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The Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) of the Government of UP (GoUP) is implementing an innovative project on raising platforms of hand pumps in flood affected and waterlogged areas. The project is spread in 21 districts of the Terai and Eastern regions of the state across more than 2500 villages. The innovation (as referred to hereinafter) has gained prominence because of its pragmatic demand on the ground, something which is modelled around few non-state initiatives in district Bahraich and few other places during the period of 2007-10. There are instances from across the underdeveloped world to have experimented with spot-drinking water sources, innovating with design and technology and attempt improvement in quantitative service aspects. In India, there is no recorded evidence of government entities making such endeavour.
This means, experiments undertaken by various non-state, bi- & multilateral entities have had scope limited to few project settlements. With the state Government taking up an innovation of this nature, makes it a case for viable scalability and impact driven.
The CMO sought support of Water Aid in conducting an analytical outcome documentation of the innovation. Given professional background and requisite experience to carry out such an assignment, Water Aid considered PROACT to take up the mandate to honour the CMO request. A joint team of professionals from Water Aid and PROACT coordinated with the Special Secretary to the Chief Minister for initial conversation, conceive a contour of the assignment and set in a process forward. The scope of work for the assignment was evolved keeping in view various dimensions suggested by the CMO. A critical criteria agreed between the parties was to assign sovereign and independent space for research and investigation of the facts with state entities as well as those at the end of the subject communities.
Indicated in the adjacent diagram an institutional set up was determined for taking up the mandate.
All at a glance
The flood context : Life in villages
Life in the villages during the floods can not be imagined alone by a narration or by few images. The extent of trauma and crisis is so acute that the core issue of drinking water, and host of issues that concern health of women, children, senior citizens, rather for the whole community under crisis, goes almost invisible from the public eye view. The larger issues of course take the front seat, minimally albeit. State responses generally reduce to cosmetic redressal counting in few days - - long term solutions are often not considered all along the year. Post-flood villages conditions turn extremely unhygienic and hence embeds all range of health vulnerability.
 
With floods
 
Without floods
[ Village: Lahalada, Dist.: Barabanki, Census code: 164438 (UP 2011), Geo-coordinate: N 27 05 12, E 81 27 09 ]
     
Drinking water supply/ hand pumps during the floods
Hand pumps, the sole source of drinking water in rural Uttar Pradesh get inundated, and therefore, turn defunct to deliver potable water. However, absence of alternatives force the flood affected communities draw water from the same sources. Disaster response initiatives have started supplying packaged water in recent times – which quantifiably stand very meagre against the demands. More importantly such facilities fail to reach most of the flood affected families. People in distress consume the water from the same contaminated sources surrounded with filthy conditions.
 
Hand pumps in flood context
     
Planning & designing the innovation
Planning and designing the innovation travelled through a rather elaborate roadmap. Considering that the innovation closely embedded communities’ perspective on the facilities being upgraded, the process turned slow and complex. The processes seemed complex to accommodate the communities’ unique and sometimes rather divergent priorities. The first step; therefore, was important : to conduct mapping of problem-spots and access the communities understanding on extent of crisis at different locations. Notional maps were evolved and implementing agents drew local intelligence along their decision making. It was important to adopt a standardised approach to guarantee quality and meet basic technical demands. A pictorial manual was circulated to all implementing agents at the district, block and village levels. Designing the upgraded facility to meet user’s convenience was another prerequisite. The local implementing agencies and masons were oriented to technical specifications around raising of h/p platforms. The implementation guided through careful commissioning and construction of the upgradtion and close tracking was ensured with whatsapp-based daily progress appraisal by sending latest images of the construction stage of each h/p. The Chief Minister’s Office engaged in this rare yet humungous task of tracking and almost daily approval to each h/ps’ progress on construction and commissioning.
 
Planning & manual
Designing
 
Under construction
Works done
     
The result - a bird’s eye view
The result of the innovation looked gratifying! The innovation stood scrutiny to real-time validation conducted by third-party agencies. The Chief Minister’s Office was objective enough to conduct and aerial assessment during the floods in 2016 and supported the real-time validation exercise.
 
