Questions asked by project critiquer Mona Sehgal, and answers supplied by LAHRC

1. Does the Organization have an FCRA number? If yes, what is it?

Yes, we have an FRCA number 0412100053

2. Could you provide the names of the main tribal groups that will be benefiting from this project?

Gamits, Vasavas, Kokanas, Chadhuris, Kotvalias, Kathuria, Dhoadiyas.

3. Since the project is in Gujarat's Surat district I was curious whether Navsarjan helped out in any way after the communal violence in this state? If yes, could you give specific examples of what the organization undertook?

Surat has suffered very little. There was hardly any need. On the other hand, our People's Organizations have been very effective in fighting communalism. While other Tribal groups did indulge in communal violence, our area was entirely free from the communal virus.

Besides, Stanny and Gemjibhai were in Ahmedabad to collaborate with some NGOs under the name called Citizen's Initiative in Ahmedabad that were doing relief and legal works for the riot victims of Ahmedabad. We helped the victims to file police complaints properly.

4. Does LAHRC carry out projects other than that for which Asha funds are requested? If so, how does the project for which funds are requested compare with other LAHRC project?

LAHRC has submitted to ASHA a request to fund our training activities. Training had been an essential element of all our activities, for we do conduct many more activities. As we mentioned in our application, Misereor had helped us with a small amount to pay for our training activities. As more and more villages have joined our movement, the need to concentrate more on training has become imperative. Training, of course, is a means to have all the members of the PO's socially conscious, on the one hand, and to prepare them to fight their own battles, on the other. Training is a means. The goal is a self-managed, socially conscious, and alert community that takes its own rightful place in the life of the nation.

5. Regarding the staff members:

a) Is the salary of the administrative and field staff included in the budget?

No, the Misereor Project pays the salaries. They are not included in Asha's budget.

b) How much of their time (in %) will be devoting for this particular project - Director, 25 per cent - Legal Advisor, 25 % - Project Coordinator, 25 % - Admin Assistant, 25 % - Accountant, 15 % - Driver, 20 % - Office Attendant 15 %, the various Field Staff: two persons from each area 25 %.

c) What is the qualification of the administrative and field staff (i.e.,education level, previous experience, etc.)?

Director: B.A. Eco., LL. M. Experience: field experience during the last 20 years.

Legal Advisor: B.Com. LL.B. Experience Free Legal Aid in Rajpipla, Legal practice in the court. Ten years experience in LAHRC.

Project Coordinator: M.R.S (Master of Rural Studies). Field experience in the BSC, Ahmedabad running projects in South Gujarat and the Bhal of Cambay.

Administrative Assistant and Accountant: B.A., Computer Course.

Field Staff: Most of them come with school studies. We give the real training.

d) Is the staff, especially the Field Staff from the local area? Please explain/elaborate.

All of them come from the local area. Indeed, it is essential that the field staff belong to the local community. Only a local man understands the local culture, local politics, local needs and the local people. Of course, being local is not enough; she/he must be accepted in the village. That is why the appointment is made on the advice of the local people

e) How many staff members will be assigned to each People's Organization?

Four in each PO.

f) What is the resource allocation (in % of personnel and money) to each PO?

Financially the only item from this Project comes under heading of traveling and it comes to 9 per cent of the whole budget.

Personnel wise, each PO has 10 per cent of the total staff

6. How big is each Taluka (i.e., how many villages are there in each taluka )? Are all the taluks the same size or do they vary?

S. No.	Name	Total Villages	PO Villages	PO members
1.	Nizar	89	66	1,935
2.	Uchhal	68	52	2,709
3.	Songadh	177	74	4,780
4.	Vyara	149	58	3,226
5.	Mandvi	148	56	2,398
6.	Mangrol	89	14	467
7.	Umarpada	63	52	2,850
	TOTAL	783	372	18,365

7. Questions regarding training following the line items in the budget:

a) In "Education and Awareness" the first item reads: "Training for tribal culture and customs" for 15 participants.

i) Who are these participants?

Members of the POs beginning with the governing body members

ii) How are they selected?

The Governing Body Members are elected by the people and therefore they are entitled to this training. Each village selects the others.

iii) How are they expected to use the information?

An organization depends on the culture that it manages to inculcate on its members. The training our Project speaks about, proposes to give each member the culture that the POs require to unite and organize the tribal population

b) The second bullet in "Education and Awareness" is training for tribal sarpanches - 25 participants.

iv) How is the number of participants decided?

This number includes those members of the POs who have been elected Sarpanches. Again, there are some Sarpanches who support the POs - these, too, are selected.

v) How many total sarpanches are there in the 7 taluks?

