Assistance was provided by the Decentralization Community to prepare a Technical Manual on Monitoring Public Works Construction, to support members of local government bodies…

Samarthan, a Bhopal-based NGO, required information and support to prepare a Technical Manual on Monitoring Public Works Construction, to assist members of local government bodies and specifically on works commissioned under the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS), which is designed to provide employment to people in rural areas and simultaneously create rural infrastructure.

Binu Arickal, from Samarthan raised the query in September 2005 seeking the community’s suggestions on the format and contents to be included in the Manual. Members responding to the query, included government officials, Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) representatives and NGO staff.
 
Samarthan used the knowledge product (Consolidated Reply) to prepare the Manual that was shared with the Decentralization Community under the Creative Commons License. The manual has been used by Samarthan to train the staff of 70 NGOs working in Madhya Pradesh and also used by those undertaking public works construction projects through NREGS.