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We have been supporting research and financial services in rural areas, decentralised policy decisions and have led the way in many aspects of development and implementation of rural reforms.

National Rural Housing and Habitat Policy

In response to the emerging need for a distinct rural habitat policy, basin-South Asia, with its secretariat at Development Alternatives and partners, decided to catalyse the development of a National Rural Housing and Habitat Policy - the first of its kind in India. The final draft was formally handed over to the Government of India at the National Conference on Poverty Alleviation organised by DA in December 2007. This initiative is a remarkable example of how critical gaps between ‘policy and practice’ can be bridged through creating platforms for knowledge-driven multi-stakeholder dialogue.

After presenting this in the Ministry of Rural Development in 2008, DA is working towards taking this policy forward. In this context DA has been attending several workshops as a committee member and is on the sub-committee for the drafting of the rural housing policy set up by the Ministry of Rural Development. The proposed policy has been sent for approval to the office of the Prime Minister.

In 2008-09, DA took the process further by influencing the eco-habitat policy at the district level and by building up the capacity of Panchayati Raj Institutions – local self governance. A Lok Awaas Yatra – or a People’s Habitat Journey was conceptualised on a national scale to create a community of practice; a journey of learning and sharing the best practices in eco-habitat. The learning will be used to influence rural habitat policies. Five yatras have already taken place in the Central, Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern regions.

Other contributions towards national policy- change include:

• Integration of social and economic issues in the national State of the Environment Report and Atlas
• Public consultations and advocacy for scaling up the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS); and research on alternate implementation models for NREGS.
• Research and lobbying with the Ministry of Labour and Employment on opportunities for the promotion of green jobs

Dialogue conducted for bringing change:

• Under its CLEAN-India (Community Led Environment Action Network) initiative it influenced the tree policy of Delhi +
• DA has been the spearhead of nearly 48,000 environment conservation initiatives through a network of 1.25 million schoolchildren and their communities.
• Radio Bundelkhand - the first Community Radio in Bundelkhand as a dialogue platform.