1. What is Velugu?

Dispelling darkness with the power of knowledge and eradicate poverty from the fringes of Andhra Pradesh is what Velugu all about. Velugu (means light in Telugu) thrusts the dynamic spirit into the lives of the poor and vulnerable by providing them with employment security, food and nutrition security through universal health care and education.
Velugu Programme which is being launched in six backward districts in Andhra Pradesh carries forward the Janmabhoomi initiative to create mechanisms for the empowerment of the poor. Schedule castes, scheduled tribes and backward classes, minority communities, the poor and the disabled would fall under the shadow of Velugu.
The support extended by the World Bank through the Andhra Pradesh District Poverty Initiatives Project in these six districts is invaluable in supplementing the resources of the State Government in achieving the capacity building for implementation of Velugu at all levels and for the income generating activities, welfare activities and pro-poor infrastructure.

2. What are the responsibilities of State Project Management Unit (SPMU)?

The SPMU, headed by the State Project Director, would be responsible to the EC for project implementation. The Director would be supported by a management team based at headquarters. The core skills of the SPMU management team would include finance, training, monitoring and evaluation, community participation and communications. Other expertise would be obtained as needed through contractual arrangements and/or
partnerships with other agencies.

3. What is a Habitation?

Cluster of about 200 households in a distinct geographic area.

4. What is a Gram Sabha?

All adult residents of a village (equivalent to the general assembly of the village; some large habitations in Andhra Pradesh also have Gram Sabhas).

TOP

5. What is a Gram Panchayat:?

Elected body representing one or several villages - part of Panchayati Raj Institutions (local government).

6. What is a Block (Mandal)?

Administrative Unit below the district consisting of a group of Villages/Panchayats (in Andhra Pradesh blocks were sub-divided in to mandals but retained the administrative and local government functions of blocks).

7. What are the key functions of District Project Management Unit (DPMU)?

In each of the six districts a DPMU would be headed by a District Project Manager with responsibility for all project activities within the district, including decisions on investment proposals under the Community Investment Fund (CIF). The core skills of the DPMU would include finance, training, community development, rural engineer/sub-project appraisal and procurement. In addition, depending on need, the DPMUs would draw on other professional services either from a roster of experts to be maintained in each district and/or from the line departments of GOAP working in the district.

8. What are the key functions of Mandal Community Support Cell (MCSC) & who constitute it?

Field activities in each district would be supported by mandal cells. The key functions of the mandal cells would be community mobilization and group formation/strengthening. The core staff would include a Social Organizer (SO), who would lead the work, and a
Community Coordinator (CC). In addition, the DPMUs would engage NGOs, as necessary, integrating them in the mandal teams. Mandal cells may be constituted in different ways in different locations depending on available local resources and the scope of work. Staffing and management of the cells would either be contracted to local NGOs or to individual contract staff. The skill mix of the mandal cells would be adjusted in response to the changing needs of Common Interest Groups.

TOP

9. Who all come under Common Interest Groups (CIGs)

The CIGs would the project's key instrument for identifying priority needs at the habitation/village level. They would be groups of poor people brought together by a common interest. The project would assist with formation of new groups as well as with strengthening existing groups (e.g., thrift and credit self-help groups (SHGs)). The majority of new groups would be organized on SHG principles. The groups would be helped to develop financial stability and money management capacity through internal loaning of their own savings before becoming eligible for assistance under the Community Investment Fund (CIF) of the project.

10. Who are Community Activists, Facilitators and Para-Technicians?

An early activity in the formation of groups would be the identification of community
activists in each project habitation who would become the "founding members" of new groups. Following appropriate training, activists would work with district/mandal project staff and NGOs to help mobilize other poor members of the communities. Based on contributions from all the CIGs members, in a habitation/village and in response to increasing work load, VOs would engage a Community Facilitator (CF). The CF, following appropriate capacity building, would assist all groups with their on-going activities. His/Her other important function would be to develop close working relationship with Gram Sabhas/Panchayats in advocating the cause of the poor. An additional resource to support group activities would be the cadre of volunteer para-technicians (e.g., primary health care, teacher, veterinary service provider, para-medic etc.) to be developed under the project.

11. What is a Village Organization (VO)?

As the CIGs increase in number and gain experience, they would be federated to form self-managed VOs. These would be unregistered informal associations of between 10 and 30 CIGs and would symbolize the collective strength of the poor. VOs would be formed in response to demands from members for needs that cannot be satisfied by a few groups working alone.

12. What Constitutes a Mandal Samakhya (MS)?

Mandals with about 30 VOs would be encouraged to federate to form a MS. As with VOs, the main rationale for the formation of a MS would the demand from members for wider support than can be provided by individual VOs. The MS would: (a) deal with PRIs and mandal-level staff of government line departments; (b) enter into agreement with APSERP eventually to take over many of the functions of project staff at mandal level; (c) train CIGs and VOs with the help of project staff and outside specialists; and (d) monitor the work of VOs.

TOP