Impact

Methodology & tools



This section unpacks the modalities considered for conduct of the assignment and tools to administer the methodology adopted. The hypothesis of the study was backed with sound sense of learnings that were likely to emerge from the assignment – also from various similar interventions in other areas, within and beyond India – extracted from various literature/ documents and experiences available in public domain, mainly internet. However, all such details don’t grab space in this website. The approach to the assignment was; despite the crux of the data being narrative and coming through specific range of conversations at the community level and discussions with line functionaries and apex officials at the district level; individual-based community testimonies generated quantified findings and uncluttered trends. Such individual responders were identified based on a stratified sampling template (1 & 2 - mentioned below). Such tools rendered an authentic sense of measurement of the views generated from the community.

The following diagram broadly depicts an amalgamation of issues and methods leading to specific outputs/ ingredients to various different deliverables that the assignment perceives, eventually the final analytical report.

The pretext of the above, only defines responder-specific sets of queries on a spread of pertinent issues. Following, template 1 & 2 (appendix 1 & 2) provides a view on questioning that could be considered by the study team. Also appendix – 3 suggests a profile of the individuals/ community members considered for generating a testimony. Each of these (profiles) would be provided an access through the web-portal for validation and addition/ deletion of certain information as deemed correct. Finally, appendix – 4 of the document is brief technical document for the ICT-based methodology being adopted; for the web-platform.


Framework of questioning : Template- 1

Key responder Issues
Planning Nodal role Financials Technical designing Monitoring & quality control Training & HR (Inst.) Role of panchayats Conduct of implementation
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Gram pradhan ·Participation,
·Key inputs,
·Institutionalization, minute of proceedings etc.
·Ref. to gram nidhi a/c & roop patra 7;
·Community contribution/ accounting
·  ·Roles assigned or not?
·Other observations
·Topics & participation;
·Perspective on training local youth/ women
·Same as 1,
·Convergence with MGNREGS or any such program
Mechanic and mason ·Observation & alternatives, if any ·Observations ·Detail status (experienced or newly trained/ trained for the innovation etc.) ·Followed technical specifications or not?
·What could have been the best way, if any?
Work in-charge/ GP Secretary/ VDO ·Awareness on planning aspects & on the intervention? ·Who & what exact roles designated? ·Roles and suggestions, if any ·Trained for the innovation; if yes, in what?
·Suggestions
·What are institutional roles emerge from the innovation; status on compliance ·Sequence of activities; gaps/ suggestions, if any
ADPRO/ RD/ UPJN (AE/ JE) ·Status of planning & conclusive observations ·Specific line dept. role;
·Suggestion on alternatives, if any
·Institutional documentation; procedures thereof;
·Suggestions
·Observations on tech. design, alternatives/ possible improvements ·Any defined role _ who & how;
·Observations & suggestions
·Status;
·Any need for user level CB & mobilization
·As above ·As above
BDO & DPRO & Ex. Eng. UPJN ·Centrality of planning? Key considerations; documentation thereof?
·Letters/ orders guidelines issued
·Guidelines issued;
·Observation on role performance; alternatives with justification;
·Previous experience on similar issues;
·Other issues/ community-crises, which could be potentially responded? How in such cases these concerned issues be dealt.
·As above ·Trail of activities; justifications;
·Letters/ orders issued
District magistrate/ CDO ·All the above
·Planning strengths & limitations;
·External assistance sought/ perceived?
·As above ·As above;
·Progress appraisal;
·Other such problems


Perceived framework of questioning : Template - 2

Key responder Key questions
1. Details & dynamics of use (Capture time dimensions qualitatively) 2. Participation & cooperation to the innovation 3. Observation on sequence of work 4. Positives & further demand, if any 5. Negatives, if any; & why?
Now Earlier In flood situation Planning & site selection Contributing to the work Repair & maintenance
Women users                  
Men users                  
Users from distance < 500 mts.                  
Users from most immediate proximity                  
Non-users from immediate proximity                  
Others - 1                  
Others - 2                  

All preparatory activities have been attained to administer a primary study as part of the assignment – secondary study is underway.

Plotting the study area

As mentioned earlier, plotting of the field data on a dynamic map has not yet been performed (in absence of the data). The data has been sought in the following template; we perceive, not in a ready shape and the CMO is taking time in seeking the data on a compliant format. PROACT has sought the data in soft (MS Excel) format and with codes of the revenue villages.

