PACS Program

Poorest Areas Civil Society (PACS) Program is the initiative of the UK Government’s Department for International Development (DFID), to work with civil society in India to improve the uptake of rights and entitlements by socially excluded groups. DFID has appointed the IFIRST consortium as the management consultant for the PACS program. PACS also has a National Advisory Board to oversee the project’s implementation.

Project Title

“Affirmation of Social Justice and Economic Equity of SEGs, through Non discriminatory access to livelihood, with special focus on NREGA in 06 Blocks of Janjgir Champa and Baloda Bazar District”

Project Goal

To develop dignified livelihood of SEGs thereby enhancing the social slandered and Human Rights by accessing MGNREGA and other Government schemes on non discriminatory way.

Key Achievements

151 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) have been created and supported to raise their voices.
As a result, female participation in Gram Sabhas has increased by 80% and 11654 recommendations have been proposed at block level. Of these recommendations 9982 (86%) have been accepted.
1380 people have received delayed MGNREGA payments which had been pending for more than six months.
21157 people have been supported to demand work under MGNREGA, out of which 21157 people have actually received work.
71.6% of MGNREGA beneficiaries received 100 days of work in Kalp’s intervention areas.
46 women received maternity benefits under MGNREGA.
Four day trainings on the MGNREGA Integrated Participatory Planning Exercise (IPPE) process have been facilitated at both district and block levels, attended by all the concerned MGNREGA officials.
50 villages have been supported to prepare labour budgets under MGNREGA. Out of these 7 labour budgets have so far been accepted by Gram Sabhas (Village Councils).
More than 250 women participated in a MGNREGA convention in Kasdol block. They directly interacted with district administration and MGNREGA officials, speaking out about the issues they have faced in accessing their rights under this scheme.
9720 individuals have been helped to get other benefits including ration cards, smart cards under the RSBY health insurance scheme, Disability Pensions, Widows Pensions and Old Age Pensions.
Supported to community to file 47 RTI applications to obtain various information’s.