Round Table Meeting in the collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Resource Person: Mr. Zaheer udin Manager HRD

Dr. Ashok Bakhtani Manager SM
Topic Roundtable Meeting
Venue Field Unit Islamkot
Date October 03, 2006
Time 1000 – 1200 hrs
Report by: Jalal Jani PO- HRD

Introduction
In collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI) Thardeep–Human Resource
Development organized one day Roundtable Meeting with elected members from 04
union councils of Tharparkar on October 03, 2006 at Field Unit Islamkot. This was the
final phase of Local Government Project in the 1st one HRD organized Orientation
workshop for elected councilors from selected Union Councils. In the round table
meeting are 16 members participated mainly they represented 02 Nazim/Naib Nazim-
UCs, 01 N. Nazim of Nagarparkar taluka and 13 union councilors from 04 UCs. The
Islamkot, Kehri, Satidera, and Nagarparkar Union Councils participated in the meeting.
Mainly this meeting was organized to review the post orientation utilization & measure
the progress in identified issues, all those members who participated in the orientation
workshop and public forum on education they participated in the Roundtable meeting.
This meeting was chaired by the Mr. Nabi Bux Balouch – Member- Board of Director –
Thardeep.

The roundtable meeting started with the recitation of verses from Holy Quer`an by a
participant of Satidera Union council .

Discussion and review of achievements

Zaheer udin Manager the participants. After than he shared the contents of roundtable
meeting which covers whether the he shared that today we will be focusing on main three
questions did the orientation meeting really added value in our knowledge, did the open
forum provided a forum for discussion & resolving the issue jointly if it is so than where
we are now, the third one if we are planning to carry out such activities in future too than
what are your plans who will do what?. addresses the issues which was raised in the
public forum and any change as the result of the forum. What action was taken by
authorities to address the issue which was raised at the public forum?

Dr. Ashok Bakhtani Manager asked the question that it’s continues the process of
questioning from Uc Nazim to district Nazim for quality education especially girls
education in District Tharparkar. The participants responded that the orientation
workshop was very useful and fruitful to us and we learnt more new things from the role
play and different exercises in the orientation workshop and public open forum. This
really enhanced our confidence & provided an opportunity to meet & raise our voices
jointly.

Mr. Ghansham Das said this type of training and workshop are the nursery for elected
members, we update and aware about the upcoming things, our elected members were
Round Table Meeting in the collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI)

not able to negotiate with District Officer but now they direct talk and share their
problems with Zila Nazim and Chief Minister of Sindh. After public forum a lot of
changes in education department are being seen, which are positive to us, we discussed
with line department and District Nazim for ensuring the regular and punctual of teachers
in schools. We also support the poor children who are acquiring the education with very
difficultly in kind of financial, the elected members raised this issue and shared with Zila
Nazim and line department, It was good occasion that Director of Baitulmal was in Mithi,
we gave the presentation and motivated towards food support programme for poor
children in Tharparkar District through the recommendation of UC Nazim. High
authority was agreed upon our collectively suggestion and programme was initiated of
food support programme in entire district Tharparkar. The poor parents have more
financial benefits from this programme. We all ensure that poor people will take benefit,
our elected members facilitated them

Mr. Ratan Lal Naib Nazim Kehri, said that we were not aware in line with routine
business and active participation in decision making at Ucs to talukas councils and
district assembly level. Now our elected councilors take more interest in discussion and
collectively decision now they don’t sit & just silently listening in the UC ajlas. He also
shared that District Officers are not cooperating us in line with teachers, in our village
only one teacher is there & he is responsible for more than 50 children. He can not
afford to teach eight subjects to the children. We put up this issue in UC meeting and
documents proceedings and circulate to higher education authority it may we address
this issue in Taluka Council and District Assembly.

Pertab Rai Uc Councilor told that we have identified the burning issues in open forum at
Islamkot and we have planned for address this issue with collectively efforts. One man
can not address the issue, Therefore, we all sit, share and strategic plan for our
collectively action, every top authority would have to listen our voices and views.
Otherwise, things are very nice but result will not be fruitful. It is good forum for sharing
and exchanges the different things with the vital efforts of Thardeep. He also criticized on
the School Management Committees and manipulation of the SMC funds with kinships.
It is observed that no check and balance at school or village level. We are networking
with different UC elected members and line department through open forum. This type of
workshops would be continues for our awareness, orientation and update us regarding the
new situation and information. He said “I learnt more new techniques for negotiation and
Round Table Meeting in the collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI)

discussion in UC meeting, today I am talking it is the result of orientation workshop”

Manjhi as a participant rose an issue of enrollment are high but teaching staff is only one;
s/he can not afford to teach the children of all subject. So Education Department would
revisit and reshuffle the teaching staff.