Sl. District & block Gram panchayat Rev. village (Rev. code) Total no. of hand pumps (in the village)   Status (in nos. of hand pumps)
Completed Work underway Work yet to start
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Primary study
Preparations for the primary study have been accomplished. Logistics connected with the field study would need to be worked out with Water Aid and teams seek to be assigned with a plan duly informed to the CMO and the districts offices.
Sample – Field component of the study has been perceived considering an adequate coverage of 10-15 GPs within the project area and some 5-8 villages from the control area. The component of community testimony would be sampled for around 100 responders. Data pertaining to this component of the study would flow into the database thereby reporting on the website filter-based findings of the study.
Stratification : Table – 2 // Sample sizes have been worked out as the following with the perceived dimensions for normal days as well as for during the flood days.

Stratification : Table - 1

Districts Blocks(Nos.) GPs/ rev. villages(nos.) Responders(nos.)
Barabanki 1 2 - 3 15 - 20
Bahraich 1 2 - 3 15 - 20
Basti 1 2 - 3 15 - 20
Lakhimpur 1 2 - 3 15 - 20
Pilibhit 1 2 - 3 15 - 20
Types of responders Sample size (Normal conditions) Perceived dimension/justification During the flood (reconstructed)
Women users 60 Women are the most prominent users of hand pumps and expected to appreciate the innovation the most. Age stratification to be applied Access and remoteness to water sources are critical issues. Men’s role crop up in these days.
Women users of control area [1] 10 _ Seek an assessment on access to a safe DWS facility in flood conditions; how urgent & significant the need could be.
Men users/ project & control areas 10+5 Views on whether or not the facility is going to ease their access to DWS in the upcoming floods. How could such be an effective facility even during the normal days? Occasional users yet big in opinion, men tend to be more uninhibited & articulate responders. Considering specific problems during the floods, the responders would be requested to share their opinion about the facility.
Remote users : Residing at some distance from the hand pump (say, approx. 300-500 mts.) 5 Is the innovation worth access in normal days? It is perceived that such a scenario would bring connotation of disparity in social identities of the user groups, those remote & the immediate ones. Is the innovation worth access in flood days? Does it implicate social equations with the immediate user community?
Users from the most immediate proximity of the raised hand pump 2 Would the innovation result in accessing the facility with more difficulty in normal days (in climbing the height it is given)? An advantage; the facility could be more crowded in flood conditions – enabling access to even those with whom sharing the facility is not that comfortable.
Non-users from immediate proximity 3 Have alternative/ private source. The innovation/ improved facility is of no concern. Would draw crowd to this solitary source in flood days, would pose hygiene & cleanliness adversities.
Others – 1 _ Unperceivable requirements, if any Corresponding reconstruction
Others – 2 _
    

Workflow & The theory of change (ToC)

Work process and theory of change (ToC) -

Defining right ‘theory of change’ not only sets predictive yet dynamic direction for an innovation but also is soul to an intervention. The scenario to be changed is envisaged collectively by the segments in community but also the state agencies that engage with the innovation and; if any, the donors/ aid agencies beyond. A well-defined ToC helps set direction for an innovation and its work process. In the adjacent diagram, while a case of generic work process has been depicted, a ‘theory of change’ assumes thematic attributes – hence, would vary from case to basis. For instance, a generic work process as has been suggested in the diagram could perhaps apply for themes like education and health etc. but the change/ result parameters would differ completely. In case of the innovation under reference _ a case of raising hand pumps’ platforms in flood affected areas _ the ToC is indicated as the following.


Theory of change [1] – the case of Uttar Pradesh

Change-areas(s)

Parameters

Envisaged change

 

 

 

 

Functional

 

- Crisis time : Regulated access & guaranteed use

- Lean-time use

- Number of usable/ functional hand pumps in the flood areas turn to very few and most of them get submerged – the period of such crisis being from 15 days at least to 2 months, sometimes. A consensual participation of the community and determine use-norms, would change the scenario of haphazard access of the users and therefore, prevent chaos. Disciplined access and equitable use of the facilities, scarce in flood-times could be ensured.

- Use of the raised facility in normal days may be seen a little drudgery, hence restricted. Its height from the surface naturally would subject in lesser use, discourage over-/ misuse and maintain better hygiene condition.  

