Relevance & Application in Support to Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Low Income States

 World Bank’s Partners and Owners have a commitment  to ensure that people and the environment are not harmed as a result of its financing  Previous Bank emphasis: “Do no harm” Now promoting: “Do good”  In our view:  Better embody Social and Environmental Considerations  reduce and manage risk  save money and time

ENVIRONMENTSOCIALENVIRONMENT- Related (LEGAL) Environmental Assessment Public Disclosure (All EA and Social Reports prepared by borrower needs to be disclosed) Natural HabitatsInvoluntary Resettlement International Waterways Forestry Indigenous People Pest ManagementDam Safety Physical Cultural ResourcesDisputed Areas

More Sustainable Assets StrongerEnvironmental, Social and Economic linkages Stronger Environmental, Social and Economic linkages

Paying attention to Safeguard Policies can avoid problems and add value ◦ Reduces unforeseen issues/ problems ◦ Improves relations with local communities ◦ Prevents delays and stoppages ◦ Prevents legal disputes ◦ Provides good publicity ◦ Allows for good corporate image ◦ Reduces financial costs (time and money)

(OP) Involuntary Resettlement : Though no land will be acquired involuntarily and hence Operational Policy (OP) not triggered, however, certain rules will prevail OP Indigenous Peoples : ‘Tribals’ in one of the four states viz., Jharkhand and hence a Tribal Development Plan (TDP) has been prepared.

 The Borrower prepares SA, SMP and SMF reports  To ensure that ◦ Project is socially sound/sustainable ◦ The development interventions contribute for accomplishing Inclusion, Equity and Cohesion ◦ Project is responsive, specially, for Poor and Vulnerable Sections – maximizing benefits, simultaneously, minimizing adverse effects and risks ◦ Decision-making based on  Appropriate analysis of actions  Likely social impacts and mitigation measures in the form of SMPs  It is ensured that World Bank safeguard policies are complied with in the project  SA helps in developing SMF and based on SMF application – individual SMPs are prepared for each scheme to influence planning, design and implementation arrangements  Borrower as well ensures consultation with stakeholders while preparation.  Disclosures and dissemination through websites / consultation workshops

 Identifying and analyzing ◦ key social issues and related factors that have a bearing on the achievement of project objectives  Based on this analysis ◦ providing suitable inputs to the design of the project to ensure sustainable and equitable flow of benefits to project populations in general, and vulnerable groups in particular

 What is Social Management Framework (SMF): ◦ SMF is the instrument that provides the necessary guidance to identify and address the potential social concerns or impacts of a project right from the planning stage to its implementation and post- implementation operations  Why SMF: The main purpose of preparing SMF is to ensure that ◦ Social safeguard principles are fully mainstreamed in project planning, implementation and monitoring; and ◦ The potential adverse impacts are adequately mitigated and potential benefits of the project are further enhanced to improve the effectiveness and sustainability of the project ◦ It details out the implementation schedule for each suggested measure along with the primary responsibility for implementation

Based on the SA, following issues have been identified  Ensuring participation  Ensuring inclusion and enhancing equity  Ensuing & enabling participation; especially of women  Decentralizing service delivery, underpinned by the principle of subsidiarity  Improving Accountability and transparency  Strengthening capacities of the States, GPs  Human and institutional development  Change management initiatives for changing the role of Government from ‘provider’ to a facilitator’; improving accountability and transparency  Effective information, education & communication (IEC) campaign  Non-existing/ non-functional VWSCs  Current practice- top-down approaches by technical bureaucracy without any scope for community participation  Convergence with line departments  Gender mainstreaming

 Current institutional structure of the SWSM does not fully subscribe to the principles of the demand driven approach  Top-down driven approach by technical bureaucracy without any scope for community participation  Centralized decision-making with little say of PRIs in decision-making. Devolution of powers to Zilla Parishad and Panchayat has not happened as desired  DWSM consultants are not placed at DWSC/DWSM level, hindering the soft component / IEC activities under the project (NRDWP & NBA)  Lack of coordination between the mechanical and civil wings at district and sub-divisional level; resulting delay in project delivery.  VWSCs/GPWSC are not formed, involvement of Panchayats remains limited in planning, implementation, operation & maintenance of the schemes  Availability of electricity and undulating terrain a concern towards establishment of planned network of rural water supply infrastructure

What needs to be done?  Ensure participation of women in planning and implementation  Selection of women representation  Women’s involvement in awareness generations  Provision for girl friendly toilets with suitable water facilities and for safe menstrual management in existing schools  Technology and site selection  Ensuring equal access to the factors of production  Building Capacity  Behavior change

 No involuntary land acquisition; all donations and purchases will be voluntary and will not involve any significant adverse impacts upon incomes or physical displacement  All voluntary land transactions to meet the following criteria: ◦ land in question to be free of squatters, encroachers or other claims of encumbrances ◦ lands to be chosen (by the community) after ensuring that water indeed will be available in that particular piece of land ◦ verification of the voluntary nature of land donations in each case; ◦ land transfers to be completed -- land title to vest in the community (GPWSC) through registered sale deed or MOU ◦ minimum economical viable stipulated size of land is 2.5 acres. After parting, land holding should be at least 2.5 acres. ◦ Lands not accepted by marginal land holders. not more than 10% of the total land holding to be accepted ◦ grievances redressal mechanism to be set-up. Examination of all land purchases by an independent agency before according the approval- DPMU to coordinate. ◦ Monitoring all Land Transactions !!

 In Jharkhand, six districts, namely, Garhwa, East Singbhum, Saraikela- Kharsawan, Khunti, Dumka and Palamau, will be covered. Four out of these six districts are tribal dominated districts. ?? Scheduled Areas  Why TDP: ◦ The tribal groups have a distinct cultural identity as compared to other groups ◦ They are socially and economically disadvantaged ◦ They have special developmental needs in terms of access to services and facilities compared to other backward groups ◦ They are perpetually excluded from the decision making ◦ Discriminatory targeting to ensure inclusion and equity critical  Hence, the TDP aims at: ‘Promotion of inclusive, equitable and sustainable water supply and sanitation delivery through fostering and empowering grassroots tribal institutions in the tribal areas’

 Coverage of areas/ habitations (not already covered under the state government’s scheme), in the Tribal Development Plan based on the selection criteria of the schemes/areas on priority -- TSP/ TDP/ SA  Mechanism to be put in place for maintenance of hand-pumps, bore- well, etc. at GP level -- Habitation Vs GP – Important.  Selection of technological options for WS and Sanitation – Power Supply, User Friendly.  Planned and focused attention for Sanitation and Hygiene promotion especially through intensive tribal friendly IEC  Orientation of the PRI on broad issues of water and sanitation – PESA?  Capacity building of VWSC, given the difficult access and low experience in governance. VWSC vs HWSC ??  Capacity building of Jalsahiya  Absence of sanitary markets near villages, creating local supplies of quality sanitary wares remains a challenge – Creation of Skilled Personnel ??

 Mainstreaming of tribal : ◦ ensuring inclusion, participation, governance, sustainability and accountability of the tribal. Conscious efforts to be made to include Primitive Tribal Group (PTG) and involve their participation in the schemes  Involvement of Women : ◦ involvement of tribal women at all levels and phases of the project. ◦ Tribal women’s representation at State Advisory /District Advisory committee, monitoring and evaluation committee, grievance redressal team etc. ◦ Minimum 50% representations of women in habitation and village level committees will to be ensured  Involvement of PRI: PESA ◦ From the selection of habitation, site, schemes, ensuring participation of tribals at each stage of the project, allocation of budget earmarked, monitoring and evaluation