Mr.Khetsingh as a participant shared that we have also participated in different training

and workshops but orientation workshop was very useful and productive for us.

Zaheer udin Manager HRD shared that Thardeep`s role is bridging the gape and catalyst
between service provider and community. There are issues but with meager facilities in
education department of Tharparkar. Can we formulate/make a forum that it works on
education at grassroots level? The all participants agreed unanimously on this forum and
actively participated in the discussion.
however, Mr. Ghansham Das Nazim UC Islamkot suggested that committee will
comprise on five members and representatives only four to five surrounding villages. –
01 member from Thardeep,
01 notable from 04-05 villages,
01 UC Nazim/ Naib Nazim and
04 elected UC Councilors from in lieu of representing area.

This committee will organize such type of workshops and forums for networking and
liaising at grassroots and advocacy for quality of education and monitoring and ensuring
the regularity and punctuality of teaching personnel at rural side.
Ratan Lal N.Nazim Kehri UC suggested this type of forum would make from Deh to
District. At every decision point, these forum will representing, if we all take collectively
action we will achieve our goal and quality of education would be improved we will
compare our education standard with private competitive teaching institute.
Round Table Meeting in the collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Mr. Ghansham Das revealed that Thardeep will facilitate us in inviting to Nazim and
Naib Nazim for participation the meeting and strategic planning for future course
correction. This committees will organize sub committees in UC for improve the quality
of education.

Mr. Nabi Bux Balouch said that already committees are there at UC structure but those
are de active, our elected member will ensure that to re organize and enable those and
monitor their discretionary and facilitate the people at grassroots. He said that we will
achieve our goal, we will make more sub committees for monitoring and checking the
schools and ensuring the regularity and punctuality, otherwise we will demolish and
devastate from the surface of earth.

Dr. Ashok Bakhatani thanked all participants those participated the roundtable meeting, I
hope, your collectively actions will change the paradigm shift in our society.

Meeting was ended with vote of thanks and new hope for doing betterment and quality
education at grassroots level.

Abbreviation/Local terms
NDI National Democratic Institute
LGP Local Government Programme
TRDP Thardeep Rural Development Program
HRD Human Resource Development
UC Union Council
Ajlas Meeting
Zila District
Round Table Meeting in the collaboration with National Democratic Institute (NDI)

Thardeep – Human Resource Development (HRD)

Round Table Meeting
Held on
From October 03-2006 to October 03, 2006 at Field Unit Islamkot-
Tharparkar District
Sno Name Design Village UC District
1 Mr.Liaquat Ali G. Councilor Resham Jo Tar Satidera Tharparkar

2 Mr.Bhongar G Councilor Tankario Satidera Tharparkar

3 Mr.Chando Councilor Kharoro Dal Satidera Tharparkar

4 Mr.Maghan LAl N. Nazim -Taluka Purnwah Nagarparkar Tharparkar

5 Mr.Pertab Rai Councilor Islamkot Islamkot Tharparkar

6 Mr.Manjhi Councilor Kh.Bajeer Islamkot Tharparkar

7 Mr.Ratan Lal N.Nazim Tisingeri Kehri Tharparkar

8 Mr.Khetsingh Councilor Islamkot Islamkot Tharparkar

9 Mr.Chetan lal Councilor Lakar Khadio Nagarparkar Tharparkar

10 Mr.M.Amin Councilor Dah Nagarparkar Tharparkar

11 Mr.Shivo Councilor M. Jo Wandhio Nagarparkar Tharparkar

12 Ms. Surhai Councilor Kh.Rahim Ali Islamkot Tharparkar

13 Mr.Verji Councilor Keekari Islamkot Tharparkar

14 Mr.Ghansham Das Nazim Islamkot Islamkot Tharparkar

15 Mr.Jarar Nazim Okhraro Satidera Tharparkar

16 Mr.Asghar Ali Sec. Panpario Satidera Tharparkar