Institutional

 

- GP participation & ownership

- User bodies

- By virtue of involvement of the Gram Panchayats (GP) since very inception, they have been empowered to take charge of the facility, regulate its use, especially in the crisis times, and facilitate optimum benefits out of these. The GP would record these facilities in its books, all proceedings of the implementation and also make committed provision for its upkeep.

- Within the provision of the PR Act, water management committees, the GP would be empowered to constitute user-bodies representing at the forum of GP on concerned issues.

Operation & maintenance

 

- Over- & misuse

- Repairs

- Breakdown maintenance

- The functional section above has touched upon the issue of potentially restricted use of the h/ps with raised platforms. The governing empowerment of the GP would add value to the component on over- and misuse of the facility, especially during the floods – and avoid any situation of repairs/ breakdowns during the period.

- The GPs encouraged to form user bodies for micro-level management of the facility, would facilitate looking after the cases of repairs; also, the users bearing the cost occasionally.

- The GP would assume higher commitment in addressing the breakdowns and other major cases of expenditure. In cases, the costs may be met through levy of surcharges if the specific conditions demand so and the user-community agrees to share the cost.

Hygiene condition

 

- General cleaning & hygiene

- Domestic necessities

- Hygiene would be defined by 3 key factors : (1) good quality of construction and extended drainage; (2) raise platform naturally prevent soiling & mud and (3) the user community having participated in commissioning of the facility; hence sensitised, could take responsibility to keep the surroundings clean.

- The design discourages range of domestic use and completely shuns possibility of use for animals. The use community would be disciplined in its use for and make alternative arrangement for domestic use.

Cascading impression

 

- Other aligned assets/ facilities for community-service

- The innovation in UP could make a multipronged attempt by the line departments and the local bodies to replicate the approach - - involving the community in its endeavours, facilitate design and quality standards evolve with communities consent and enable a regulatory governance for optimum use and restricted over- misuse of other rural facilities meant to cater generic services. These could be – haats/ markets, school and community centres, PHCs & ICDS centres and panchayat bhawans etc.

Thematic significance of change-areas -

Equity & public order

Sustainability

Quality & continuity of services

Impact on health

Awareness for care of rural infrastructure

[1] The case cited here should be taken as a reference and not a guideline for defining a theory of change for all cases. As learnt through the innovation in Uttar Pradesh, for similar intervention, one may consider different theories of change, depending upon the demands and the design of and perspectives behind seeking an innovation. Theory of change for a particular innovation must emanate from a rationale demand for altering a scenario as the stakeholders collectively perceive.

Results & validation

The present assignment on documenting an innovation conducted by the Chief Minister’s Office, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh recognises that the project delivered quite a few collateral advantages, few of which were not even predicted. Constrained funding limited the number of hand pumps raised, an attempt for even distribution made it no more than 1-3 hand pumps per village. The floods of 2016 amply suggested validity of the innovation. In this art of the website, 3 distinct products of the assignment are being submitted. The first is an outcome document and concerned analysis. The second is a doer’s manual for those making an attempt of an innovation in some other location, context and purpose. And the third is how the communities in the flood areas of UP reacted to the improved DWS assets.



The output of the innovation was a clear reflection of its uncluttered objective of raising hand pumps’ platforms to make them accessible in worst flood conditions. Rather expectedly, this was achieved fully. However, the process of designing and conducting the innovation was a story untold to the participants at both sides _ the state entities and those at the end of the community. It was incumbent upon us to try and document the outcomes of the innovation and submit an analysis. This document attempts to do the same.

The document has captured few distinct aspects. First, the story of the communities’ evolution as able partners in shaping the innovation, help conceptualising and planning it, implementing and most importantly, extending a commitment for future, has been captured. If the experience is applied in other developmental domains of a village, such could catalyse significant change in the mindset and the manner of the way local governments function in Uttar Pradesh. Such applications could also have an implication in terms of triggering negotiation between the local governments and the state – which is nonexistent at present.

This document in a separate part discusses the way different segments of rural communities feel about social assets when such are transformed to their needs for access and equity. Empirical primary data indicates how access to and control of the social assets define key operational aspects. Finally, the document shares few methodological instruments developed while conduct of the innovation, which could help sharpen conduct of social research; more precisely, monitoring processes and results of social development projects.

