Supporting Parliamentarians on Analysis and Research in the Constituency

THE SPARC PROGRAM

About the Program

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Program Brief Key Activities

Mobilising Resources on the Ground

Research and Knowledge Support

Promoting Data Driven Governance

Strengthening PRIs and Institutional

Mechanisms

SPARC was formulated in 2016 by Tata Trusts,Constitution Club of India and Swaniti Initiative topromote data driven governance and to catalyzedevelopment at the grassroots level.

20SPARC

Associates

20Members of Parliament

Constituency Development

For a period of one year, Associates will be assignedto Parliamentarians across 20 constituencies, inorder to support them in bridging the existingdevelopmental gaps, by formulating andimplementing interventions at the ground level.

Health Water and Sanitation

Livelihood Education

Focus Sectors

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Program Timeline

Recruitment and Induction of SPARC

Associates

Constituency Placement and

Identification of key interventions

Review and Capacity Building

Assessment of Impact and Sustainability of

Interventions

Achieving Specific Project Goals and Completion of

the Program

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SPARC 2016-17The Journey So Far

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2016-17 Cohort: An Overview

45%

20%

20%

15%

Academic Background

Tech/EngineeringLaw

Arts

Development

40%

60%

Academic Qualifications

Graduate

Postgraduate

70%

30%

Gender

Male

Female

15%

35%35%

15%

Work Experience(Years)

NoneLess than 22 to 4More than 4

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Rank out of 30 districts in Odisha27th

Bolangir, with 90% rural population, isone of the worst drought affecteddistricts in Odisha.

It experienced drought in 2015-16with 27% deficit in rainfall and a croploss of more than 33% in all blocks.

• District Collector

• BDO, Deogaon

• BDO, Balangir

• Gram Panchayats

• Tata Trusts

• Contractors (JCB machines)

▪ Ponds were identified as animportant source of water. Theaim was to harvest rain water inthe ponds which can then beinstrumental in recharging theground water levels which are fastdepleting due to high dependencyon tube wells.

▪ In consultation with thePanchayat, passed a resolution inthe Gram Sabha to take up thePond De siltation project.

• To de silt 1 cubic meter of clay Rs64 had been fixed (Rs. 24 to beborne by the Gram Panchayats)

• For the remainder amount,reached out to CSR wing of TataTrusts aimed at de-siltingcommunity and farm ponds &strengthening/ promotingagriculture/ fish based livelihoods.

Project Undertaken Impact of the ProjectGap Identification

14 ponds successfully cateredwith approximately 78,000people of 13 GPs

Mobilized Rs 5 Crores of CSRFund for 300 Ponds from TataTrusts for 3Years.

Stakeholders Involved

Water and Sanitation – Pond De Siltation Project: Bolangir

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Livelihoods – Development of Animal Husbandry: Mahabubnagar

The PlanningAnd Execution

Funds Required:

Total:

Rs 135 lakhs for 5-

year project

Rs 98.6 lakhs:

From CSR funds

Stakeholders: Collector, Sub-Collector, BAIF NGO, Joint Director – Animal Husbandry (AH),

Executive Officer – District Livestock Development Agency, Corporate Donors (expected)

Mahbubnagar is drought-prone area;

High distress migration rate *

High work participation rate

(50%); More than 2/3rd of work population

involved in agriculture and allied

activities **

Why:The Gap

Local presence of BAIF, a well-reputed

NGO, which has expertise in livelihood

interventions

Solution: Approach

Undertaken

The Impact(Expected)

Focus on livestock as Telangana has 6% of India’s total livestock

population

Proposal and plan prepared keeping in

mind the local conditions,

competitors and political factors

Multiple meetings held with BAIF, Sub-Collector, AH Dept.

for Artificial Insemination (AI)

technology

After 4-5 years, the centers generate enough revenue

from farmers (as AI fees) to become sustainable

10 Cattle Breeding Centers

(using AI)

Animal Husbandry –An alternative

Alternate sources of income required

Either the calves or milk can be sold;

Farmers get benefit of farm yard manure

and increased biomass

1,000 calves to be produced by one

center in a project period of 5 years

Higher income generation for 10,000

households

Current Phase

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Education – Model Primary School: Hamirpur

• 80% of SMC membersin Anu Gram Panchayatunaware about SchoolDevelopment Plan

• Outdated Pedagogy• Limited exposure to

quality textbooks• Issue of access, quality

and equity.

