Integrated Rural Development Program

The experiences of National Productivity Organization (NPO) over the last four years have shown that productivity/management concepts and tools are undoubtedly useful for sustainable community development. Thus, NPO stands for Productivity enhancement, quality improvement and adapting innovative practices in all the major sectors of the economy. At the same time, NPO also believes that the issue of productivity has to be tackled at the grass roots level. Therefore, recognizing the importance of development at the grass-root level and considering the fact that approximately 70% of the human capital is inhabited in the rural areas of the country, the NPO – Pakistan has adopted a strategy of targeting selected rural communities to empower the local communities and promote productivity related measures. This is done under Integrated Rural Development Programs. A brief of the same is given below: NPO’s model of integrated rural development is based on empowerment of rural communities through skill development. The objective is to promote a holistic and dynamic process, through which local people will continuously improve their productivity, and consequently, the quality of their lives through efficient and sustainable utilization of internal and external resources, knowledge sharing, leveraging on each others capabilities.

Community Development and Field Survey

Rural and urban low-income communities in Pakistan live in poorly serviced settlements where lack of basic infrastructure services and poor environmental conditions result in serious impacts on health, education, security and productivity. Where public sector service delivery has failed, the rich are often able to access services privately, while the poor suffer. Over the years there have been few institutional reforms in the state’s service delivery machinery. The vast magnitude of this problem severely impedes the state’s efforts to alleviate poverty. NPO has taken a unique initiative of encouraging and facilitating resource based income generating training projects for low income people especially women in some selected villages in all the four provinces of Pakistan including Azad Jammu & Kashmir. In the first phase, NPO has selected several villages as a pilot project during 2004-05. Based on the success of this pilot project we plan to extend this facilitation to more villages every year to give greater coverage to as many villages as possible. This will not only alleviate poverty but would also help contain rural-urban migration besides economic uplift of the villages.

I. Productivity Village

The concept of Productivity Village is based on enhancing labor productivity and skill development. The idea is based on similar successful scheme implemented in other developing Asian countries. It encompasses involving the people of the community to work for their own betterment through mutual cooperation and a collaborative approach. The concept is graved towards the achievement of a number of specific and measurable outputs in the following areas: 1) Primary and Secondary School Education; 2) Technical and Vocational Education; 3) Professional and Skill Development in Agricultural farm and non-farm activities; 4) Community health and hygiene; and 5) Establishment of Women Skill Development Center (WSDC). Unlike most of the development institutions NPO aims at achieving its objectives through facilitating networks, rather than promising a regular stream of cash inflows to undertake specific activities. Such empowerment of human resources has a sustainable effect, even after the intervention discontinues, as the people are than less dependent on external funds and are more capable to innovate and devise ways to improve their earning capacities. Thus the concept of Productivity Village aims to improve literacy rate in the rural areas; imparting technical and vocational skills, in order to enable the people earn better wages and hence improve the standard of living.

II: Model village – Kuri

In order to implement the concept of Productivity Village, NPO identified “Kuri” as its model village. It has been determined that there will be only one model village and the interventions would be replicated in other villages. Kuri is located at a distance of 20km from Islamabad. This is an urban linked village and was identified with the assistance of PARC. The Federal Minister launched the model village Kuri for Industries and Production on April 04, 2003. Based on the Rapid Rural Appraisal Report, NPO has taken following steps for the empowerment of the people: 1) Technical and vocational institute was revived; 2) Computer Training Center was established; 3) Women Training Institute was established; 4) Teacher Information Exchange Dialogue was initiated between Kuri schools and Hamdard University; 5) Headmistress of the Girls Secondary School was sent on an APO program; later on, the same program was replicated at Kuri; 6) The PIMS Nursing School made health and hygiene tours; 7) Women products were placed in major exhibitions in the city to provide market access to the women entrepreneurs; and 8) Village Committee was formed for promoting self-help and resolving problems of the villagers.

III: Jamal Din Wali (District Rahim Yar Khan)

Rural Communities depict a blend of diverse features based on the geographical location, culture, demographics, language, climate, infrastructure facilities, and proximity to urban centers. Thus NPO’s activities for productivity enhancement in rural communities are reframed according to the needs of the community. The Jamal Din Wali village was visited in October 2004 and a proposal has been drawn on the information obtained during the visit. NPO has decided to arrange training of youth as well as render consultancy services for the development of women entrepreneurs to improve their products i.e. designing, coloring, etc through skill development, proper marketability of their products, easy provision of financial facility and their enterprise development. Similarly Up-gradation of village schools to incorporate productivity culture was focused. Furthermore, in order to make all programs sustainable in the future, it is important to develop the community as a whole to instill the concept of Self-help amongst the people.

