Weak field level implementation forces SSN programme perform below
Saturday, 12 July 2008
The Social Safety Net (SSN) programme undertaken by the government to ensure a steady food security for ultra-poor are still performing below because of weak field level implementation, damaging the basic goal of the programme, reports BSS.
A recent study showed that the three SSN programmes namely VGD, VGF and Food for Work (FFW) are being implemented without transparency, accountability and active participation of the concerned field institutions.
The investigation, carried out under a project on National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) with FAO support, found that Upazila Administration including UNO, the main implementing authority of the programme, does not play any active role in selecting VGD or VGF beneficiaries and selecting project under FFW.
The targeted population of VGD programme that is the poor women, in most cases, are not well aware of the objectives of the programme. They are pretty satisfied with what they get as food aid, the study found.
Food grains are usually given throughout the year but the overall socio-economic scenario of the beneficiaries remains unchanged. The beneficiaries become habituated to get free food grain and thus often become reluctant to get involved into income generating activities, the investigation revealed.
Due to the problems and corruption in distribution system, it also appeared that allocation of VGF and VGD card was not distributed justly and equitably. And, in distributing projects under FFW, the UP chairmen often gave works to the UP members having close alliance with them. In case any UP member supported different political party, he/she is unlikely to get any project under FFW programme.
Prof M Abul Kashem Mozumdar, principal investigator of the project and Chairman of Department of Public Administration of Jahangirnagar University suggested for competent elected representative at the helm of Upazila Administration to implement the gracious projects efficiently.
In view of strengthening the SSN programmes in this year's budget, Prof Mozumdar told the news agency that the government decision for democratisation of Upazila Administration with competent people should go faster.
Mr Kashem said, the VGF programme should be discontinued while there is no natural calamity or while effects of calamity get normal. The allocations for VGF programme might be effectively used otherwise by increasing the amount of relief or number of beneficiaries of different programmes like old-aged pension and widow allowance.
Referring to field level experience, he also suggested for increasing the scope of FFW programmes by reducing the extent of free food or money distribution programmes like VGD or VGF.
Kashem said, Upazila Livestock Office, Upazila Fisheries Office, Upazila Cooperative Office and Upazila Agriculture Office can be given responsibilities to arrange income-generating training to VGD women to make them pro-working.
Besides, Upazila Rural Development Office or Polli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (PDBF) can work to provide savings and loan facilities to the impoverished women, he said.
Most of the government officials admit, off the record, that corruption prevails in all the three programmes. Among three programmes, FFW is replete with most irregularities and VGD has moderate irregularities while the VGF programme is running with least irregularities.
Local people alleged that PIC does not pay due attention to the quality of project work. Rather they fuss over finishing the project task by any means.
Many government officials at Upazila level are usually tagged with different Unions to monitor various programmes and project activities. These 'tag officers' are not motivated to perform their duties, as they get no TA from the Upazila office to visit and monitor the projects in their respective unions.
Some of the remote unions can't be monitored properly as it is too troublesome and far away to visit. So, the officials often rely on the report of the local UP chairmen and members.
It seems that there is a kind of 'give and take' relations between PIO and UP Chairmen or Members. Allegations are raised by UP Women Members and some members of PIC that Project Implementation Officers (PIOs) take bribe (10%) from the PIC Chairmen for giving them project tasks under FFW programme.
The investigation found that most of the government officials who are engaged as members of Upazila VGD, VGF or Upazila Rural Infrastructure, Reconstruction and Maintenance (URIR&M) committees, are blithely unaware of their assigned responsibilities.
The meetings of the committees are not held regularly as per rules and usually, most of the issues of these three programmes are discussed only in Upazila Development Coordination Committee.
Some officials like UNO, Project Implementation Officer (PIO), Upazila Education Officer (UEO), Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO) are very busy with their official responsibilities. Thus, in many cases, they cannot perform their assigned duties, while many other officials at Upazila level remain idle due to less workload.