Capacity Building of Teachers

Strengthening of SMCs

Capacity Building of

SMC members

Exposure to students through

books and e-learning in

Library

Volunteer from NYKS for library Mgmt. & writing

sessions

Launch of a Monthly

Magazine

4 villages under Anu Adarsh

Gram

• 60 primary schoolstudents; 500 children ofthe GP

• INR 5 lakhs assuredthrough CSR & MPLADS

• Strengthening of Govt.Institutions which wouldfurther lead tosustainable growth ineducation system.

• Exposure to qualitylearning methods andwriting skills whichwould improve overalleducation of the students.This intervention would

establish a Model GovernmentPrimary School and alongside aopen Public Library in all theschools of Anu Gram Panchayat.

Gaps Identified Approach Undertaken Proposed Impact

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Mobilizing funds through government schemes: Barrackpore

WHY HOWS

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Ab

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an

✓ Despite the relatively highliteracy rate in Barrackpore, thecondition of schools is really poorwhich could lead to potentialdrop-outs in the future

✓ Mobilized SSA scheme toaugment and repair the presentschool infrastructure

✓ Conducted extensivesecondary research in order toasses the exact status ofinfrastructure and quality ofeducation in the schools.

✓ Prepared and disseminatedknowledge products into thedistrict machinery and SMCs inorder to create awarenessabout the present status of thefunds and how could they bemobilized.

PROPOSED IMPACTN

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iGa

ng

a P

roje

ct

✓ Barrackpore, due to itshistory, is a tourist attraction

✓ The Ganga river coursesthrough the constituencyproviding opportunities forlivelihood development.

✓ Under the Namami GangaProject: Ghat developmentand beautification can becarried out thereby boostingthe tourism.

✓ Coordinated with multipledepartments as the funds forthe project have not beenmobilized

✓ Extensive stakeholdermanagement was required inorder to understand theroadblocks to fund disbursal

• 11.61 crores has been

allocated for GaruliaMunicipal Town; awaitingdispersal.

• Total available funds for thedistrict under SSA is INR 89.7crore. Initiated the utilization of

INR 1.42 crores into the

region.

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• 75% of farmers in Golaghat

have land holdings less than 2

hectares

• 62% Farmers in Golaghat sow

one paddy crop in a year

despite having ample water

for irrigation

• Last year, pests destroyed

paddy crops across the

district

• Community – students and

farmers

• Krishi Vigyan Kendra

• Mr. Sameer B, farming expert

The aim of the project is to

encourage farmers to sow two

crops in a year using micro

irrigation and plant paddy

varieties that have high demand.

This would bring down cost of

farming by using organic

fertilisers and pesticides.

Project Undertaken Impact of the ProjectGap Identification

• Funds Mobilised: Rs.

2,00,000

• Source: Crowdfunding

• Livelihood: Enable

farmers to sell the Rabi

Crop in the market and

earn upto Rs. 6,00,000

• Reduced cost of

farming from Rs. 80,000

to Rs. 50,000 for 2 hectares

Stakeholders Involved

• Farmers: 8

• Impact: 40 persons

• Student team: 5

• Farm Area: 2 hectares

Implementation

Livelihoods - Paddy Project: Kaliabor, Assam

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“SPARC is an experience that will teach you to tackle grassroot levelissues while working with government and administration in apolitically active environment” – Prince Sehgal (Godda, Jharkhand)

Hear from the Associates

“SPARC has provided me with the space and freedom toconceptualize, plan and execute development projects which have adirect impact on the community” – Sumit Sharma (Shillong, Meghalaya)

“I have enjoyed taking up different projects from education toagriculture. As an associate, I have got a chance to start a project fromscratch and work on every aspect” - Simran Rana (Kalibor, Assam)

“It has been a great experience working directly with districtadministration, corporates (CSR) and NGOs to bring large-scaleconstituency development impacting thousands of households”Harshvardhan Sharma (Mahbubnagar, Telangana)

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SPARC 2017-18The Application Process

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Recruitment Timeline

9th September: Applications Open

Task Submission for Shortlisted Candidates

Telephonic Interview for Shortlisted Candidates

In-Person Interview for Shortlisted Candidates

8th November: 2017-18 SPARC Associate Cohort Announced

6th October : Applications Close

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A unique opportunity to work closely with Parliamentarians to catalyse development

APPLY NOW

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For more details visit: www.sparc.swaniti.inContact: sparc@swaniti.in