Effect of Poverty Alleviation Fund on women: A case study of Dhangadhi VDC, Siraha

Abstract

Total population of Nepal is 23151423 in 2001 and female constitute 50.05 percent of the total. The status of women in nutritionally, economically, socially, educationally interior than to men and maternal mortality rate is very high. Women as a group are generally poor, powerless and disadvantaged due to deep rooted patriarchal values low level of literacy and awareness women in Nepal are held in low esteem Women in Nepal work for longer hours than men, have lower opportunity for gainful employment, and possess limited property rights. As in most of the world, women in Nepal precariously juggle themselves among the three principal work regimes, reproduction, house-holding, and income generation. The low life expectancy of 55 reflects the daily burden placed on these women. This is one of the few countries where the woman's life expectancy is lower than that of men. Poverty alleviation has been the priority of the government in the last decade and in the latter part of it the women are the focus of poverty alleviation programmes at the grassroots level. Rural women are made the primary group for micro-credit programmes and saving-credit activities. The tenth five years plan (2003-2008) adopted by Government of Nepal has identified poverty alleviation as its overall objective. Hence, poverty reduction strategy has been regarded as the main basis of the Tenth plan. The four major pillars of the plan, which is also known as poverty Reduction Strategy paper (PRSP), include: broad-based and sustainable economic development, social development, targeted programmes and good governance. The social mobilization process has been taken as one of the key program components of PAF. The objectives of the social mobilizations is to create awareness among the community (poor women, alit and janajatis) ,help them to organize and empower them for decision making so that they can identify and priorities their needs. It is also expected to build up capacity for preparation, implementation, operation and management of community sub-projects to enhance their live hood.

PAF has been providing sustainable source of capital to target groups in order to launch and operate various economic activities as per their interest and capacity. The capital is provide as a grant to the Community Organizations(COs) from which the community Revolving Fund (RF) is create in order to cater to the capital requirement to launch and expand various economic activities to the target groups. PAF directly support its target communities with ensured inclusion and increased access by supporting their demand based community infrastructure and income generating subprojects to improve live hood. While doing so, it also adopting participatory regular

monitoring system.

PAF has adopted a demand led community-based approach for poverty alleviation.

PAF envisions the creation of an inclusive society by addressing the plight of the marginalized and excluded communities. PAF has developed direct-funding mechanism

to community for effective implementation of the sub-projects proposed by the community.

Community cost sharing/community contribution is mandatory for sustainability and

ownership building of the sub projects. Furthermore, a minimum of 20% community

contribution for infrastructure sub projects and 10% for income generating sub projects is

needed.

PAF envisages developing the Community Organizations (CO) as an established

institution in the long run. PAF believes in transparency in technical and financial process

of the sub projects.

The reason behind greater extent of poverty among women is the pervasive disparity

between women and men in all aspects of development indicators. Women have less

access to education, health services, credit facilities and productive employment

opportunities. Similarly, women have limited access to economic resources. The absolute

number of poor has increased in the rural areas.

By offering education and skilled training we hope to encourage the development of selfsupportive, independent, decision-making women. Perhaps with knowledge, skills and confidence in them, these women will be able to bring about real change in the way

women are viewed and treated in this society.

The primary sources of data are collected by the respondents through interview schedule.

The questionnaire covered the social-cultural and socio-economic status of the households such as origion, landholding, profession, decision making systems of the

households and so on. These information were taken to discuss with the head of the

family either women or men, whoever was available. Participatory observation is one of the most important methods of sociological study. This is essential especially for getting right information and understanding the social, natural process of the people of a particular setting from the people's own point of view. Focus group discussions with the representatives of schoolteachers, political parties, and aged members of the community were held for several times to get more information related with the study.

Dhangadhi VDC lies in the middle part of the Siraha-district and touches with East-West Mahendra Highway.

Land holding capacity of the community people has been increased satisfactorily after the impose of Poverty Alleviation Fund program. Most of the poor families are able to able to hold 1 Bigah of land. It has been found that food sufficiency level of the community has been increased. People with food sufficiency from 9 to 1 year are more (35%) compared to sufficiency less than 9 month. It is found that involvement of community in agriculture and business has been increased to 55% and 35% respectively. It shows that intervention of PAF program has encouraged them in different micro-enterprise development. After the intervention of PAF program, the income level of the poor people has been increased. They are engaged in agriculture and non-agriculture based micro-enterprise activities. After the intervention of program, the awareness level of the people has been found to be increased. But in some of the index as aware on male domination and social evils, awareness level is less. The women community who were shy in speaking to people of community is able to give speech in the community gathering. They are able to table their demands, problems in the mass meetings. They are aware that monthly saving of money can upgrade their life. They are more sensitive on health and hygiene condition. Regular cleaning campaign is being held under the leadership of women of the community.