31st Oct 2018.
When I type the word “convergence” on my
dictionary app, one of the meaning reads “the merging of distinct technologies,
industries or devices into a unified whole”. This seems so apt for something
like assembling a computer desktop, right? But more relevant usage is also seen
in the development sector or projects, where bringing diverse actors together
to achieve a common goal is increasingly put forth as a solution to many development
problems.
The word is heavily used by different actors in
different context. I’m no exception to this.
I would like to share my experience when I put
this word into practice. I had organized a stakeholders meeting in Bagepalli in
southern district of Chikkaballapur in Karnataka with help of our INREM team
and Taluk Health Officer, Bagepalli. This is part of an ongoing European Union
(EU) funded project on fluoride and arsenic issues across India.
After sharing observations from our team we
opened the floor for discussion. Participants
shared objectives and numbers, of their presence and outreach. The issue and
history of fluorosis in these parts of Chikkaballapur was well known among them.
Some of the highlights of this meeting are as follows.
One, when participants expressed gratitude to
INREM for enabling coming together of these actors, some of them pointed us
that it is time to have “such meetings”, where there is representation of
government, NGOs and other civil society groups seated together to discuss how
to mitigate fluorosis. Because in real world, all problems have multiple
linkages or causes to it. Hence there is a need to share or draw knowledge from
different disciplines like Water, Sanitation, Health, Education, Nutrition,
Agriculture, Ecology etc. Based on this specific inputs from participants have
been noted, converting plans into action for fluorosis mitigation is next phase
of our work under this project.
Second, participants used words like
“convergence”, “forum”, “co-ordination”, “platform” to describe this meeting
and wanted to contribute through their own work. We also have a name, it is “people-centric
platforms” to ensure civil society have a voice on complex water quality problems.
Whatever is the name, people want to solve such problems. Participants
requested us to hold such meeting once in 3 months. If such spaces are coordinated
well enough, the goal of safe drinking water and good nutrition for all, can be
achieved.
Finally, such meetings need to happen closer to the area of work. For
instance participants felt Taluk or block level meeting are good way to
initiate and build “people-centric platforms”.
As this meeting ends, there are handshakes as
they see possibilities opening for working together on this issue before they
savor bisibele bath and curd rice for lunch.
KIRAN
KUMAR SEN
INREM Foundation
kirankumarsen@gmail.com
