Browsing by Author "Shaheen Nigar"

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    An Analysis of Governmental and Non-Governmental Rural Development Programmes with Particular Focus on Rural Women in NWFP (A Case Study of Three Union Councils in District Peshawar).
    (Department of Economics, University of Peshawar. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, 2006-07) Shaheen Nigar; Supervised by Prof. Dr. Arbab Ikramullah Khan
    The aim ofthe present study was to examine the services of both government and Non-governmental organizations in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Pakistan. For this purpose Peshawar of the NWFP was taken as a sample district. Govt. organizations are working throughout the province but NGOs existence is erratic. Their sizes and functions also differ widely. For the purpose of comparison a leading NGO namely Sarhad Rural Support Program (SRSP) was selected. The SRSP has launched its activities in different sectors and is actively involved in developmental works in the area. In addition to the secondary data, primary data were also collected. A total of210 females’ respondents were purposively selected. The findings ofthe study show that the people ofthe area are availing/utilizing the services of both the organizations i.e. government and of the NGO. The government organizations are investing more in the social sector while the NGO stress is on skill development. The government, social sector facilities are for the general public irrespective of the economic status while the NGO’s focus is on the poor community. However, both are benefiting the rural masses ofthe area. In so for as the social services are concerned the study finds that various social services provided by the government, are sparsely utilized by the women due to various socio-economic reasons. These include family responsibilities, ignorance and cultural taboos. In the health sector a numberof factors were found to be responsible for its underutilization. On the one hand, the health services were not easily accessible, poorly equipped and the medicine provided were of sub-standard and on the other hand majority ofrural women were poor and they could not afford expenses. In so far as the family planning services are concerned the poor popularity of family planning services was due to ignorance, non availability of required contraceptives and the influence oflocal religious leaders who consider that family planning was against norms ofIslam. Results of study show that NGO (SRSP) programme are more popular and effective among rural women. Women community organizations (WCOs) were established by SRSP and had been successfully working in the sample area. The sample women reported that they had been guided and motivated by SRSPstaff while establishing WCOs. The WCOs introduce those developmentalactivities that directly address the needs of the people. To enhance the income of local women, trainings were imparted in tailoring, embroidery, dyeing, poultry farming, fruit processing, bee keeping and Mushroom cultivation. All these activities insignificantly increase the income of the concerned women. However, the income of the dyeing was higher than that ofthe rest of the stated trainings. These entrepreneurship training encouraged womento start small business. Two levels (Rs. 5000 to 10000 —herein after called level 1- and Rs. 18000 to 20000 herein after called level 2) of credit were provided to communities for this purpose. Thecredits were mostly utilized for the purchase oflivestock and enterprise development. The income effect of level 2 credit wasinsignificantly higher than that of level 1. Similarly the income effect of enterprises was insignificantly higher than that of livestock. The majoreffect ofthe SRSP on gender related economic activities were the contribution of women in total household income. The study showed encouragingresults regarding increase in monthly income of the sample respondents, after the intervention of SRSP. The increase in monthly income of the sample respondents resulted in an increase in spending mainly on education and, health. Financial stability made them more confidents in decision-making. The study also identified the problem of inadequate amountofcredit and lack ofmarketing facilities, the provision of such facilities will ensure rural women’s empowermentand poverty alleviation at grass rootlevel. Some complaints were also registered by the member of the WCO’sregarding the duration of trainings because it was so short especially for the illiterate respondents that they could not take full advantage ofthese courses. It was also observed that at present there is little co-ordination between Government and NGO’s.It needs to be established and strengthened through mutual consultation, regular meetings and collaborationactivities. The study recommends increased coverage, representation of ethnic groups, need oriented approach, relaxed credit packages, strengthening of co-ordination between the line departments, proper monitoring, improvement in community infrastructure etc. Beside this special attention should be given to social sector by providing them adequate funds for building and other physical facilitates, qualified and well trained teaching andhealth personnel and also these services be madeeasily accessible to the rural communities. Marginal success of NGOs working maybe taken cautiously because NGO programmes depend on financing of donor agencies. When donor agencies withdraw hands NGOs programmes are in doldrums