Environmental research

Project objective is to reduce green house gas emissions leading to global warming. Activities to be carried out under project: Introduction of smokeless stoves by holding awareness workshops. Training of women in making fuel efficient stoves and blacksmiths in making chimneys and, doors and dampers for the stoves. Training of women in maintenance of smokeless stoves. Project participants and/or beneficiaries: Majority of the households of the union council will benefit from the project. The Kabir Pur Cluster, a grassroots level organization, has linkages with the clusters of surrounding union councils and hence could help them adopt the technology, once it is successfully introduced in the Kabir Pur union council. The rural women and girls will be the primary beneficiaries of the project. They will also be the major participants of the project. Males will also benefit from the project when the fuel consumption pattern will shift from traditional to improved one. It has economical implications. Anticipated results of project: With the introduction of these stoves the amount of fuel wood consumed will be reduced resulting in lower GHG emissions and savings in biomass. Health hazards created due to the use of inferior quality firewood will be reduced. Women, who are exposed to smoke for prolonged periods when they are engaged in cooking, will get a relief. Incidence of smoke exposure related disease like Tuberculosis and Eye Diseases would decrease. Cooking will become efficient resulting in the decreased workload of women. Dependency of the poor on rich landlords for the provision of fuel wood will be reduced which might lead to their social empowerment. Introduction of smokeless stoves will reduce the pollution produced by the burning of poor quality firewood. Storage of fuel-wood is a problem for villagers and smokeless stoves will solve this problem too. Cost of transportation of fuel-wood will be saved. BACKGROUND Kabirpur Cluster Kabirpur cluster came into existence in November 1999. The Community Organizations of the union council fostered by PRSP are the members of the cluster. The cluster was organized to address the union council level issues or problems that could not be addressed by the Community Organizations individually and required joint effort by all the COs. Structure of the Cluster The structure of the cluster is as follow: 1. General body All the CDs of the union council are the member of the cluster and are represented in the cluster by their spokesmen usually the president or manger. In decision-making, all the member CDs can cast one vote. The general body discusses the issues brought to the notice of the cluster and workout the workable solutions. Currently 19 CDs of the Kabir Pur Union Council are the members of the cluster. Female CDs of the union councils have also started to take part in the cluster activities. 2. Speaker General body elects the speaker of the cluster. He is responsible for: Arranging and managing the cluster meetings Ensures discipline during the meeting Prepares the agenda of the meeting Develops linkages with the service providing agencies 3. Deputy Speaker General body elects the speaker of the cluster. H e is responsible for: He acts as the speaker of the cluster in the absence of the speaker He is responsible for recording the proceedings and decisions of the cluster He also keeps the attendance record of the cluster members. 4. finance secretary General body elects the finance secretary. He is responsible for the management of the financial matters of the cluster. 5. Secretary Information General body elects the secretary in formation. He is responsible for the dissemination of messages to the members of CO about all the developments related to the activities. Structure of the social activists Every Community Organization (CO) has a social activist and there are many CCs in the village. The members of the cluster are all social activists. The office bearers i.e. the president and manager are usually social activist. So social activists of the CO and some are also the member of the union council cluster. The cluster meeting is held once a month on the date decided by the general body of the cluster. However special meetings are also called whenever needed. Achievements of the Cluster Following are the major achievements of the cluster. Linkage with Registration Department Union Councils Kabir Pur has a very low literacy rate and majority of poor had no national identity cards because they were not able to properly fill the application forms and complete other formalities. The issue was raised in the cluster meeting and it was decided that registration department would be contacted to arrange a field camp for this purpose. The registration department agreed and the cluster arranged a field camp where the application forms and other formalities were completed at the spot. The identity cards were issued within a week. Many activists, who have learnt how to complete the application forms and other formalities, now guide their fellow villagers in getting the National Identity Cards. Khuley Kacharey (open forum) The cluster arranged a Khuley Kachery to bring all the problems of the union council to the notice of the district management. Deputy Commissioner accompanied by the Assistant Commissioner and heads of other departments attended the Kachery. The Deputy Commissioner ensured full support of the district management and other departments for the clust

Pakistan