This document is considered for a publication as a research piece and is under review by the few international publishing entities; hence, cannot be shared in public platforms. The website would tag this document as and when the restrictions are taken away.

Future adaptability


Making a case for the innovation with special focus on –

The innovation successfully attempted by the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh (GoUP) brings forth a range processes and tools that could be replicated in flood contexts with reasonable certainty and with slight customization in other varied contexts. The CMO recognised that the innovation has two sides : the first and the foremost priority is to help the community with an upgraded facility and insulate the existing sources from turning non-functional during the flood and the second is to elicit futuristic learning to aid and integrate other asset-building schemes. The Water Aid and PROACT underlined the fact at the beginning of the assignment that Hand pumps may be seen as an outgoing facility – hence, the success of the experience must be accrued to bridge gaps in asset-creation schemes for flood affected areas. It was deliberated that the experience would prolong the life of the DWS assets – yet must leave technical tools and community-process related experiences for such schemes to adopt in future.

In the following pages a broad description has been submitted justifying how few learning from the innovation could be adopted for other key government schemes.

Justification on why key learnings from the innovation could be adopted in future : Case of select central government schemes

Illustrated schemes

People’s participation

Technology; cost & design options

Significance index

Convenience quotient

Rural drinking water : National Rural Drinking Water Program (NRDWP)

Concepts of ‘people’s participation’ and that of ‘cost & design options’ have been familiar to rural drinking water & sanitation. However, there has been a sustained tendency by the implementing entities not trying to arrive at appropriate design and cost-based solutions. Starting from platforms & well-laid disposal drains to super-structures of sanitary latrines, state entities have been rather indolent in trying and innovating close to what their clients sought to have. While cost-sensitivity for rural clients should be taken as an opportunity for innovation, in India there are demonstrated cases of dividends accrued from executing cost & design options (West Bengal) – a state like UP with diverse contexts, sought to attempt more experimentations & innovations. The innovation brings little change in designs of h/p platform to pull out millions of users in the flood-affected areas of UP from the proven health threat caused by contaminated water and lack of hygiene surrounding the water sources. Such innovations attempted in rural sanitation in the same context could prove wonders.

Till a few years back, UP had coverage of rural piped water supply of 3%. The serious lack of coverage; thereby, turning susceptible health of all consumers– is indeed an opportunity to plan a brisk progress. A carefully considered significance index; where the parameters define all right issues – pre & post implementation, could immensely help realizing flawlessness and creating a quality standards ecosystem.

nCQ should be a must tool for assessment of all community services including drinking water supply and sanitation. nCQ could be replicated for piped watr supply systems while planning public stand-posts.

Sanitation : Swachha Bharat Abhiyan (SBA)

Individual family sanitation latrines in rural Uttar Pradesh demand diverse and intricate design & technology options. To cater to women’s inherent sense of privacy, boosted by a large segment of growing adolescent & muslim demography, inherent lack of piped water and unsafe disposal of excreta (even in case of honeycomb leaching pit designs) makes the topic complex and a fit case for technology innovation. Interestingly, domestic and public hygiene components also ask for technology & design innovation, which so far have followed conventional paradigms yielding no much benefit to impact rural health. An imaginatively evolved significance index could cut out the core issues in (a) design & cost options, and (b) plausible technology inputs.

In case of sanitation, nCQ emerges as a more significant opportunity. Minute aspects of design of sanitation latrines; considering demands for privacy to comfort of children, the old and that of the ailed, the nCQ could help learn about measures to make a unit that satisfies all. More importantly, the variety of users could express the barriers that they feel are imposing – hence reduce value of the asset.

Rural housing : Indira Awas Yojana (IAY)/ Lohiya Awas Yojana

Very little opportunity is viewed in enabling the beneficiary family to participate in the business of commissioning their own dwelling unit; whereas this should just be the opposite. Count of family members to its livelihood practices, families preferences – allow the family to do some little tweaking and adjustments etc. could create serious sense of participation and hence ownership – something the innovation could show a roadmap.

The scheme provision makes the design a case of utmost compromise if viewed against very basic & rationale needs of a family from BPL category. The participation of each family in terms of making cost and labour contribution could make the shape and nature of the dwelling space so much better. Provisions of latrines and kitchen, planning & arranging for sewer/ disposal etc. are areas seeking natural integration with such schemes – could be core areas of design improvement.

