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Organizational expansion of
MAHITI has become inevitable with scale-up of
activities. It has to refine its competencies, human
resource base and amenities while addressing wide
range of stakeholders. At the same time it has to
catch up with changing socio-economic and political
scenario of the region. The strategic planning related
to issues, interventions, organizational competencies,
human resources, infrastructure and public
relationship was thoroughly discussed in this context.
The sole aim of this planning is to build a stronger
MAHITI with fresh image and position to influence
multiple stakeholders in pursuit of larger goals
discussed earlier. Brief of the processes is mentioned
herein.
Key aspects of strategic plan process:
It was discussed in strategic review that MAHITI
should retrospect its interventions and redefine its
strategies. Hence through introspection carried out by
teams to assess the program approach and incorporate
changes for next 5 years. Some of the proposed
strategic interventions are broadly listed below.
Program activity aspects:
1. Creating Community based information system
2. Planning and implementation of natural resource
development based activities–
wasteland development, watershed development, mangroves
regeneration and
restoration.
3. Livelihoods – Identifying livelihood opportunities
based on local resources, skills
and external markets and evolve commercially viable income
generation programs.
4. Facilitation of Micro finance Intermediary (MFIs)
at district level that help access
external resources and manage efficiently.
5. Introduction of community health services to reach
remote and neglected
communities and improve the reproductive and general health status
of women and
children.
6. Establish and promote Social Justice Group to
ensure social justice and rights of
vulnerable and dalit communities in the entire region on continuous
basis.
7. Focus on girl child education to improve upon
future generations ability to fight
gender discrimination and improve opportunities for gender
equality.
Institutional Development Aspect:
With the broad based expansion plan MAHITI felt the
need to strengthen its institutional competencies and
strengthen teams and various committees to respond to
changes. Various processes need to be introduced to
prepare for this change. Some of the processes
suggested:
Initiating organisational development process which
will focus on
a) Strengthening existing and emerging leadership -
i.e. building long-term vision of
the organisation, planning strategic interventions and
focusing on processes to
link changing environment,
b) Setting up internal system of self-learning – i.e.
review, reflection and planning
processes.
c) Improve competencies to link programs and community
processes.
Understanding Context:
While carrying out the strategic plan exercise it was
found necessary to understand the context in which
organisaiton is operational. A workshop was conducted
with following objectives:
Get introduced to the prevalent organisational
climate,
Assess the status of on going programme activities,
Understand felt needs of the community and member
organisations
Articulate expectation and external support
This was followed by teams efforts in redefining -
Collective VISION and MISSION of MAHITI.
Redefining intervention strategies and need for
external support.
Organisational Development:
MAHITI tem through a group exercise visulalised its
context and development process. Each member was asked
to define the organisation through a drawing. The
members expressed their thoughts by varied images such
as– banyan tree, cow, house, and nature drawing mother
and father, woodcutter, a mango tree to define the
organisation. Later the drawings were interpreted and
debated for clarity and collective perception.
This was followed by the exercise of self-diagnostic
aimed at understanding the present status of the
organisation. The SWOT analysis carried out by the
members of MAHITI is documented. The teams were asked
to define three strengths of the organisation as
perceived by them. The resultant discussions are
summarized as under.
Strengths:
1. Community based Organisations:
We became aware of our strength for the first time
when the local people
collectively raised the issue of drinking water.
Huge gathering of women in different public meetings
are a sign of our strength in
community mobilization.
Local people have successfully raised and resolved
the issues related to drinking
water, health and afforestation.
CBOs in the region are a great source of strength
for local people. They help them
protect against exploitation by the upper caste and landlords.
CBOs are source of empowerment for women.
2. Preparedness of Team to work:
Team members are willing and prepared to work in any
difficult circumstances.
Since the staff members are local they have good
working relationship with
people.
The gap between the team willingness to work and
capacity needs to be bridged.
3. Characteristic of the Organisation:
Mahiti operating from its office at Dholera is a
typical characteristic
representation.
The Government, donor agencies and other NGOs are
aware of MAHITI’s strong
foothold as grassroots organization taking up regional inequalities
and issues.
MAHITI is perceived as true representation for women
of Bhal.
Opportunities:
Large number of CBOs willing to take up any
challenge.
Possibilities of working through local issues.
Sound CBOs provide opportunity to initiate income
generation programs.
Possibilities of Kalpsar – a freshwater lake project
of Government could bring
hopes and could also be disastrous.
The activities with the women groups showing
positive and encouraging results.
This gives hope for the future.
Technological innovations could bring hope to
convert large tracks of saline
wastelands into productive assets.
Possibilities of working on setting up effective
public distribution system
addressing essential commodities for poor.
Broad based experience is an opportunity to work on
the issues of drinking water -
access and awareness, education and health.
MAHITI could work with large population of Dalits
and Kolis and that would become
its strength in future to influence policies.
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