During our investigation of the different project areas of SST, it is common to hear that the government of Tamil Nadu was also involved. Tamil Nadu provides more than other states in India. Government schemes are available for many different areas of public life including the construction and support of schools, the development of watershed projects, and free healthcare. As explained by some SST staff, Tamil Nadu has supportive political leaders locally and nationally, resulting in greater funding for projects than in other states. I have been impressed with the scope and depth that the Tamil Nadu government gives to development and SST’s focus on how these resources can be effectively utilized.
Since SST is part of a corporate social responsibility initiative, I wondered before my arrival how they invested their money in the community. My experience in other developing countries has shown that NGOs often respond to a lack of government resources. All too frequently NGOs will provide aid and supply resources, not the government, which can create a reliance on the NGO. There are many examples of international development and aid that is often controversial because it involves handouts. We discussed this in my International Social Planning and Program Development course this past semester, and now I am sorting through these questions again while living abroad. The current critical discussion: is it a “handout” or a “hand up”?
A sizable portion of SST’s work is development through government schemes. In this way they are functioning not as a handout, but as a hand-up by acting as a bridge between individuals and the government. This bridge connects people to resources while promoting their livelihoods and independence. For example, many farmers are encouraged to use drip irrigation systems that are fully subsidized by the government. Drip irrigation allows the farmer to conserve water and improve yield from their plants. SST staff, usually an agronomist, encourages the farmer to apply, which involves compiling the needed documents and accompanying them to the government office, thus creating a bridge. What ensures the success of the development scheme is SST’s staff and trained Master Farmers in the community continue to work with farmers to ensure that the implementation is successful. These steps and follow-up are essential for farmers to take full advantage of government aid and resources. This is one way in which SST’s advocacy is making an impact in rural communities.
I did not expect that SST would be as involved with obtaining government benefits and am impressed by their advocacy in connecting the community. In the U.S., it is common in community agencies for social workers to connect their clients with government resources such as housing, Medicaid, or food stamps. This past year in my field placement, I worked with clients to obtain housing and social security. We connected people to existing government programs that allowed them to secure their livelihoods in a large and complex system. Now, in Tamil Nadu, I again see the importance of bridging the gap and the role development staff have in the process. Increasing access to public benefits allows community members to take advantage of resources available to all, while fostering livelihoods and independence.
CUSSW in Tamil Nadu 2013 