Welcome to BRGF

As far as I know, Rajasthan has prepared DHDRs for three districts last year and for nine districts, they are being prepared in the current year. These are from among the 12 Districts chosen are BRGF. The DHDRs for three Districts prepared last year were prepared by Institute of Development Studies, Rajasthan, Jaipur. These were not received positively by the District Collectors of concerned districts as they felt the data reported in terms of HDI Progress was incorrect. In the current year therefore, the DHDRs for nine new districts are being prepared by district level officials and NGOs and Resource Team Member provided by UNDP-Project for District Planning to various districts. The attempt is to foster inter-sectoral convergence and team synergy effort of Local Resource Personnel, in the making of DHDR. This is expected to encourage loca ownership of data and facts reported and ensure further use of the DHDR in the District Planning Process.

Pradeep Choudhry, Jaipur

I would like to share the Rajasthan experience briefly. In Rajasthan DHDRs of four districts viz. Barmer, Dholpur, Dungarpur and Jhalawar were prepared by Institute of Development Studies, Jaipur (NGO) under a UNDP supported project. These are available on the state government website http://statistics.rajasthan.gov.in. The block indexes are not calculated in this.
The Planning Department later decided to prepare the DHDRs for nine remaining BRGF districts directly by the government officers. This was by making the Chief Planning Officer as the nodal officer and District Collector as the overall in-Charge of DHDRs.
The process started in July 2009 this year and by October end, the drafts of about six districts are ready and submitted for approval. Orientation trainings were done at Jaipur and each district was given Rs 4.00 lacs for hiring experts and specialists at local level. It is too early to comment on the quality of these reports largely prepared by the government functionaries but some general observations are as mentioned hereunder:
DHDRs are very heavy on data tables and weak on narration therefore in its present form they look like a compilation of information and not a proper DHDR. They do not have a clear story line with a flow and the data to support the narration.
The description of government programmes and schemes and the production of Physical Reports is common.
Although only secondary data from government sources there is inconsistency in data on many indicators related to health and education
Disaggregated data on social groups and block is still missing
The report has no case studies in any of the chapters
Most districts have not been able to hire any experts and specialists locally hence also not able to utilize the available funds

Dipa Mukherjee, Narasinha Dutt College, Howrah

I know that in West Bengal, District Human Development Reports are being prepared. DHDR for Maldah, Bankura, and Birbhum have been published. Department of Economics, University of Burdwan is preparing DHDR for three districts of WB - Bardhaman, Purulia, and Hooghly. Work for Bardhaman is over and that for the other two will be over before the end of the year. They have focused on preparing sub-district indices on the following areas using mostly census/NSSO/government data followed by extensive field survey to collect data –
1.Livelihood
2.Poverty
3.Education
4.Health
5.Gender & Social Disparities
6.Natural Vulnerabilities & Threats
7.Overall HDI
8.SWAT Analysis
Interested persons may contact:
1.Dr Rajarshi Majumder: meriju@rediffmail.com
2.Prof Pinaki Chakraborty: c.pinaki@gmail.com
3.Dr Pravat Kumar Kuri: pravatkumarkuri@rediffmail.com

Srinibas Pathi, Mizoram University, Aiswal

District Human Development Report is a good concept; but much care needs to be taken while preparing such reports. In India, many states have not yet prepared their own / proper HDR. In fact, like the present day's bottom to top model of planning, district reports should lead to State HDR and compilation of state reports should lead to the national HDR.Another very significant area is the very model of the HDR - now we should re-look at the very model of HDR to incorporate a number of positive aspects of our socio- economic, cultural and intellectual development ( rather than concentrating only on the predominantly negative factors)District and sub - district HDRs should take into account not only the negative factors, but also the positive factors, innovative ideas and achievements at the local level, which may be useful for other such units.Last but not least, we have seen time and again that a few interested groups / individuals make eleventh hour efforts and prepare many such HDRs. THIS MUST BE STOPPED. HDR and its details should come from as many individuals, groups and institutions as possible to make it logical and meaningful. MORE SO AT THE LOCAL LEVEL.

Dhirendra Krishna, New Delhi

I have few suggestions regarding contents of the District Human Development Report, in the context of (i) enhancing the capacity or rural population for holding Government accountable to them (ii) enable them to conduct meaningful "social audit" and (iii) enhancing capacity of the beneficiaries of development schemes to monitor the effectiveness of delivery system.
Educational initiatives for elected representatives of Panchayats should also meet the statutory obligation of the State Government under Section 26 of RTI Act 2005. Educational program to advance their understanding on exercising their rights under RTI Act are vital for holding the Government accountable, particularly regarding socio-economic development efforts for the benefit of rural population.
Panchayats are also "Public Authorities" under RTI Act and therefore Section 26(b) envisages their participation in development and organizing educational programmes for the public, particularly the disadvantageous communities.
Apart from effective dissemination of information about activities undertaken by the Panchayats, educational initiatives should also encompass informing the citizens about the programs initiated by the Government, for the benefit of rural population. This aspect is vital for holding the Government and its instrumentality's accountable to the governed, as envisaged in RTI Act.
Extensive use of educational institutions (teachers and students) should be made to find volunteers for conducting such training, apart from other sources. There should be “training-of-trainer" programmes and adequate financial incentive for such volunteers.

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