The village Burzi Wala Moza 11/3, a poverty stricken village, situated 16 kilometers away from main tehsil city. In average 1200 of population 95% have incomes below the poverty line. Early to project intervention the target community had no concept of 3-tier social mobilization and community development. Even the acquisition of the basic comforts of life was a burden as seems no way to travel from the village to the nearest road. When the people of Moza Burzi wala realized that some of the surrounding villages had manage to lift themselves out of the rut of poverty through social cohesion and self-help initiatives themselves, they started to think about the possible solution and improvement. The target community formulated a community organization in Feb 25, 2016 consist of 25 people with inclusion of women. Further to manage the community affairs with greater effect IRSP/SABAWON organization was therefore requested for support in arranging the very basic community management capacity building training.
The community 3-tier social organization structure provided a platform with an opportunity to mainstream the most marginalized and excluded population in the community development process where they could sit together and plan to resolve their local problems. The people identified the prime problem that they faced since long the non-availability of a link road causing difficulties in market access, routine transporting and carrying luggage and agri goods. School going children were almost remaining absent across the rainy season and muddy sludge rendering them useless for a number of days and the elderly aged people even walking to the village mosque to pray was torment that few dared to undertake and thus disconnecting the village from the main city to fulfill their basic needs.
Due to adverse conditions, transport vehicles were not even willing to come to the village. Moreover, when medical emergencies arose, the people of the village carried their patients on carts or on their shoulders to the nearest metaled road.
Keeping in view the genuine need of the community and linked them with local elected representatives, joint session of the VO and elected representatives were called, from the meeting proceedings the Union Council chariman Mr.Ghulam Qasim was conditionally convinced with a share of village organization in important elements i.e. soil/clay arrangements, surface layer leveling and treatment.
Fix and firmed commitment both from community organization and elected representatives were assured and thus the work executed on 10/06/2016. The total cost of the project came to Rs. 740,000 The community contributed Rs.40, 000 of the total cost in the form of labor and capital cost, whereas the remaining amount of Rs. 700,000 was allocated by the Union Council chairman for scheme completion.
The project has now been successfully completed and the community assured full commitment for operation and maintenance on regular basis. The completion of the link road/break soling has provided a way towards development for the villagers, elder age people and the school going children shown excitement and now they feel easy while crossing by road. Easy and timely access to the market has created a new way of income generation through reduction in time loss. In addition, tractor trolleys can now travel to the village and have thus reduced the transportation cost by 20%. Land value of the area is said to have increased by 10%. Vehicles such as Pick-Ups, Motor Rickshaws, Cars and Trucks have started coming to the village. By the construction of a link road the people have moved a step forward in reducing poverty, and increasing the potential for better days in the future.
Case Study: Linkage to Success by PACD IRSP SABAWON Project Funded by European Union in Pakistan