AGENCY FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT ACTION (ARDA)

Meaning of terms

For effective operation, faster development and to give a sense of ownership to people in the development process, I-CARD organizes its target areas into ARDA (Agency for Rural development Action). This ensures a people’s movement towards development. They empower Mising villages and increase their bargaining power with government and other agencies. ARDA is the Self Help Group Cluster in I-CARD’s terms.

The Mising word ARDA means ‘proactive’, ‘fast’, and ‘looking for solutions even before others do.’  

The new Takars, with the help of I-CARD staff, during their six-months ‘probation’ period select  four 10 village circles as per greatest need, and interact with the people. During their stay they develop friendship with the village people, create awareness about social problems and about development issues and finally start Self Help Groups and Young Misings groups.

In the four 10 village cirlces, four ARDA committees are formed with 12 members each. These com mittees are divided into nine subcommittees or departments, with members in each of the ten villages. 

Criteria for Selection of Members

I-CARD looks for influential leaders who have:

  1. Influence and acceptability in the area and among his people.
  2. Right capabilities.
  3. Willingness to work with and support I-CARD without controlling it.
  4. Political Maturity.
  5. Free time to work for the community.
  6. Willingness to volunteer time and energy for the community.

Selection of ARDA members

A primary public meeting is called together where all  details about  ARDA are once again explained. Those who are willing to be members are selected by the people themselves. The president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer and department heads are selected from the group.  

ARDA Departments 

  1. Women and Self Help Groups
  2. Culture and language
  3. Youth
  4. Education
  5. Health Care
  6. Hygiene
  7. Agriculture
  8. Livestock management
  9. Weaving

The president, secretary and the treasurer do not accept charge of any department, but will organize, monitor and evaluate the functioning of the others. 

Each department will have a subcommittee of ten members each with representatives from each of the ten villages. 

There will be ‘Young Misings’ groups in all the ten villages under each ARDA circle.

The subcommittee members, together with the Young Misings execute ARDA plans in each village.

Thus youth will be fruitfully engaged, and kept away from anti-social activities.  

Role of ARDA

A multi-level operation system has been thought of for the work of ARDA.

  • Envisioning — I-CARD will assist every ARDA to open its eyes wider and look at reality from a distance. They will be taught concepts of development and rural transformation and how to look at the larger picture. They will be enabled to look at real and total development through initiatives with larger impact rather than small spoon-feeding activities. 
  • Feed back — ARDA will give feed back to I-CARD regarding the actual round needs, regarding the different departments. It will provide I-CARD with all necessary information regarding the area. It will undertake base-line surveys.
  • Planning — With the help of I-CARD,  ARDA will make time-bound and sector-wise planning, including trainings and other inputs. However, it will keep in mind feasibility and capabilities of I-CARD. The plans and proposals are submitted to I-CARD through field manager.
  • Support — I-CARD will prepare project proposals and find funds as per need. I-CARD will see more to creating support systems and providing trainings.
  • Implementation — ARDA will implement projects without over dependance on I-CARD. I-CARD will assist in the implementation. ARDA will be informed of all available projects, and will be asked to implement.
  • Monitoring — The president, vice-president, secretary and assistant secretary of the ARDA will monitor all tasks. As the funds are received through I-CARD, and because the development of the rural sector is the prime concern of I-CARD, the latter will also monitor the implementation together with and independently of ARDA leaders.
  • Evaluation — After completion, I-CARD and ARDA will together evaluate the project. Both will take care to correct the flaws in future projects, and to register all successes. Success stories will be given publicity in the media of I-CARD, and other media. In case of any problem, corrupt or inefficient sector leaders of ARDA will be called to task or to resign for the betterment of society.

Two other important roles of ARDA are:

Contacting Government Agencies.

The ARDA sector leaders will contact the concerned government officials and seek their assistance in projects and training programmes. A list of such officials and their possible contributions, will be prepared by I-CARD field manager. ARDA will further, on its own, seek government funds wherever possible. 

Training of Youth

ARDA, with the help of I-CARD youth director, will take care to train all the youth groups of the circle in all the aspects of development, besides giving them awareness about planning, project proposals, implementation, monitoring and evaluation.  

Coordination

I-CARD field manager is responsible for ARDA activities.  He/she will coordinate, monitor, keep informed all ARDA committees. He/she will submit periodic reports to I-CARD. He/she will also maintain a consolidated account of all financial transactions of each ARDA. The field manager will be assisted by the field coordinators and youth director. 

Impact 

  1. With the formation of ARDA and with the implementation of projects, I-CARD’s movement from the city office to the rural areas will be complete. Action will take place in the field as envisioned by I-CARD. 
  2. The number of volunteers in the ranks of I-CARD will increase manifold. Besides about 15 members of ARDA, there will be about 45 volunteers supporting each sector of activity, and a further number of 300 youth group members in every ARDA circle of ten villages.
  3. Village people will be totally involved in the development process, and they will be fully empowered to take responsibility even in the absence of I-CARD.
  4. In addition, they will own up and plan their own development.
  5. Men and women will come forward equally to take part in all activities.
  6. Local resources will be tapped to the full, and total development, including the socio-cultural aspects, will be paid attention to.
  7. Government machinery and funds will move to villages.
  8. Village people will be aware of the latest learnings and strategies.
  9. I-CARD will initiate a people’s movement.
  10. 10.There will be a sharing of resources from one ARDA to another.
  11. There will be a competetive spirit among ARDAs for faster development.

Funds/Agencies

It is the intention of I-CARD to assign different ARDA circles to different funding agencies, whether government or private. Therefore, a comprehensive project, including all aspects of development, as suggested by each ARDA, will be prepared by the field manager and submitted to willing agencies.  

Futrure Plans

As and when an ARDA is grown to maturity, it is hoped that each of them can be helped to become an independent NGO. I-CARD will then process the documents and assist in getting the organization registered as either a charitable trust or a society. 

All ARDAs should have their own Bank accounts. 

“You don’t need to be a monkey to climb a tree”, Fr. K.A. Thomas, sdb.

“You may be one of the pilots of a twin boat, but you have to steer your own boat” Fr. K.A. Thomas, sdb