Quality standards to design issues, contextual demands and fulfilment of basic needs of a habitat etc. are key components that could find easy space in a significance index customised for such programs. A careful assessment of program provisions and documentation of the generic implementation process could open up a range of remedial measures that housing schemes must consider – given abysmal quality of these units.

A range of non-physical issues related to dwellers’ common specific convenience, may be build into a nCQ. Such could be on either side of the quotient – however, could certainly impart new learnings on the implementing agencies about what potential dwellers consider as core benefits and barriers. One must consider – govt. provisions meant for the poor are often delivered with some degree of disdain and even a sense of contempt. Poor’s aspirations are seldom viewed carefully; not considered as crucial inputs to conceptualization and planning of the program. A carefully perceived nCQ could facilitate radical inputs to these areas of govt. schemes.

Social
sector
infra
structure

·  Schools, health & ICDS centres

·  Panchayat bhawans & community centres etc.

· Disaster relief centres etc.

These schemes are predominant domains of the state apparatus and access of concepts like people’s participation is rather restricted; informally albeit. Not just for the sake of convenient and structured implementation, the scheme guidelines provide a linear roadmap, the plausible diversity from people’s active participation is adopted to not entertain specificity and ‘complexity’. Most of such infrastructure schemes cause roots to corrupt practices; slow and delayed administrative proceedings create a favourable ecosystem, people’s participation is avoided because it can cause pressure on the govt. set up to deliver in committed quality and time. A large scheme such as the innovation, demonstrated that the theory behind the idea of people’s participation is workable and stands true to all perceived benefits.

 

The typical hardware engineering and design areas, newer technology etc. are taken care with reasonable compliance to guidelines. However, since the technical and operational guidelines don’t embark on anything that is intangible; the software aspects of these schemes remain absent. Each of these items mentioned here

These schemes make provisions for community assets; however, catering to diverse range of people with specific purposes. People coming from various demographic, social, gender sections feel needs for diverse types and levels of comfort in accessing these assets. The two tools could help to –

-       Learn; get feedback from the clients about their preferences in terms of tweaking of hardware components/ appropriateness of physical aspects of the assets etc. and/ or ensuring a range of intangible needs; ensuring allied facilities like toilet and drinking water, provisions for extreme summer and winter etc., support systems for the old and ailed/ disabled persons etc. and for special arrangement for women;

-       Understand quality service demands – within a supportive info. ecosystem. E.g. in case of ICDS/ health, centres, clear display of procedures and a ready enquiry system helps – all application forms etc., if any should be accessible readily. Unavailability of these could be attributed as barriers thereby drastically affecting clients perceptions about benefits from the asset.

-       The operational guidelines issued to standardise quality of the services provided; often are not reviewed against best practices/ instances produced by its compliance. The nCQ could consider building guideline parameters build into it and facilitate analytical learning;

-       Finally, as post-implementation tools, the two could be treated as tools for incentivising implementation entities based on objective assessment of good performances.

As indicated above, the aforementioned learnings would need to be promoted for state officials, especially district magistrates as young leaders in various districts, to instill confidence to strike well considered innovations and close them with objectives fully realized. The technicalities of such could be unpacked and be presented in lucid terms with multi-dimensional depiction of the lessons. The water aid and organizations like these must continue its support and respond to such furtherance – including future research needs.


Contact
K J Rajeev/
Shalini Chaturvedi
WaterAid  
2/203 Vishal Khand,
Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
India – 226010
Tel: +91 522 4074476
Email: wairon@wateraid.org
Sandeep Majhi PROACT  
15/ 220, First floor
Indira Nagar, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
India – 226016
Ph. +91 94150 12006
Email: proact.next@gmail.com

WaterAid is an International organization, registered in India as a not for profit company under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956. In India, Water Aid is working since 1986 on the issues of Drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene. Water Aid is working extensively in rural and urban areas of Uttar Pradesh and making significant contributions through its partnership projects being implemented by CSO.


PROACT is an India-based research and consultancy organization, operational predominantly in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. PROACT has been working with government, bi-/ multilateral, International agencies besides good range of Indian clients, especially the PSUs in financial sector. PROACT has rare experience of collaborating with large-scale innovative & nodal projects with the governments of UP and Bihar on critical social sector themes and program.