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| 20 Feb 2006 - 15:17 |
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Registered: 18 Feb 2006
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Aid is like AIDS
Aid is like AIDS as AIDS is a disease which once contracted cannot be
cured. Like AIDS, aid results in dependency and the recipient is robbed of his own initiative. To combat these problems
we therefore recommend that aid be provided in this manner:
a. Study the issues, assets and community needs
b.
First meet community needs through community assets. This requires 'aid' in the form of technical know-how where
indigenous knowledge is lacking
c. If the need cannot be met by community assets, 'aid' should be introduced as a
model to be replicated by communities.
Governments have a lot of funds, permanent departments and trained personnel.
Through 'aid' they become dormant and lose interest. An example of this is primary school education in Pakistan .
We are an NGO, but act as a facilitator i.e. our job is advocacy at the macro level (letting government know the
needs of the communities) and sensitization at the micro level to apprise them of government programmes and how they can
participate.
We divide need into three categories:
a. Those that can be met on a self-help basis
b. Those
that can be met through participatory methods
c. Those that call for external support but where community has the
capacity to operate and maintain the facility
We have seen that 'aid' creates an oasis in the desert to show
change is possible and can be replicated. But who is going to replicate? That oasis remains a monument without
replication.
We conducted a cursory survey of water supply schemes executed by all donors. We found that they were
never revisited and no check-up of sources or water quality were carried out. Communities were waiting for some donor to
come and make small repairs, even to mend leaks in the pipes. (Our report is currently under preparation and can be sent
on request.)�? (Report will be included under Resources, when available)
originally submitted via the old FFA
website by Prof. A.M.H.Kango, Kashmir Institute of National Development (KIND), Pakistan
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Home » Forums » Aid is like AIDS