to the local citizens in a very limited scale village road, street lighting, sanitation, public market, cattle pound etc. were the services undertaken by them. After independence, an attempt was made to introduce the idea of Gram Swaraj. But those came the power bestowed loyalty to the state and central government machinery and the LSES were more or less neglected. The financial resources of the LSGIs were meager so as to extend their activities over a wider area of service delivery. Hence Gram Swaraj never could be launched. Moreover, the sectoral departments of the Government machinery extended their activities on all over the sectors. But they could not succeed in delivering proper services expected to the local people or to extend development to the poor rural folk who amount to severely five percent of the population. This state of affairs aroused cover in a minority of man of thought. In this context, the Balwant Rai Mehta Committee appointed by the National Development Council recommended a three tier Panchayath Raj System. This recommendation was accepted by the central government and states were diverted to implement the recommendation. But as the local governance was a state subject and the state administration was reluctant to part with their powers and intolerant of arising a parallel power system in the local level the three tier Panchayath Raj System faced failure. The activities of Government department going on extended to all areas of development and the nation achieved development in different faces, but the benefits of these did not reach the common man in the rural area. The preamble of the constitution declares that the constitution and thereby the administration machinery is listed by the people in India so as to deliver the services listed their to the people. This is the fundamental right of the people to avail the services from the government. The people maintain the machinery paying taxes and fees with the hope to get the services. All laws and rules prescribe that it is the duty of the government to deliver those services. There is no justification in refusing or not delivering this. Yet why the people fail to avail the services?
Sahayi Staff Profile
Profile of proposed team for Field Verification in connection with selection of Panchayats for award under PEAIS
| Sl.No | Name | Present Position | Qualification | Experience |
| G.Placid 58 yearS |
Director | 1.Masters Degree in Economics 2.Post Masters Diploma in Adult and Continuing Education 3.Attended several international courses like A three phase International training on Appreciative Inquiry (May 1999 – January 2000) conducted by the Weather Head School of management, The Casé Western Reserve University, Washington, USA, Participatory Research Methodology, Participatory Rural Appraisal, etc. |
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About Sahayi
SAHAYI – Centre for Collective Learning and Action is a secular, Non Governmental, Voluntary Development Organisation registered under the Travancore-Cochin literary, scientific and Charitable Societies Registration Act xii of 1955, in 1990 and has been functioning as a Regional Support Organisation. It started its development interventions initially in Kerala and extended its support to other South Indian states subsequently. Promotion of participatory approaches in training/learning, development interventions and help ensure stakeholder participation in governance and development, gender equity, promotion of good governance in LSGIs and NGOs and creation of conducive environment by policy advocacy are the central concerns of Sahayi.
The initial interventions of Sahayi focused on strengthening the voluntary sector in the state. In the context of the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts and the enactment of the Kerala Panchayati Raj and Municipality Acts, from 1994 onwards Sahayi’s focus extended to embracing the entire field of participatory development and Local Self Governments and the civil society organisations. Promotion of Adult education for poverty reduction is one of the major interventions. Promotion of good governance in LSGIs starting from Pre-Election Voters Awareness Campaign (PEVAC) is the next important thrust area. Preparation for disaster mitigation among the tsunami affected community was another intervention area.
Management consultancy support for project identification, planning and preparation of project proposals, organising/facilitating participatory training, conducting action research, impact evaluations of projects/development interventions of non government organisations and Local Self Governments, promotion and strengthening of women development organisations, federations/ networks of CSOs etc., are other important areas of interventions.
Sahayi also developed and published a series of learning /training materials including audio/video CDs on various topics related to Local Self Governments and distributed among various stakeholder groups.
Area of Operation of LSGs : Through out the state of Kerala
Office Locations
Head Office : Peroorkada, Trivandrum District
Central Zone Office : Karunagapally, Kollam District
North Zone Office : Kanhangad, Kasaragod
Sahayi’s Major Partners at National and International Level for Strengthening Local Self Governance Institutions in Kerala
- Sahayi has a long standing partnership with Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA), New Delhi, started in 1995 and undertook several phases of interventions for strengthening LSGIs in Kerala and promoted similar interventions in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu.
- Ministry of Rural Development, GOI, was also a supporter through PRIA for organising Pre-Election Voters Awareness campaign and strengthening Gram/Ward Sabhas.
- German Adult Education Association (DVV International), Bonn, Germany provided support for PEVAC and leadership development of Women.
- Sri Ratan Tata Trust, Mumbai provided support for strengthening women leadership in LSGIs.
- Commonwealth Foundation, U.K. supported for promoting good governance in LSGIs.
- Voluntary Action Network India (VANI), New Delhi provided support for promoting good governance.
Sahayi’s Major State Level Partners and Collaborators in LSGs Strengthening Activities
- Kerala Voluntary Agencies League (KAVAL) – A state level network of voluntary organisations in Kerala.
- Kerala Social Service Forum (KSSF) – a network of 29 Diocese Social Service Societies in Kerala.
- Kerala Region Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) – An apex decision making body of the Latin Catholic community consists of 20 lakhs of people in Kerala.
- Sneha Federation for Women Development Organisations – A federation of the women organisations and SHGs in Kasaragod.
- Association of Women Members in Governance (AWAMIGA) – A state level organisation of the women elected representatives of LSGs in Kerala.
- Kudumbashree Mission, different districts in Kerala.
- Literacy Mission, different districts in Kerala.
- Nehru Yuvak Kendra, different districts in Kerala.
- Several other CSOs/VOs and CBOs in Kerala.
Director's desk
From Director’s Desk
Sahayi started its activities nineteen years back with the vision of the realization of a self-reliant, self- sustained, peaceful and prosperous society with gender equity. Promotion of participatory development, gender equity and strengthening of Voluntary sector and Local Self Governance Institutions is our guiding mission.
Over the years, we offered a series of adult education supports to the target population including women, dalit and other marginalized people, adult educators, leaders of adult education institutions, CBOs/CSOs/NGOs, elected representatives and youth and children. The overall objective of the reporting years interventions was to enhance the, knowledge and capacity of the participants to empower themselves to engage actively in the socio-economic development including poverty reduction.
The thrust given to NREGS, RTI, promotion of adult-educators and their institutions, strengthening of local democratic bodies like Grama sabha, promotion of children Assemblies and disaster risk reduction team, entrepreneurship development and support for income generation etc produced good results. No doubt the effects will leads to some visible impact in the life of the participants and their community.
I am really proud to present before my colleagues, co travelers; partners, resource providers and well-wishers a summary of our activities, its outcome and effects.
We shall be certainly obliged for your reflection on the content of the website and its presentation.
