1 CAPACITY BUILDING ON ELECTRICITY REFORMS IN BANGLADESH, INDIA AND NEPAL RAJESH KUMAR

2 Presentation Outline Context The Project –What Project intends to do –Issues Project will Not cover –Partners –Reference Groups –Activities –Outputs Major Challenges Way Forward

3 Context Low consumption of Electricity Electricity Reforms and Restructuring Regulatory Environment and Role of Consumers Poor Representation of Consumers View Need for Capacity Building (CUTS Experience)

4

5 Independent Regulation: Consumer View Support & Watch Dog REGULATOR SUPPLIERS Participation & Watchdog Regulations Policy Guidelines Functional Support Proposals Suggestions Progress Report Services Supply Protection CONSUMERS GOVERNMENT REGULATOR SUPPLIERS Participation & Watchdog Regulations Policy Guidelines Functional Support Proposals Suggestions Progress Report Services Supply Protection

6 What the project intends to do Train CSOs to participate in policy formulation and regulatory processes Develop a mechanism to take the views from grassroots to the policy level and vice-versa Promote consumers interventions on tariff, quality of service and complaint handling procedure Creation of a regional network on Electricity

7 Issues the project will not cover Individual consumer grievances except systematic issues Rural Electrification and power availability issues Subsidy or cross subsidy issues Environmental and social Issues

8 CUTS C-CIER Unnayan Shamannay Bangladesh CUTS-CRC West Bengal CUTS-CART Rajasthan SAWTEE Nepal Support &Training Advice & Guidelines Progress Report Financial Reporting Project Execution: Schematic Diagram Local CSOs and other stakeholders

9 Unnayan Shamannay Location: Dhaka (Bangladesh) Unnayan Shamannay denotes coordination of developmental activities Working for socio-economic and cultural development through a concerted grassroots approach Engaged in research, training, communication and advocacy in many areas including electricity sector Relationship with CUTS working with CUTS in projects related to trade, competition and regulation Nodal Person: Taifur Rehman

10 South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics & Environment (SAWTEE) Location: Kathmandu (Nepal) Regional network of 11 member institutions from five South Asian countries Working for capacity building of stakeholders in the context of liberalisation and globalisation Organising training workshops, monthly & bi-monthly forums, information dissemination and internship programmes on various issues including electricity Relationship with CUTS CUTS played important role in the establishment of SAWTEE. Working together since its inception Nodal Person: Dhrubesh Regmi

11 CUTS Centre for Consumer Action Research and Training (CUTS-CART) Location: Jaipur (Rajasthan), India Providing training at grassroots Coordinating various organisations/groups Member of the Advisory Committee of Rajasthan ERC Implemented the CUTS-FES project in 12 districts of Rajasthan Nodal Person: Deepak Saxena

12 CUTS Calcutta Resource Centre (CUTS-CRC) Location: Kolkata (West Bengal), India Active in the area of consumer protection Capacity Building and Networking of consumer groups Working in association with many organisations to promote social change Nodal Person: Keya Ghosh

13 Reference Group Comprising persons from various fields including former regulators, economists, lawyers, CSOs etc Functions a) Advise the Partners b) Comments on the project outcomes c) Review the progress Meetings: Phase I and Phase II

14 Project Activities Training Programme for Project Staff /Nodal Persons, etc Field Research/Base Line Survey Reference Group Meeting (I & II) Territorial Trainings Grassroots Interface Meetings (I & II) Advocacy Seminar Final Consumer Survey Regional Conference

15 Project Outputs Project progress reports Survey reports Base papers Local vernacular handouts Training manuals Event reports E-newsletter Advocacy document Communication material Newspaper articles

16 Major Challenges Activities are conducted within time limits Constitution of a sound and active PAC/RG Monitoring the project activities Govt. and regulatory bodies provide the required support

17 Way Forward Create an enabling environment for better consumer participation Sustainability of the project though regional network Replicating the Project in other parts of the region

18 Thank You