IV: Workshop in Village Ghulam Hyder Bhutto, Taluka Sakrand, Dist.Nawabshah, Sindh

As part of NPO’s initiatives regarding Integrated Rural Development, One Day Workshop on “Improving Agricultural Productivity” was organized on June 16, 2005 in collaboration with Shah Latif Welfare Association, Village Ghulam Hyder Bhutto, Taluka Sakrand, Dist. Nawab Shah. The farmers took keen interest in the proceedings and discussions were also held and presentations along with their recommendations were also made. The representatives of the farmers appreciated the role of NPO in organizing this workshop and requested for the continuation of such activities in future on regular basis.

Women Entrepreneurship Development System (WEDS)

Women Entrepreneurship Development System (WEDS)

Background:

Today in this competitive world, women entrepreneurship (WE) and women empowerment plays significant role in the socio-economic development of all under developed countries like Pakistan. Women represent around 48% of Pakistan total population, while female employment participation is only 19-20%. As per Labour force survey of Pakistan 2005-06, contribution of female labour is around 13.4% in Agriculture and only 6% are engaged in non-agriculture sector (formal: 2% and informal: 4%). This shows a significant potential for women empowerment and engagement in various sectors; such as light manufacturing i.e. garments (kids and ladies wear), leather products (traditional garments, shoes, etc.), home textiles, services, etc.

WEDS- Multan Chapter:

National Productivity Organization (NPO) has developed Women Entrepreneurship Development System (WEDS) to improve competitiveness of the enterprising women who want to move from home-based business to a fuller commercial venture and start their own businesses. We have successfully established a pilot WEDS in Multan housing around 10 women entrepreneurs. The pressing increase in demand for a bigger centre in Multan to house more entrepreneurs by other women in the vicinity depicts success of this initiative. Purpose of this initiative is to facilitate women entrepreneurs (WEs) specially from rural areas; as a first step for southern Punjab by creating an exclusive female oriented environment where WEs are offered Furnished Offices, Exhibition/Display facility and Business Development Services (including training programs, marketing and designing); all under one roof through Public Private Partnership

Future Plan:

Keeping in view the need, our next plan is to setup WEDS Headquarter at Lahore with regional WEDS in Southern Punjab at Multan for Rajanpur and Muzaffargarh. In this way products and entrepreneurs from rural areas may set up their business and market their products without middle man and get maximum financial benefits.

Components of the Proposed System

In order to meet the need it is imperative to train women on latest generation equipment with a vocation to serve future oriented demands. WEDS will be a gender focused and gender friendly organization with gender specific staff policies and organizational planning. However, services of WEDS will include

Executive Style Furnished offices

WEDS will offer business services to the women seeking affordable office space to house their business. Space for 25 top class, furnished, air conditioned offices will be available in WEDS in various sizes, equipped with phone, internet connectivity, and much more, at a nominal monthly rent presenting WEs a professional, safe and secure environment to grow.

Display Centre

WEDS will offer women entrepreneurs to display their products for certain time period in Display Centred. Facility of this hall can be availed by WEs for one month on nominal rates. WEDS Display Centre Coordinator will provide information about the ongoing or coming exhibitions in the city or elsewhere. Guidance regarding product quality, price, proper tagging, market analysis etc. will also be provided.

Counseling and Business development services

One-to-one counselling sessions with experienced business consultants will be organized to address requirements of WEs. These sessions cover topics ranging from start-up/financial assistance to export and other issues regarding their business.

Training Centre

WEDS will organize programs including workshops, seminars and trainings for guidance and capacity building for WE’s on business related topics from scratch to advanced level. In order to appraise our WEs with events going on in the business world, seminars on different business issues will be conducted at the centre. Through these seminars, WEs will receive guidance and support poised to direct them towards the right technique of conducting their business activities.

Micro Finance facility to WEs

Additional facilities Meeting Room Training Room ICT Facility (Fax, Photocopier, Computer, Wireless Internet) Newspaper & Magazines Cafeteria Janitorial Staff Reception Secure & Peaceful Environment

Results Expected

Overcome the deficiency of skilled WEs in Southern Punjab. Provide higher quality & competitiveness of companies in their geographic area Introduce an innovative model of a self-financing, agile and effective centre of excellence in permanent contact with the regional companies Introduce quality in rendering technical services to the small & medium enterprise Provide higher presence of modern equipment in the Women Entrepreneurship system (WEDS).

Capacity Building training Programs for Teachers

As one of the mandates of Asian Productivity Organization, the Social Sector Department of NPO has initially adopted a strategy to train the teachers with the purpose of knowledge sharing and capacity building of education sector under its Training of Teachers (TOT) program. This Capacity Building Training Program was launched for the education sector of less privileged / rural areas initially in Punjab & NWFP in coordination with District Governments, Private Education Associations/ Institutions and NGOs. NPO Pakistan organized more than 30 training sessions in various districts of Punjab and NWFP like Sargodha, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Lahore, Mandi Bahauddin, Mansehra, Bannu, Swat, Tamer Gara, Haripur etc. with a total participation of more than 1200 teachers both male and female. During the last 30 programs, 20 were held in government sector and so far teachers from more than 120 schools have participated in these training sessions.