Prof Abul Kashem recommended for de-concentration of workload of Upazila administration from UNO and PIO to other Upazila officials and to equitably distribute duties and responsibilities of Upazila administration among different Upazila officials.
A recent study showed that the three SSN programmes namely VGD, VGF and Food for Work (FFW) are being implemented without transparency, accountability and active participation of the concerned field institutions.
The investigation, carried out under a project on National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP) with FAO support, found that Upazila Administration including UNO, the main implementing authority of the programme, does not play any active role in selecting VGD or VGF beneficiaries and selecting project under FFW.
The targeted population of VGD programme that is the poor women, in most cases, are not well aware of the objectives of the programme. They are pretty satisfied with what they get as food aid, the study found.
Food grains are usually given throughout the year but the overall socio-economic scenario of the beneficiaries remains unchanged. The beneficiaries become habituated to get free food grain and thus often become reluctant to get involved into income generating activities, the investigation revealed.
Due to the problems and corruption in distribution system, it also appeared that allocation of VGF and VGD card was not distributed justly and equitably. And, in distributing projects under FFW, the UP chairmen often gave works to the UP members having close alliance with them. In case any UP member supported different political party, he/she is unlikely to get any project under FFW programme.
Prof M Abul Kashem Mozumdar, principal investigator of the project and Chairman of Department of Public Administration of Jahangirnagar University suggested for competent elected representative at the helm of Upazila Administration to implement the gracious projects efficiently.
In view of strengthening the SSN programmes in this year's budget, Prof Mozumdar told the news agency that the government decision for democratisation of Upazila Administration with competent people should go faster.
Mr Kashem said, the VGF programme should be discontinued while there is no natural calamity or while effects of calamity get normal. The allocations for VGF programme might be effectively used otherwise by increasing the amount of relief or number of beneficiaries of different programmes like old-aged pension and widow allowance.
Referring to field level experience, he also suggested for increasing the scope of FFW programmes by reducing the extent of free food or money distribution programmes like VGD or VGF.
Kashem said, Upazila Livestock Office, Upazila Fisheries Office, Upazila Cooperative Office and Upazila Agriculture Office can be given responsibilities to arrange income-generating training to VGD women to make them pro-working.
Besides, Upazila Rural Development Office or Polli Daridro Bimochon Foundation (PDBF) can work to provide savings and loan facilities to the impoverished women, he said.
Most of the government officials admit, off the record, that corruption prevails in all the three programmes. Among three programmes, FFW is replete with most irregularities and VGD has moderate irregularities while the VGF programme is running with least irregularities.
Local people alleged that PIC does not pay due attention to the quality of project work. Rather they fuss over finishing the project task by any means.
Many government officials at Upazila level are usually tagged with different Unions to monitor various programmes and project activities. These 'tag officers' are not motivated to perform their duties, as they get no TA from the Upazila office to visit and monitor the projects in their respective unions.
Some of the remote unions can't be monitored properly as it is too troublesome and far away to visit. So, the officials often rely on the report of the local UP chairmen and members.
It seems that there is a kind of 'give and take' relations between PIO and UP Chairmen or Members. Allegations are raised by UP Women Members and some members of PIC that Project Implementation Officers (PIOs) take bribe (10%) from the PIC Chairmen for giving them project tasks under FFW programme.
The investigation found that most of the government officials who are engaged as members of Upazila VGD, VGF or Upazila Rural Infrastructure, Reconstruction and Maintenance (URIR&M) committees, are blithely unaware of their assigned responsibilities.
The meetings of the committees are not held regularly as per rules and usually, most of the issues of these three programmes are discussed only in Upazila Development Coordination Committee.
Some officials like UNO, Project Implementation Officer (PIO), Upazila Education Officer (UEO), Upazila Agriculture Officer (UAO) are very busy with their official responsibilities. Thus, in many cases, they cannot perform their assigned duties, while many other officials at Upazila level remain idle due to less workload.
Prof Abul Kashem recommended for de-concentration of workload of Upazila administration from UNO and PIO to other Upazila officials and to equitably distribute duties and responsibilities of Upazila administration among different Upazila officials.