The numbers are given in the following table

Ser No.	Taluka's Name	Number of sarpanches
1.	Nizar	27
2.	Uchhal	21
3.	Songadh	68
4.	Vyara	108
5.	Mandvi	82
6.	Mangrol	61
7.	Umarpada	32
	TOTAL	399

vi) What about the sarpanches from other villages in the 7 taluks who are not included in the initial list of 25 participants?

They will be included in future training programmes.

c) In "Training for Gram Sabha"

i). How many Gram Sabhas are there in the 7 taluks?

Each village has a Gram Sabha the number of villages is 783 (See previous Table).

ii) How is the number of participants (60) arrived at?

We have taken into consideration the possibilities of the trainers. We cannot take more than 60, since we have other training activities and field work.

iii) If there are other people not covered, is there are plan to include them at any point? If yes, what is the plan? If not, why not?

We plan to continue this training in subsequent years along the same line.

d) Who will participate in the annual conventions? Who will design the audio-visual shows?

All the POs are invited to the annual convention. We try to have as many of them as possible. These shows are prepared in collaboration with Gurjarvani, a professional team based in Ahmedabad

e) Who is designing the training curriculum? Has this process begun? If so, how much work has been done? What kind of materials will be used in a typical training program?

a. The design is prepared by our Surat staff (Stanny, Amrut, Gemji) in collaboration with our field staff.

b. As we (the Surat Staff) moved from village to village, we realized that people's awareness had to be heightened, their basic knowledge strengthened. In other words, there was need of education. That started the process

c. Here in Surat we give para-legal and grassroots workers training (nine month training) for the last ten years. We conduct staff training for our field staff to give them the expertise they require in their work, drafting letters and petitions, filling in application form, how to conduct a meeting and how to speak in public, tools of social analysis, how to deal with the bureaucracy, etc. Another important training programme is for village leaders where tools of social awareness and an understanding of the working of government form the backbone of the programme. Of late we have started a women's programme for women leaders in the whole of South Gujarat where we take gender issues with social analysis and the development of leadership qualities.

f) In "Leadership Training":

i) Who are the participants and how many will be going on the "Exposure trips"?

This trip is meant for the Governing Body members of each PO.

ii)What kind of organizations will they be visiting?

1. Mann Deshi Mahila Sahakari Bank Ltd. - Mhaswad, Maharashtra.

2. Institute of Rural Credit & Entrepreneurship Development Sangh - Maharashtra

3. Kashtakani Sanghatna Dahanu, Maharashtra

4. People's Vigilence for Human Rights, Varansasi, Utar Pradesh

5. LAYA, Vizag, A.P.

6. Pragati Youth Group, Poshina, Dt. S.K., Gujarat

7. Adivasi Vikas Sangh Danta, B.K., Gujarat

8. Daheda Sangh Khambat, Gujarat.

iii) Who are the 99 executive members?

There are 15 governing body members in six talukas and nine in Mangrol. So altogether it adds up to 99.

g) In "Printed Materials & Audio cassettes":

i) What is the target audience for General PO information leaflets on tribal culture, and Adivasi self-rule?

The whole Adivasi community..

ii) Has any/all of this material been developed?

One audiocassette has already been prepared with the help of Gurjarvani and two are being prepared. The educational leaflets have been prepared. We must now have them printed.

iii) Does LAHRC have previous experience in developing such material? If not, how will they ensure its applicability and effectiveness?

Our training experience has given us the required expertise. However, for the technical part of it, we rely on professional institutions like Gurjarvani.

8. Since funds (Rs. 60 lakhs) are being requested for 1 year, how will LAHRC fund these programs after this one-year period? Even if the POs have a Rs. 12 lakh reserve, it will be quite insufficient to fund costs up to Rs. 60 lakhs. Is there a plan to address this issue?

Projects are not sustainable because people do not take them up. This requires a change of attitudes, a new set of values, and expertise. To achieve this, there is need of educational inputs that are both expensive and time-consuming; but they are also time-bound. Once different values and attitudes form part of a community's culture, they are transmitted from parents to children and they are enforced by society. In other words, education by outsiders is no longer necessary. In the meantime, of course, this project will still depend on benefactors.

9. In "Other Details" it is mentioned that the "Government seeks our cooperation and helps for running their programs efficiently". If that is the case, can LAHRC request the govt. for funding as a quid pro quo or otherwise?

Getting funds from Government entails a subjection to the dictates of the Government authorities that would curtail our freedom severely. This is especially true in the field of Human Rights.

10. Lastly, what amount has MISEREOR provided so far? How long have they funded LAHRC?

MISEREOR has been helping Navsarjan since 1987. They are, so far, our only source of funds. The amount comes up to Rs.2,36,83,141,16. ( Two Crores thirty six lacs eighty three thousand one hundred forty one Rupees and sixteen paise)