Our Top 5 Achievements in 2013
Dear friend,
All of us at CUTS Centre for Consumer Action, Research
& Training (CUTS CART), Jaipur wish you a Happy New Year! May this year
add new happiness, achievements and inspirations
in your life! May this year be successful for you as the previous one has
been for us.
In 2013, while our work on the issues of governance,
consumer empowerment and sustainable development created a number of
positive outcomes in the countries of operation. All the while, we
maintained the high level of transparency and accountability that has made
the reputation of CUTS.
We look forward to our continuing collaboration in 2014.
In the meantime, we are happy to share with you our top five interventions
that have made 2013 a success for us!
SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY
Knowledge Exchange on Social Accountability in South Asia
The tools and approaches of Social
Accountability need expansion in its use for improved transparency,
accountability and public expenditure outcomes in the countries of
developing world. Being a resource organization, CUTS continue to play a
prominent role of mentor among the countries of South Asia, East Asia and
Africa. It continue to anchor the regional community of practice (CoP) on
social accountability (Accountability Solutions) for south Asia and
building capacity of representatives of government and civil society
organizations mainly from the South Asian countries. In this journey, CUTS
became one of the global partners of Global Partnership for Social
Accountability (GPSA) of the World Bank and a member of Roster of Experts
of GPSA.
ACCESS TO
INFORMATION
Improved Transparency in Government
Systems
In a continued partnership with
Partnership for Transparency Fund (PTF), CUTS built a cadre of
organizations equipped with adequate knowledge and capacity to utilize ‘Right
to Information’ for reforming the processes of rural development schemes
and ensuring transparency.
The independent evaluation report mentions that the
level of awareness about entitlements under MGNREGS has increased
significantly. Almost all the people in selected blocks were completely
aware of the MGNREGS and its facilities. The demand for job has also
increased. An overwhelming majority of participants are aware of RTI Act,
2005 and on an average one RTI is filed every month. It also mentions that
total 128 community activists, proactive citizens and CGCCs worked together
as watchdog of the scheme which shows the mass mobilisation of
local communities in the targeted areas.
CIVIC
ENGAGEMENT IN CITY SERVICES
Towards Making Jaipur a World Class City
CUTS intervened to improve the
services of the Jaipur Municipal Corporation by emphasising the importance
of local government and strengthen the roots of local self-governance by
taking power to the people in the spirit of 74th constitutional amendment
in partnership with The Asia Foundation. The intervention could achieve
several outcomes including enhanced level of awareness and civic sense
among citizens, engagement of service providers/ elected representatives
resulting in to improved services and resolved grievances and vigilant
media. The project also built the capacity of local CBOs and CAGs who
continued working as a linkage between citizens and service providers.
Building on the success of the phase I of the intervention, it had moved to
the second phase.
STATE OF THE
INDIAN CONSUMER
We produced State of Indian Consumer
Report
CUTS
produced State of Indian Consumer Report 2012 which highlighted level of
awareness, use of the Consumer Rights given to Indian citizens under act on
the occasion of 25 years of Consumer Protection Act 1986. The study was
conducted in 19 states and 3 Union Territories in partnership with Dept. of
Consumer Affairs, Government of India. The report proved to be an eye
opener as to how much we, as conscious consumers, are aware of our rights
and to what extent we exercise our rights.
A total of
11,499 (53 percent male & 47 percent female) consumers were surveyed
following a stratified multi-stage sampling approach covering 88 districts,
spread across 19 states and 3 union territories of India. In addition, 385
qualitative samples were collected through personal interactions with
consumer organisations, redress bodies and government departments/
agencies. During the year, the Dept. of Consumer Affairs accepted the key
findings of the study as the official data of the Dept.
RECOGNITION
The Rhoda Karpatkin Consumer International
Award
Recognizing the long history of contributions and
endeavours of CUTS for the welfare and protection of consumers across the
world, American Council on Consumer Interests (ACCI) honoured Mr George
Cheriyan, Director, CUTS & Head, CUTS CART
with The Rhoda Karpatkin Consumer International Award in 2013.
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