Dear All

We from Bihar Jan Pahal and  Lok Shakti Sangathan (A mass movement organization) appeal to all International Donor agencies/ Ngos who is working in Bihar for flood relief and Rehabilation to be more transparent. Transparency is not to say only but it must be appear on working place. For transparency and to avoid duplicacy, Donor Agencies or Ngo should fix a sine board on relief and rehabilation working place in Hindi or Regional language.This is first step of Right to Information and transparency. As for our information near about 20 International Doner Agencies working in Bihar Flood Relief and Rehabilation.

 TDH raised 76 lakhs to work through six ngo partner but only one ngo partner  Kisan Vikas Trust displayed the board on working place in Khagaria district. Similarly Swiss Red Cross raised one crore and thirty lakhs to work through three partner, but only one partner Samajik Shaikshanik Vikas Kendre (ssvk) in Jhanjharpur sub division  (Madhubani District) with full detailed displayed a board of 8/4 Feet on the road side of working place and organization,s campus also.ssvk printed materials name and quantity on beneficiary coupons. Ssvk received a tune of Rupees 51,19,225.00. from swiss red cross. Ssvk constituted a 65 members monitoring committee from its target groups. Relief has been operated through its target community members and local workers. ssvk sent the copy of approved budget for flood relief to all concern govt. officials.  On the occasion of relief distribution 21^st of September 2004 in ssvk Jhanjharpur campus, Darbhanga commissioner Mr. K.P.Ramayya instructed his govt. official as well as panchayats to fix the board on working place like SSVK. Actionaid raised one crore rupees and working through one partner in champaran and in Darbhanga Actionaid is working Directly through NAPM  Convenor and its staff. But there is not any  fix board or any sign of transparency on working place. Oxfam GB also could not fix the board in madhubani district. Flood effected people do not know how much resources coming for him. For example one ngo of Bhusara (Gaighat) Muzaffarpur is claiming flood relief with four donor agencies like swiss red cross 38 Lakhs, care, plan international and the hunger project in Gaighat block and another ngo is also claiming of flood relief in Gaighat block with the help of Oxfam Hongkong. Peoples of Gaighat do not know how much resources coming for him .Without putting village list, material list and Donors name in the Fix Board, how can any ngo claim that there is no duplicacy there and they are transparent. How they can question to the representative of panchayats and the government officials morally. We expect to positive step as early as possible that Doner Agencis  and its partners ngo will come foreward in the larger interest of flood effected people,s of north bihar. Lok Shakti Sangathan Bihar has written a letter to the chief secretary of  bihar ( Chief Secretary is coordinating relief operation in bihar) and requested him to  instruct the govt. officials, Ngos/ Donor agencies as well as panchayats representative to fix the board with full detail in working place to maintain transparency and right to information in the larger  interest of people.

Lok Shakti Sangathan Bihar is planning to launch the right to information campaign in the state regarding relief and other developmental programme.

List of International Donor Agencies working in North Bihar Flood Relief and Rehabilation:

1. Unicef

2. Oxfam G B

3. Indian Red Cross Society

4. Care India

5.  Efficor

6. Caritas-India

7.  Christian Aid

8.  World Vision India

9. CASA

10. Swiss Red Cross

11.ECHO

12. IFRC

13. The Discipleship Centre

14. tere desh homes (TDH)

15.UNDP

16.The Hunger Project

17. ActionAid

18. Medicines Senf (MSS)

19. Oxfam Hongkong

20. Plan International

with regards

sincerely yours

Deepak Bharti

member

Bihar Jan Pahal

       &

State convenor

Lok shakti sangathan,Bihar

> ATTACHMENT part 2 application/msword name=Appeal for transparency in Flood Relief Bihar.doc