Enabling Collaborative Action between Self-Help Groups and Rural Local Bodies through an Exploratory Workshop: The Case of a Peri-Urban Village in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India

Richa Kandpal,Izuru Saizen

doi:10.3390/su11061680

Abstract

Peri-urban areas in developing countries pose unique governance challenges because of their rapid development. Villages in these areas are under-served in terms of the provision of waste management services. This research focused on an exploratory workshop conducted in one peri-urban village in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, India, to raise community awareness regarding the importance of contributing towards effective waste management in their village and the means by which they can do so. The findings of the workshop show its effectiveness in raising the awareness levels of self-help group members. In addition to these findings, causal loop diagrams were drawn to construct effective institutional mechanisms from the perspective of the capacities of the participants and the officials. This study examined the policy initiatives necessary for meeting the sanitation and waste management needs of peri-urban villages. Inferences regarding the institutionalization of linkages between self-help groups and local bodies were made based on the principles of sociocracy. Theoretical insight was provided regarding the different factors affecting this system, and how this model is flexible enough to accommodate the contextual needs of peri-urban villages.

Highlights

Urban areas throughout the world are rapidly expanding; the proportion of the urban population in the world is expected to increase from the current 55% to 68% by 2050 [1]
Some of the fastest urbanizing regions in the world are in developing countries; 93% of urban population growth is expected to occur in these countries [2]
This study explores effective mechanisms to support the roles of self-help groups (SHGs) in particular and the community in general, and contributes towards assessing the needs and delivering basic services in peri-urban areas

Summary

Introduction

Urban areas throughout the world are rapidly expanding; the proportion of the urban population in the world is expected to increase from the current 55% to 68% by 2050 [1]. Metropolitan growth and the expansion of urban functions into the periphery is a worldwide phenomenon [4] and comes with a downside. These areas are classified as rural, but they have a high population growth rate and a rapidly changing socio-economic context. These urbanizing villages have received some consideration in government schemes in terms of the provision of basic services. They have been largely neglected in actual policy and practice [9]

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion