Our Projects

Public Health & Nutrition

Assessment of Receipt & Consumption of IFA Supplementation among Adolescents and Pregnant Women

Client(s): Micronutrient Initiative (Renamed as Nutrition International)

Coverage: M.P., U.P., Gujarat and Chhattisgarh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The Micronutrient Initiative (MI), under the Right Start Canadian Grant is supporting state governments in increasing the coverage and adherence to IFA among school going, out-of-school adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years) and pregnant and lactating mothers. The program is currently being rolled out in 377 rural blocks in the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. For pregnant women IFA programs are to be rolled out in 154 blocks in these states, barring Uttar Pradesh.
  • During the initial phase of implementation, it was imperative for Micronutrient Initiative as well as the state governments to understand and assess the current coverage of the IFA supplementation among the target groups. In view of this, MI commissioned AMS to undertake an assessment of the status of WIFS implementation, and iron supplementation for school going and out of school adolescent girls in the project States. Overall, the study covered a total of 3122 villages, spread across 400 blocks of 54 project districts of 4 States.
  • This report is an outcome of the survey carried out in all these states to assess the coverage and implementation of Iron Supplementation Programme. Besides this combined report presenting a comparative picture of the study states, separate detailed state-level reports had also been prepared presenting deeper analysis of the pertinent issues.

Baseline Survey of Reduction in Anaemia through Fortification of Wheat Flour among Women of Reproductive Age

Client(s): Nutrition International

Coverage: Vidisha District, Madhya Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

The objectives of the assignment were to—

  • An assessment of the levels of anaemia among non-pregnant and non-lactating women of reproductive age (15-49 years) in BPL families by taking blood samples and tests through Hemo Cue instrument.
  • An assessment of the coverage of fortified wheat flour among non-pregnant and non-lactating women of reproductive age (15-49 years).
  • An assessment of the acceptability of fortified wheat flour among the consumers
  • An assessment of awareness among the consumers regarding Anaemia, and how anaemia could be reduced by regular consumption of nutritious food including the fortified wheat flour.
  • An assessment of the availability along with regular and adequate receipt of micronutrient pre-mix by consumers, and identifying the suitable mechanism of making premix available to the consumers.
  • Understanding from chakki operators about the process of grinding and the available facilities (like hoppers, etc.) that can be adopted/used for mixing the micronutrient pre-mix with wheat flour.
  • Understanding willingness of fair price shop owners to counsel the beneficiaries for mixing micronutrient premix in the wheat flour.

Baseline study under ShubhAarambh 2.0 Project

Client(s): Save the Children & Magic Bus India Foundation

Coverage: MP, Maharashtra, HP, Tamil Nadu

Nature of Study: Baseline Study

  • The overarching objectives of the study were to assess the baseline status of ShubhAarambh Project areas and measure the knowledge and practices of children and adolescents. The key objectives were:
  • To measure the knowledge and practice level of children and adolescents on selected components of nutrition in the project
  • To check the status of students/ School’s accessibility of health services especially to weekly IFA tablets, dental screening, vision screening and de-worming tablets.
  • Development of kitchen gardens was an important aspect of the ShubhAarambh project and an innovative way to exhibit the significance of incorporating healthy fruits and vegetables in one’s regular diet. The survey captured proportion of children who reported to be helping in maintenance of Kitchen Gardens in their area, whether it was at home, school or community area

Assessing effects of ORS nd Zinc Co-packaging on level of zinc use and its adherence for childhood diarrhoea treatment

Client(s): Save the Children, India

Coverage: 4 Blocks of U.P. and 2 Wards of Kolkata

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Save the children is a leading independent child rights organization that fights for children’s rights and delivers immediate and lasting improvement to children’s lives worldwide. Save the children has been working in India since the pre-independence days. The organization is active on 5 core issues in 16 states and union territories and has reached over 3 million children across India.
  • The strategic objective of the study was to understand the community behaviour with respect to treatment of childhood diarrhoea with ORS and Zinc when both of these elements are available together at the point of their use. In other words, the organization wanted to understand if the co-packaging improves the use of Zinc in diarrhoeal treatment in order to adjust program approaches. AMS was commissioned to conduct a study which aimed to assess the effect of ORS and zinc co-packaging along with SBCC on the uptake of Zinc and ORS, to assess the effect of the same on adherence of zinc for 14 days and to understand the preferred mode of zinc uptakes-tablets or syrup.
  • The deliverables expected are as follows-
  • A baseline and an end-line assessment of the status of Zinc and ORS Co. packaging at the beginning and at the end of the study.
  • Data analysis plan
  • Reporting template
  • Quality control mechanism

Evaluation and Documentation of the Activities under WFP’s Food for Work Programme in Uttarakhand

Client(s): The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP), Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation & Documentation

  • Food for Work programme (FFW), a component of WFP, was initiated in the erstwhile Uttar Pradesh in May 1985 (Uttarakhand was then a part of U.P.) to strengthen the food security for the marginalized people living nearby the forests. Forestry was chosen as the primary conduit for food aid because of the comparatively large labour component of the work, inaccessibility of work areas and because forest workers are the most food insecure groups. The programme worked on the concept of ensuring food security in the households & linking the families with income generation activities for which WFP had collaborated with the Forest Department to run a “Food-for-Work (FFW)” program. During certain seasons of the year, state forest departments employ casual labourers to cut bamboo, tend nurseries, replant trees, and do other forestry activities. WFP, for its part, provided food—wheat or maize, pulses and oil to the Forest Department. The Department then sold the food at half the market rate, or 40 per cent of the daily wage, whichever was less, to forestry workers.
  • Encouraged by the grand success of both Phase I & II of FFW programme in U.P., in terms of number of people benefitted, tasks performed and funds generated, the third phase of FFW was implemented in Uttarakhand. The programme with support from the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) was implemented in seventeen Forest Divisions of the state.
  • Under the project the workers engaged in forest development activities were paid daily wages along with food grains for each man day worked and in lieu of the food grains a token amount of Rs. 10/- was deducted from their wages to create a ‘Generated Fund’. The ‘Generated Fund’ so created was ploughed back in the chosen villages in the same area for various developmental activities implemented in consonance with forest department by village committees as ‘Micro-plans or by NGOs’.
  • To assess the impact of the programme, WFP- Uttarakhand commissioned AMS to evaluate and document the activities carried out under the programme and their impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.

Baseline Survey of Tibetan Community in–exile in India and Nepal

Client(s): The Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration, Dharamshala

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The Central Tibetan Administration (CTA), Dharamsala, through its Department of Health (DoH), is currently implementing USAID supported “Tibetan Health System Capacity Strengthening Project (THSC)” for meeting the primary, preventive, secondary and tertiary healthcare needs of its Tibetan refugees in India and Nepal. This it seeks to deliver through its own network of 50 health facilities (38 Clinics, 5 Primary Health Care Centers and 7 Hospitals).
  • Initially, the project conducted assessment of 5 thematic areas (Tuberculosis; Reproductive Maternal Neonatal Child Health & Adolescent; Health Systems; Social & Behaviour Change Communication; and Health Information System). This revealed that critical information on key health indicators, such as, morbidity, RMNCH+A, health care seeking behaviour, and out-of-pocket expenses on health care were not available. Besides, gaps / inadequacies were detected in TB diagnostic & treatment services, social & behaviour change communication, and health information system.
  • In the absence of detailed data, the task of formulating and implementing any meaningful systemic reform becomes both challenging and hazardous. Thus, to fill-up the aforementioned gaps in Tibetan Health System (THS), the Tibet Fund, on behalf of DoH, has called for undertaking a baseline survey of Tibetan refugees.

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4)

Client(s): IIPS Mumbai through Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India

Coverage: Madhya Pradesh (West) and Bihar

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, had designated IIPS as the nodal agency, responsible for providing coordination and technical guidance for the NFHS. NFHS used to be funded by USAID with supplementary support from United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Annual Health Survey (AHS) in Uttarakhand (Ut1)

Client(s): Office of the Registrar General India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The Annual Health Survey (AHS) conceived at the behest of the National Population Commission, PMO & Planning Commission was launched in 2010-11 across all the 284 districts of the EAG states – Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The survey yielded benchmarks of core vital and health indicators at the district level and was intended to map its rate of change on a continual basis to assess the efficacy of various health interventions, including those under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). This survey was executed by the Office of the Registrar General, India on behalf of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) keeping in view of its expertise in handling the Sample Registration System (SRS), one of the largest demographic surveys in the world. The Offices of the Directorate of Census Operations (DCOs) of individual states were made responsible to coordinate and supervise the conduct of the survey in their states.
  • AMS was commissioned to carry out the survey works in two states — Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand. In each of these two states, one zone had been allotted to the organization. In Uttarakhand, AMS conducted the survey in altogether five districts located in zone Ut1—Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri & Uttarkashi. Similarly in Uttar Pradesh, the survey work was carried out by AMS in all the allotted 24 districts of the eastern zone. The survey covered the house-listing exercise followed by canvassing of household schedule, mortality schedule, village/urban schedule and schedule for currently married women (Age 15-49 years) & children.
  • Thus, a very large volume of data was collected from the field, which was then duly edited, coded and converted into soft format before its analysis for generating the desired estimates through customized software designed on the platform of SPSS.

Annual Health Survey (AHS) in Uttar Pradesh (U3)

Client(s): Office of the Registrar General India, Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The Annual Health Survey (AHS) conceived at the behest of the National Population Commission, PMO & Planning Commission was launched in 2010-11 across all the 284 districts of the EAG states – Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Assam. The survey yielded benchmarks of core vital and health indicators at the district level and was intended to map its rate of change on a continual basis to assess the efficacy of various health interventions, including those under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). This survey was executed by the Office of the Registrar General, India on behalf of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) keeping in view of its expertise in handling the Sample Registration System (SRS), one of the largest demographic surveys in the world. The Offices of the Directorate of Census Operations (DCOs) of individual states were made responsible to coordinate and supervise the conduct of the survey in their states.
  • AMS was commissioned to carry out the survey works in two states — Uttar Pradesh & Uttarakhand. In each of these two states, one zone had been allotted to the organization. In Uttarakhand, AMS conducted the survey in altogether five districts located in zone Ut1—Dehradun, Haridwar, Tehri Garhwal, Pauri & Uttarkashi. Similarly in Uttar Pradesh, the survey work was carried out by AMS in all the allotted 24 districts of the eastern zone. The survey covered the house-listing exercise followed by canvassing of household schedule, mortality schedule, village/urban schedule and schedule for currently married women (Age 15-49 years) & children.
  • Thus, a very large volume of data was collected from the field, which was then duly edited, coded and converted into soft format before its analysis for generating the desired estimates through customized software designed on the platform of SPSS.

Annual Evaluation of Key Performance Indicators of Stop Diarrhoea Initiative (SDI)

Client(s) : Save the Children, India

Coverage : 4 States – Delhi, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

The objectives of the assignment were to—

  • Save the Children implemented an initiative named Stop Diarrhoea project which was supported by Reckitt Benckiser and was aimed at contributing to the reduction in diarrhoea-related deaths among children under-five in 9 districts (North and South Delhi, Haridwar, Udham Singh Nagar, Shravasthi, Pilibhit, Behraich, Balrampur and Ward 58 & 65) across 4 states – Delhi, Uttarakhand, West Bengal & Uttar Pradesh. AMS was commissioned to conduct a survey to evaluate the performance of the project on the Key Performance Indicators of WASH and Diarrhoea Management.
  • The primary objective of the survey was to understand the improvement in the KPIs after a year of implementation activities undertaken in the concerned states/districts/blocks. The specific objectives were—
  • The personal hygiene practices of the households regarding water and sanitation
  • The knowledge and practice level of community workers on WASH
  • Knowledge and practice level of front line health workers managing Diarrhoea and other associated diseases
  • The use of ORS/Zinc therapy by the health service providers
  • Percentage of children under five children fully immunized as per the EPI schedule

Study on Effectiveness of Maternal and Child Survival Program (MCSP) in Improving the Quality of Female Sterilization Services

Client(s): JHPIEGO Corporation

Coverage: Chhattisgarh & Odisha

Nature of Study: Evaluation Study

The objectives of the assignment were to—

  • The assignment plans to evaluate the effectiveness of quality improvement initiatives of MCSP in bringing about a change in quality of female sterilization services provided at public health facilities in 2 states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha.
  • The specific objective of the study is to undertake data collection in the sampled public health facilities of Odisha and Chhattisgarh to understand and evaluate the impact of MCSP on the quality of public health services provided in the sampled public health facilities in terms of following:
  • Improvement in key parameters before and after the intervention
  • Significant difference observed between the intervention and control (comparison) groups
  • The key parameters based on which the data had to be collected comprised of the following:
  • Proportion of key practices (as per national guidelines on female sterilization) being adhered to by the service providers before, during & after female sterilization procedure
  • Proportion of service delivery performance standards for female sterilization services being achieved by the facilities
  • Facility readiness for female sterilization services
  • Level of client satisfaction with female sterilization services

Baseline Survey with MAMTA-Health Institute for mother and child for the initiative on "Improving Nutritional Health and Hygiene of Adolescent Girls and Boys through Peer Led Approach"

Client(s): MAMTA- Health Institute for Mother and Child

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

The objectives of the assignment were to—

  • Improving health and hygiene of the adolescent girls and boys has been one of the prime agenda for the Government in India. In response to the same, the government has been floating several schemes (like ICDS, ARSH, SABLA, TSC) throughout the country. However, recent studies by the government have revealed serious challenges in the implementation of the program.
  • Some of the major challenges faced are:
  • Lack of self-esteem and decision-making power amongst adolescents
  • Lack of necessary knowledge among the adolescents
  • Skills and competence of existing frontline functionaries like AWW and ASHA
  • Lack of family/community support due to prevailing cultural and gender norms
  • The most important concern in these intervention programs run by the government is the poor reach of the frontline workers (ASHA, ANM, AWW) to the marginalized communities in the state of Uttar Pradesh. In order to solve the problem, the government has announced the RKSK (Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karayakram) strategy, using safe space-based peer-led approach and the mobile technology-based M-Health for plugging in the existing gap in transfer of knowledge and resources from frontline workers to adolescents.
  • The current project aimed towards improving Nutritional Health and Hygiene of Adolescent Girls and Boys by 2018 in three districts of Uttar Pradesh (Varanasi, Allahabad, Banda) by strengthening decision-making processes of adolescent and parents through community support system and inter-departmental convergence for efficiently managing an inclusive and effective service delivery mechanism.

District Level Household Survey-4 in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India through International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), gets conducted a district level household survey for Reproductive Child Health, commonly known as the DLHS. The International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai has been made the nodal agency by MoHFW for District Level Household and Facility Survey-4 in 26 States and Union Territories and Facility Survey for 9 Annual Health Survey Stales namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Orissa and Assam. IIPS had commissioned AMS for conducting Household Survey work of DLHS-4 in the state of Haryana. The expected number of sample households covered in the State for the individual interviews was 33,275.
  • In addition, the survey also entailed carrying out Clinical, Anthropometric and Bio-chemical (CAB) test for all members of sub-sample of households fixed for the activity in Uttarakhand and Haryana. The CAB tests consisted of —
  • Haemoglobin test
  • Height measurement
  • Weight measurement
  • Blood pressure measurement
  • Fasting Blood glucose measurement
  • Testing of salt used by sample households.
  • As part of DLHS, in the State of Uttarakhand we were also commissioned to undertake the Facility Survey. The survey covered about 780 facilities consisting of Sub Health Centres (SHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub Divisional Hospitals (SDIs-I) and District Hospital (DHs). The SHCs and PHCs were selected only in the jurisdiction/link of the selected rural PSUs for household survey conducted in AHS; and all CHCs, SDUs, and DHs in the district were covered for facility survey.
  • DLHS-4 was different in several aspects from previous rounds of DLHS considering that the household survey was conducted on mini laptops and that clinical anthropometric & biometric tests were also collected besides the RCH data. The health and field experts from AMS trained the field supervisors & enumerators adequately to conduct the study and the tests as per the requirements. GPS was also used extensively during the facility survey in Haryana and Uttarakhand.

District Level Household Survey-4 in Haryana

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India through International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai

Coverage: Haryana

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW), gets conducted a district level household survey for Reproductive Child Health, commonly known as the DLHS. The International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai has been made the nodal agency by MoHFW for District Level Household and Facility Survey-4 in 26 States and Union Territories and Facility Survey for 9 Annual Health Survey Stales namely Bihar, Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Orissa and Assam. IIPS had commissioned AMS for conducting Household Survey work of DLHS-4 in the state of Haryana. The expected number of sample households covered in the State for the individual interviews was 33,275.
  • In addition, the survey also entailed carrying out Clinical, Anthropometric and Bio-chemical (CAB) test for all members of sub-sample of households fixed for the activity in Uttarakhand and Haryana. The CAB tests consisted of —
  • Haemoglobin test
  • Height measurement
  • Weight measurement
  • Blood pressure measurement
  • Fasting Blood glucose measurement
  • Testing of salt used by sample households.
  • As part of DLHS, in the State of Uttarakhand we were also commissioned to undertake the Facility Survey. The survey covered about 780 facilities consisting of Sub Health Centres (SHCs), Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), Sub Divisional Hospitals (SDIs-I) and District Hospital (DHs). The SHCs and PHCs were selected only in the jurisdiction/link of the selected rural PSUs for household survey conducted in AHS; and all CHCs, SDUs, and DHs in the district were covered for facility survey.
  • DLHS-4 was different in several aspects from previous rounds of DLHS considering that the household survey was conducted on mini laptops and that clinical anthropometric & biometric tests were also collected besides the RCH data. The health and field experts from AMS trained the field supervisors & enumerators adequately to conduct the study and the tests as per the requirements. GPS was also used extensively during the facility survey in Haryana and Uttarakhand.

Market Landscape Assessment of Primary Health Care including MNCH, Family Planning and Sanitation Services in Select Urban Locations

Client(s): Save the Children

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

The objectives of the assignment were to—

  • The study aims at conducting a market landscape assessment. The key objectives of the assessments are:
  • 1. To describe the market landscape having multi-player and multi-functional arrangement comprising of core functions of demand and supply.
  • 2. To describe supporting functions and rules, which are performed and shaped by variety of players including public sector on the following:
  • a. Understanding the perspective of the of systems-based stakeholders pertaining to policy and rules to utilization of Mother and Child Health (MNCH), Family Planning (FP), and sanitation services by the community.
  • b. Assessing the preparedness of the urban health system including Municipal corporation, Public health Engineering Department (PHED), government front line workers for providing mother and child health (MNCH), Family planning (FP), and safe sanitation services at various levels in terms of infrastructure, HR availability and capacity, logistics, drugs & equipment, referral & follow-up, recording and reporting, supervision, governance, information, co-ordination quality assurance, guidance and financial modalities.

Baseline Survey under ASHA support for Family Planning promotion Projects

Client(s): State Innovations in Family Planning Services Project Agency (SIFPSA), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • AMS was commissioned to undertake the study with the following objectives: -
  • 1. To benchmark key output indicators in respect of the following—
  • Use of Modern Family Planning methods (Modern method contraceptive prevalence rate : mCPR)—
  • Male & female Sterilization; IUCD / PPIUCD; Oral Pills & Condom
  • Complete ANC (3 ANC check-up + 2 doses of TT and 100 IFA); 3 ANC checkups; Distribution and consumption of IFA tables; 2 doses of TT; Age at Marriage; and Age at first birth.
  • 2. To identify key restraining and facilitating factors responsible for the particular nature of family planning & maternal health indicators among currently married women (15-45 years);
  • 3. To recommend suitable measures for improving the family planning & maternal health indicators at the grassroots level.

Evaluation of Rashtriya Swasthya Beema Yojana

Client(s): State Planning Commission, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The Rashtriya Swasthya Beema Yojana was launched by the Government to provide health insurance to the workers engaged in unorganized sector, particularly those belonging to BPL category. AMS was commissioned to undertake its evaluation in the state. The objective of the study was to evaluate and analyse the following aspects of the scheme--
  • Need & justification for study.
  • Action taken by State Nodal Agency on the survey conducted for the scheme.
  • Adequacy of empanelled Govt. and Private hospitals under the scheme.
  • Inclination of BPL families towards the scheme.
  • Process of registration of BPL families under the scheme and the hurdles faced.
  • Understanding how the target groups are being benefited and adequacy of provisions.
  • Publicity & awareness.
  • Adequacy & sufficiency of facilities extended to patients.
  • Process of settlement of claims and amount released to hospitals, including time involved in the process.
  • Payment of premium to Insurance Companies.
  • Status of lower interest w.r.t. scheme among BPL families.
  • Difficulties faced during implementation of scheme and suggestions to overcome them.
  • Efficacy of implementation and benefits accrued to BPL families as against scheme’s mandate.

Impact Assessment of Anaemia Prevention Initiatives

Client(s): USAID’s A2Z Project

Coverage: Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • The Government of Jharkhand in partnership with MOST (India), the USAID Micronutrient Program took up initiatives to address anemia in Jharkhand. The primary goal of this initiative was to improve the health status of pregnant women, lactating mothers and adolescent girls in these areas by reducing the prevalence of anemia in these target groups. An evaluation was undertaken to assess the overall effectiveness of the existing program, its impact on behaviors of the community, and on the capacity of the NGOs to deliver program services.
  • AMS was commissioned to conduct this evaluation with the specific objectives to —(a) identify the strengths and weaknesses of the project; (b) review communication materials created; (c) study the supervision structure and its effectiveness; (d) study the monitoring process undertaken and monitoring tools created; (e) review the management structure of the Project; (f) review the ability of the Project to link itself with the community; (g) evaluate how this anemia program package could be used as a means of building capacity of the NGOs to deliver other types of health services; and (h) evaluate how the NGOs’ involvement in the community had contributed to the program success.

Assessment of Social Franchising Programme (MerryGold Health Network)

Client(s): State Innovations in Family Planning Services Project Agency (SIFPSA), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Merry Gold Health Network (MGHN) is a three-tier health service delivery model in 35 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The first level, L1, is known as Merry Gold Hospitals located at the district level with 15 - 20 bedded facilities providing maternal and child health services and reasonably equipped to handle emergency obstetric care and critical issues. At the second level, the L2 facilities are called Merry Silver clinics which provide basic obstetric care, family planning services and counseling and immunization services. Merry Tarang (L3) is the third tier of the network and serves as the referral network at the community level and provides health-counseling and socially marketed health products like condoms, oral contraceptives, Oral Rehydration Salts and Iron and Folic Acid tablets. This innovative franchisee network consists of 70 fully franchised Merry gold (L1) facilities, 371 fractional franchised Merry Silver (L2) facilities and 10,814 Merry Tarang (L3) field-workers as a referral network which includes two fully franchisor owned facilities, known as L0 which serve as the demo sites model hospital for testing out elements of the franchising package spread in 36 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The overall aim of MGHN was to gain scale and increased demand/ patient loads that would allow profitable franchisees to provide various services at 30 - 50% below the prevailing market price.
  • AMS undertook the assessment of Social Franchising Project in 35 districts of Uttar Pradesh. The study included the following components:
  • i. Beneficiaries exit interview at facilities L1 & L2,
  • ii. Facility (L1, L2 & L3) assessment.

Study for assessing Social Accountability under Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Strengthening Project (UPHSSP)

Client(s): Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Strengthening Project, Govt. of U.P.

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • AMS was contracted to undertake a comprehensive social assessment study to ascertain community’s healthcare needs and problems faced in fulfilling them, their perceptions of the Government healthcare delivery system and preferences. The CAPI based survey also focused on maternal and reproductive health of women between 15-49 years of age. Collection of both quantitative and qualitative data related to hygiene and sanitation formed an integral part of the survey.
  • The overarching goal of this study was to generate baseline estimates for various healthcare performance indicators to help the authorities understand the current status of the sampled villages. The findings generated out of this study would serve as a crucial input for designing social accountability strategies and interventions for bringing about quality improvements in the health service delivery.

Technical Assistance for setting-up State Public Health Research Institute (SPHRI) under SIHFW

Client(s): State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Technical Assistance Provider

  • To alleviate the health scenario of the State, NRHM mandated the establishment of a State Health Resource Centre (SHRC) as a ‘think-tank’ for facilitating implementation of NRHM interventions besides providing technical assistance for improving the public health delivery systems.
  • The SPHRI was proposed to be established over a period of five years (2012-17) in a phased manner under the auspices of State Institute of Health and Family Welfare. For the institute to get established and become fully functional, it required a long gestation period. However, for the institute to start delivering on its mandate effectively right from its inception, it required support from external sources. It was therefore proposed to engage a Technical Assistance Provider (TAP), who would not only systematically assist in establishing the resource centre/institute but also offer the intended services to the directorates on behalf of SPHRI while still being established. As a Technical Assistance Provider, it was proposed to offer services under two broad categories —
  • Provide managerial and administrative support towards the establishment of SPHRI.
  • Provide technical support to SPMU (NRHM) and the Directorates of Medical Health and Family Welfare enabling informed decision making.
  • TAP sought to offer the support to the SPHRI for the entire project duration (2012-17), after which it left, leaving the organization self-sustained and independent.

Evaluation & Process Monitoring of National Ambulance Scheme (NAS) 102 and Samajwadi Swasthya Sewa (SSS) 108

Client(s): State Innovations in Family Planning Services Project Agency (SIFPSA)

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS undertook in-depth evaluation and process monitoring of 102 NAS and 108 Samajwadi Swasthya Seva (2014-15) schemes in U.P. The specific objectives of the study involving desk appraisal were to—
  • Assess and evaluate patterns of utilization of services in all 75 districts of U.P. in order to understand the present and potential demand for these services and the effectiveness of response to this.
  • Review the operational aspects of 102 and 108 services, including the operational efficiency of GVK-EMRI, financial management, and management of contractual obligations.
  • Examine the design aspect and the framework of the EMRI model, in the context of larger health systems issues and ERS requirements, including equity issues and institutional frameworks including governance and accountability issues

Desk Appraisal of National Ambulance Scheme (NAS) 102 and Samajwadi Swasthya Sewa (SSS) 108

Client(s) : State Innovations in Family Planning Services Project Agency (SIFPSA)

Coverage : Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Desk Appraisal

  • AMS undertook in-depth evaluation and process monitoring of 102 NAS and 108 Samajwadi Swasthya Seva (2014-15) schemes in U.P. The specific objectives of the study involving desk appraisal were to—
  • Assess and evaluate patterns of utilization of services in all 75 districts of U.P. to understand the present and potential demand for these services and the effectiveness of response to this.
  • Review the operational aspects of 102 and 108 services, including the operational efficiency of GVK-EMRI, financial management, and management of contractual obligations.
  • Examine the design aspect and the framework of the EMRI model, in the context of larger health systems issues and ERS requirements, including equity issues and institutional frameworks including governance and accountability issues

Assessment of Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) programme being implemented through ASHAs selling subsidized sanitary napkins & promoting safe disposal practices

Client(s): UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The UN-World Food Program (WFP), in collaboration with the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Uttarakhand, had initiated a joint project, aimed at empowering adolescents for health promotion and prevention of HIV/AIDS. AMS was commissioned by the UN-World Food Program to conduct a baseline & end-line assessment study to get an in-depth understanding of the level of awareness among adolescent girls with respect to reproductive and child health, HIV/AIDS and RTI/STI, besides assessing their health seeking behaviour and the issue of accessibility to the healthcare services. The Study was conducted in both, urban and rural areas of the State. The assessment study involved in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with adolescent girls, the frontline health functionaries (ANMs and AWWs) and the in-charges of the Government health facilities. The study findings enabled the program managers not only to design area specific strategies but also in benchmarking the key indicators against which to measure the impact of the program.

Patients Satisfaction Survey for Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Development Project

Client(s): Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Development Project (UPHSDP), SIHFW Campus, Indira Nagar, Lucknow (UP)

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Feedback Survey

  • AMS has conducted the annual monitoring of the U.P. Health Systems Development Project (UPHSDP). As a component of the above task, AMS has conducted regular Patients’ Satisfaction Survey for assessing the patients’ perception on various parameters. AMS has been conducting this survey right since the inception of the World Bank assisted Health Systems Development Project in the State. During the survey, the patients’ satisfaction was judged on four key aspects, namely, (i) availability of services — medicines and diagnostic services, (ii) behaviour of the paramedical staff, (iii) behaviour and competence rating of doctors and (iv) physical facilities and environment. Based on these aspects, overall satisfaction ratings were determined and these were crosschecked with a “Value for Money” index. Based upon the findings, key strategies were developed for ensuring more effective implementation of these schemes in the State

Resource Mapping of Public Health Facilities in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Directorate of Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Mapping & Facility Survey

  • The Directorate of Family Welfare, Govt. of U.P. had commissioned AMS to undertake a comprehensive pilot study on resource mapping of all public and private health facilities in the four districts of U.P., namely Lakhimpur Kheri, Deoria, Mainpuri and Sonbhadra. The objective of this exercise was to study the availability of various resources such as equipment, infrastructure, manpower, etc., at various health facilities and to identify the critical gaps and resource mismatches for strengthening the health facilities. Based upon the findings, key strategies were developed for strengthening the health facilities and ensuring its effective implementation in the state.
  • On successful execution of the pilot study, AMS was retained to upscale the project in the remaining 66 districts of the state. Keeping in mind the key issues under the study, a sampling plan was developed along with a set of qualitative and quantitative research tools for collection of primary data. The quantitative data was analyzed using various statistical tools for collection of primary data. The quantitative data was analyzed using various statistical tools and the qualitative data was suitably synthesized. Besides generating facility-wise reports on the availability of various resources, AMS also developed a GIS software which could be used for rationalizing the location of sub-centers in the state.

Study on Averting Preventive Maternal Mortality— Delays and Barriers to the Utilization of Emergency Obstetric Care in India

Client(s): The World Bank

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The World Bank had commissioned AMS to conduct the study ‘Averting Preventive Maternal Mortality— Delays and Barriers to the Utilization of Emergency Obstetric Care in India’. The purpose of this study was — to provide an understanding of the delays and barriers to emergency obstetric care utilization; to identify the maternal health intervention strategies most likely to improve emergency obstetric care utilization; and ultimately to reduce maternal mortality and morbidity levels. The study consisted of both qualitative and quantitative components examining the delays and barriers to the utilization of emergency obstetric care using available data and collecting additional primary data. It also aimed to assess the relative contributions of demand (social, economic and household/family), barriers and supply (service access and quality) factors in determining women’s utilization of emergency obstetric care.

Rapid survey on Children (RSOC) for UNICEF

Client(s): UNICEF, India

Coverage: Uttarakhand, Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab, Delhi and Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) is a flagship programme of Govt. of India to fight malnutrition, morbidity, mortality, low learning capacity among children. Although ICDS has an evolving monitoring system for collecting data at Anganwadi Centers (AWCs) on processes of implementation, such as type of food distributed and its utilisation, stock position, supplementary feeding records for pregnant & lactating women and children up to six years of age, immunization, vitamin A supplementation, delivery outcomes, etc. There is a dearth of reliable and timely data for situation analysis on nutrition, anaemia, child mortality, birth registration, etc.
  • The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD) entered into collaboration with UNICEF to support the setting up of a Rapid Survey Based Information System (RSI) for providing reliable data with regards to quick assessment of situation of children, lactating & pregnant women and status of implementation of ICDS, through AWC on a regular basis. Towards this end, UNICEF commissioned AMS for undertaking a survey of children with two broad objectives—
  • To measure the levels of identified indicators, based on the household and personal information of mothers for children below 6 years of age, and currently pregnant & lactating mothers.
  • To assess the situation of implementation of ICDS Project in terms of its facilities and utilization of services for different target groups.
  • The fieldwork for the survey was carried out through the Computer Aided Personal Interview (CAPI) system involving data collection directly onto the mini-laptops preloaded with customized software, rather than the traditional paper-pencil format. Overall, the survey involved undertaking the following— (i) survey of household members; (ii) anthropometric measurement of children below 5 years of age and of adolescent girls aged between 10 and 19 years; (iii) testing of salt, being used by the households, for its iodine content; and (iv) facility survey of AWCs.

Assessment of Maternal Newborn, Child Health and Nutrition (MNCHN) Status

Client(s): Save the Children, India (BalRaksha Bharat)

Coverage: Rajasthan, Odisha and Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Save the Children (SC) is a global organization committed to help India reach MDG-4 related to reduction of child mortality. The objectives of SC’s Newborn & Child Survival programs are— to increase the chances of survival of children aged 0-5 years; to reduce the levels of malnutrition among children; and to improve newborn and maternal health.
  • The project aimed to strengthen MNCHN services and practices through interventions in capacity building, governance and accountability in project areas. In this project, SC proposed to improve the quality & coverage of MNCHN services in three strategic ways—
  • i. Enhancing the capacity of frontline health workers to deliver effective preventive, promotional and basic curative services;
  • ii. Promoting good governance through community-based accountability mechanisms and advocacy; and
  • iii. Increasing the quantity, quality and availability of empirical data related to the provision of MNCHN care through research activities.
  • iii. Increasing the quantity, quality and availability of empirical data related to the provision of MNCHN care through research activities.

Research on assessment of neonatal deaths, reasons & possible role of local healthcare practitioners

Client(s): Save the Children, India (BalRaksha Bharat)

Coverage: Rajasthan, Bihar & Odisha

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Save the Children, India (Bal Raksha Bharat) commissioned AMS to undertake a study for assessing neonatal deaths in its MNCHN project implementation areas. The core objective of the study was to assess the rates and causes of neonatal deaths, along with the role of local healthcare practitioners in averting the same. The sample was spread across 6 project implementation districts from three states – Churu & Tonk in Rajasthan, Sitamarhi & Gaya in Bihar, and Kandhamal & Nuapada in Odisha.
  • In order to explore the causes of deaths, verbal autopsies were conducted for neonatal deaths reported in the sampled areas between January 1st and December 31st, 2012. The verbal autopsies primarily aimed at understanding the events preceding the death of the baby and the symptoms observed by family members which might have caused it. Further, to understand the role of local healthcare providers in preventing these deaths, in-depth interviews were conducted with public and private health care practitioners working in the sampled areas. During the course of study the prevalent IYCF practices in the project districts were also assessed as improper feeding practices may lead to malnourishment and ultimately an increase in infant mortality.
  • The findings generated from the study would help the organization devise strategic interventions for averting neonatal deaths in these areas.

Evaluation of the activities of Mobile Health Vans and Dairy Development Scheme

Client(s): The State Planning Commission, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Providing basic health services at the doorstep, especially to the far flung and remote inaccessible hilly villages, forms the mandate of the core health policy of the Government of Uttarakhand. Besides institutional service delivery mechanism, supplementary services are identified as crucial arena in order to achieve the milestones set in the health sector. The state government is already operating well equipped mobile health vans (Arogya Raths) under the ambit of NRHM, staffed with doctors, specialists &assistants, besides medicines and consumables, across the length and breadth of the state. While route mapping of such vehicles is carried out in a pre-defined frequency across the strategic locations, such support essentially include OPD and diagnostic services on the scheduled camp sites.
  • Experience gained during initial years of such operations called for inclusion of a wide array of services, maintaining affordability especially for the economically backward sections of the society, increasing the frequency of organization of camps and minimizing distance from the remote & underserved locations. Besides other factors such as logistics support for free of cost medicines, wider coverage and overall quality aspects, were simultaneously recognized to be important for up-scaling the present coverage. Therefore, in order to ensure adequate coverage of the service and according weight of the aforementioned aspects, the state had further decided to operate externally funded additional mobile clinics in all the 13 districts at the state’s own operational expense. The services were subsequently introduced and entailed linkage to professional agencies deployed as operators. In order to gauge the level of performance of the aforesaid mobile health service as against the stipulated mandates, the State Planning Commission of Uttarakhand, had awarded a prestigious evaluation study to AMS as an independent third party. Accordingly the performance of all the qualitative and quantitative aspects of the mobile health van service in the state was assessed in a systematic manner. Semi-structured schedules were prepared in consultation with the client and thereafter requisite feedbacks were obtained from multiple stakeholders covering all the sampled locations. Logical analysis of data & findings, preparation of report & presentation of the

Evaluation of BCC Strategy for Mobile Health Vans Operating under NRHM in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • With the goal to increase accessibility of preventive, diagnostic and curative services for people living in remote areas and an emphasis on reproductive health services, UKHFWS implemented a pilot project towards improving access to health care at the household level and supplement the primary health care services as also to provide referral service to the needy through the Mobile Health Clinics.
  • However, a number of barriers were identified in the effective utilization of these mobile clinics. The major barriers include knowledge issues around the van & its services followed by conservative community attitudes and beliefs, thereby hindering desired utilization level of mobile health clinics. There are also misconceptions that are spread by those who had visited the vans and had not been able to understand the processes inside. In the absence of required counselling to dispel doubts and garner knowledge, they came back with incorrect ideas and spread them in the community. Further, cost barrier had also contributed to the low utilization level of the mobile health clinics. People were not quite aware that something more is to be paid and how much.
  • In the light of the aforementioned issues UKHFWS had commissioned AMS to undertake BCC campaign design for mobile health clinics. The overall program objective was to improve access to RCH services in difficult remote areas by way of increasing utilization of the Mobile Van services. The assignment involved conducting a Household Survey for assessing the healthcare seeking behaviour of the people, their communication needs and levels of awareness regarding the services of mobile health vans. Based on the same, the barriers in communication were identified among various respondent groups and it formed the basis of designing a responsive and local need specific BCC strategy for the MHVs. During the course of the assignment various BCC materials were also developed like, Signpost, Paper Airplane for Propaganda, Leaflets, Registration Kits, Booklets, etc.

Baseline Survey of Urban Health in Slums of Uttarakhand

Client(s): Uttarakhand Health & Family Welfare Society

Coverage: Dehradun & Roorkee

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The provision of assured and credible primary health services of acceptable quality in urban areas has emerged as a priority for both the central and the state governments in view of the increasing urbanization along with the growth of slums and low-income populations in the cities. AMS was commissioned by Health & Family Welfare Society (UKH & FWS) to conduct a Baseline Survey to develop key baseline Reproductive & Child Health indicators prior to launching the urban health program in these two cities.
  • The baseline survey used a two-stage, 30-cluster sampling design, with slums as the Primary Sampling Unit (PSU) and women who have delivered in the past two years within the sample PSU as the secondary sampling unit. Total of 1500 women were covered across 60 slums (30 slums each in Dehradun and Roorkee districts).

Endline Survey for Developing Key MCH Indicators and Health Insurance Coverage

Client(s): USAID through Abt Associates Inc

Coverage: All 9 Districts of Delhi

Nature of Study: Endline Survey

  • The key objective of the survey was to evaluate the impact of the Health Systems 20/20 Mission Convergence Health Project interventions. The pilot intervention was designed to increase access to and use of essential maternal and child health services and Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojna (RSBY), and to reduce out-of-pocket expenditures for drugs and medical consultations via a clinic model. For the same, two cross-sectional surveys were conducted across the slums of Delhi, categorised as the Intervention and Control Slums.
  • The survey sought to assess the access to primary health care services, prevalence of chronic/critical ailments, healthcare seeking behaviour, coverage under RSBY and other health insurance plans, pattern of the most recent OPD and IPD treatment in the past 30 days and 365 days, respectively through household survey. Besides, the surveys also sought to assess the key maternal & child health indicators through MCH Survey. Further, it also sought to assess the changes in key indicators between the baseline and the endline of the project. The quantitative data was analyzed using various statistical tools like difference-in-differences (DID) analysis, ANOVA, etc. and the qualitative data was suitably synthesized.

Baseline Survey for Developing Key MCH Indicators and Health Insurance Coverage

Client(s): USAID through Abt Associates Inc

Coverage: All 9 Districts of Delhi

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The core objective of this assignment was to carry out a baseline survey in the slums of Delhi for the purpose of evaluating Delhi Mission Convergence Health Insurance Project. The baseline survey sought to assess the quality of primary health care services, prevalence of chronic/critical ailments, health seeking behavior, coverage under Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana (RSBY) and other health insurance plans, pattern of the most recent OPD and IPD treatment in the past 30 days and 365 days, respectively through the household schedules.
  • Besides, the baseline survey also sought to assess the key Maternal & Child Health indicators through 'MCH Survey'. Keeping in mind the key issues under study, a sampling plan was developed, besides designing a set of quantitative and qualitative research tools for the collection of primary data. The quantitative data was analyzed using various statistical tools and the qualitative data was synthesized suitably. Based on the analysis, final report was prepared and presented to the client.

Annual Performance Survey of the World Bank assisted Health Systems Development Projects

Client(s): Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Development Project, Govt. of U.P.

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Annual Performance Survey

Annual Performance Survey of the World Bank assisted Health Systems Development Projects

Client(s): Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Annual Performance Survey

  • AMS undertook the Annual Performance Survey of the World Bank assisted Health Systems Development Projects in the State of Uttar Pradesh. The major objectives of the assignment were: — (a) To assess the performance of the Project at various levels; (b) To measure the improvement in services, both in terms of quantity & quality and to generate measurable outcomes, such as, increase in outpatient & inpatient visits, increased bed occupancy, greater use of diagnostic facility and greater patient satisfaction for all the project facilities; (c) To assess the impact of secondary-level strengthening on CHCs and Block PHCs and functioning of the referral system; (d) To analyze the use of facilities by disadvantaged groups and women; and (e) To assess the status of motivation & behavior of employees, with special reference to absenteeism.

Concurrent Evaluation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM)

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched by the Government of India in April, 2005 for providing accessible, affordable and equitable healthcare to the rural people with a special focus on 18 states that have weak public health indicators and/or weak infrastructure. AMS was commissioned by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India to assess the impact of the NRHM interventions in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
  • The key objectives of the assignment were to survey and identify the gaps and constraints in programme implementation; and to provide suggestions for overcoming the constraints and improving the implementation of the programme with reference to functioning of health facilities and accountability in the delivery of health services. The assignment included probing issues related to institutional and monitoring systems; consistency, feasibility and effectiveness of programme design with respect to the goals of NRHM; making the program elements of NRHM operational and identifying managerial and design constraints; identification of the available capacities and the adequacy building efforts; and outcomes of the programme as regards the phase of the programme in each State.

Concurrent Evaluation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) in Jharkhand

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India

Coverage: Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) was launched by the Government of India in April, 2005 for providing accessible, affordable and equitable healthcare to the rural people with a special focus on 18 states that have weak public health indicators and/or weak infrastructure. AMS was commissioned by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India to assess the impact of the NRHM interventions in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand.
  • The key objectives of the assignment were to survey and identify the gaps and constraints in programme implementation; and to provide suggestions for overcoming the constraints and improving the implementation of the programme with reference to functioning of health facilities and accountability in the delivery of health services. The assignment included probing issues related to institutional and monitoring systems; consistency, feasibility and effectiveness of programme design with respect to the goals of NRHM; making the program elements of NRHM operational and identifying managerial and design constraints; identification of the available capacities and the adequacy building efforts; and outcomes of the programme as regards the phase of the programme in each State.

Facility Assessment Aimed at Operationalizing Selected First Referral Units (FRUs)

Client(s): UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Facility Assessment

  • Strengthening of CHCs/Round-the-clock (24x7) PHCs to provide emergency obstetric care and newborn care in rural areas as first referral units (FRUs) is a key initiative under the NRHM policy framework and annual action plan for Govt. of UP. In the State, 45 districts have been identified as high focus districts. Unicef had commissioned AMS to develop detailed action plans for making the selected health facilities (122 across various levels) functional as FRUs in 5 out of these 45 districts. In addition, quite aptly, the study also mandated to facilitate the implementation of these plans by providing technical support through follow-up visits. It is envisaged that this will serve as a model, which can be scaled up and extended to rest of the high focus districts by the Government.

Evaluation of IEC Materials/Activities under the National Program for Control of Blindness (NPCB)

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, New Delhi

Coverage: Jammu & Kashmir, Nagaland, Assam, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar and Tripura

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Effective communication with target groups forms one of the essential components in any programme for generation of awareness and behaviour change. Communication inputs significantly increase people’s awareness and concern over matters relating to health & hygiene. Research has proved that communication can indeed be used as an input for achievement of programme goals. Accordingly, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) is an intrinsic component of the NPCB programme for improving health & hygiene indicators related to eye care. IEC activities under NPCB are undertaken at Central, State and District levels.
  • Periodic evaluation to keep track of the program performance is an essential ingredient for successful implementation of any development program. This allows the program managers to consolidate the program strengths and minimize the shortcomings. Information, education and communication (IEC) is a crucial component of NPCB having a direct influence on the goals and objectives of this health initiative of National importance. Accordingly, AMS was commissioned by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India to conduct an evaluation of IEC activities under the National Program for Control of Blindness.

Baseline Survey of Health Facilities & Slums in 14 NUHM Cities in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Directorate of Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • As a preparatory activity for the National Urban Health Mission (NUHM), the Directorate of Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh had commissioned AMS to conduct a baseline survey of Health Facilities & urban slums (listed and unlisted) across the 14 cities of Uttar Pradesh to benchmark the various reproductive & child health (RCH) and family planning indicators.
  • The baseline study was aimed at gathering all relevant information from households and facilities by executing the following sets of activities—
  • Household level interviews with the heads of the respective households
  • Individual interviews with married women of reproductive age (15-49 years) within the same households.
  • Facility audits of Service Delivery Points (public & private health facilities, pharmacies, retail outlets and RMPs).
  • AMS had conducted the study and submitted its report as per protocol. All activities, including field planning, induction training of research investigators, data collection, data entry, programming, data sheet generation, data interpretation and report writing were duly carried out.

District Level Household Survey Round-3 (DLHS-3) - Phase-II

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India through International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai

Coverage: Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Nature of Study: Large-Scale Survey

  • The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, gets conducted a District Level Household Survey (DLHS) for generating district-level indicators on Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) in all the States and Union Territories of the country. AMS was commissioned to conduct the Round-3 of this survey in the States of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The assignment involved carrying out the field survey and generating relevant RCH indicators. The sample size in each state was determined considering the population size. Apart from household survey, public health facilities, such as, Sub-Centres (SCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), falling under the jurisdiction of the sample PSUs, were also covered. Further, all Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals were surveyed under the project. Thus, a very large volume of data was collected from the field which was then duly edited, coded and entered into the computer using customized software.
  • A double entry system with 100 percent verification was followed to ensure accuracy of data entry. Data editing included range checks, structure checks and selected checks for internal consistency. Thus, an in-house robust control system was put in place to ensure accuracy and reliability of data for generation of data tables and reports.

District Level Household Survey (Round 3)(DLHS-3) - Phase-I

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India through International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai

Coverage: Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India, gets conducted a District Level Household Survey (DLHS) for generating district-level indicators on Reproductive & Child Health (RCH) in all the States and Union Territories of the country. AMS was commissioned to conduct the Round-3 of this survey in the States of Jharkand. The assignment involved carrying out the field survey and generating relevant RCH indicators.
  • The sample size in each state was determined considering the population size. Apart from household survey, public health facilities, such as, Sub-Centres (SCs) and Primary Health Centres (PHCs), falling under the jurisdiction of the sample PSUs, were also covered. Further, all Community Health Centres (CHCs) and District Hospitals were surveyed under the project. Thus, a very large volume of data was collected from the field which was then duly edited, coded and entered into the computer using customized software.
  • A double entry system with 100 percent verification was followed to ensure accuracy of data entry. Data editing included range checks, structure checks and selected checks for internal consistency. Thus, an in-house robust control system was put in place to ensure accuracy and reliability of data for generation of data tables and reports.

Water Sanitation & Hygiene

On-site Sanitation System and practices in Puri and Baripada districts of Odisha

Client(s): Ernst and Young LLP

Coverage: Puri and Baripada districts of Odisha

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The project undertaken by AMS was to assess the on-site sanitation systems and practices and to check whether these GIS mapping on-site sanitation systems covers 100% of the households, institutions and commercial establishments or not.
  • Management Information System (MIS) was used for decision making, coordination, control, analysis, and visualization for the study. The project had another objective of identifying the reasons for not connecting the septic tanks/pit to the existing sewerage systems.
  • The deliverables expected out of the GIS mapping are as follows
  • To gather the information regarding the no. of houses in a location/ward that had sceptic tanks/or pit latrines etc.
  • Depiction of houses with respect to road width accessibility
  • To get the database of the no. of Geo-tagged houses with information of the owner and no. of members in the household

Second Round of Study on Domestic Water and Sanitation Service Levels in the State of Kerala

Client(s): Kerala Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (Jalanidhi), Govt. of Kerala

Coverage: Kerala

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The second round of Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project - Jalanidhi - Phase II was introduced in January 2012 and will continue up to September, 2017. The objective of the project is to assist GoK in expanding access to sustainable RWS schemes and to consolidate its demand responsive and decentralized service delivery model, for rural water supply & sanitation. The key objectives of the project are as follows:
  • To improve the quality of rural water supply and sanitation services and to achieve sustainable development;
  • Poverty reduction;
  • Sustainable health and hygiene benefits to the rural population;
  • Empowerment and inclusion of community in general and rural poor and women in particular;
  • Strengthening the decentralization process.
  • The study involves a consumer level assessment to ascertain the quantity, quality, reliability, and equity of services provided along with the quality of associated services extended. The data is being collected by conducting door to door individual household surveys where the target respondents are the Head of Household.
  • AMS has been assigned the task of carrying out the consumer level assessment.

Concurrent Monitoring & Process Documentation under Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Project for Low Income States (RWSS-LIS) i.e., Neer Nirmal Pariyojana (NNP) in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): State Project Management Unit (SPMU) for Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Project –Low Income States (RWSS-LIS), Govt. of U.P.

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Concurrent Monitoring & Documentation

  • The overall objective of the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Project for Low Income States (RWSS-LIS) is to “improve piped water and sanitation services” for selected rural communities in the target states through decentralized delivery systems. The specific Project Development Objective (PDO) is to increase access to piped water supply and improved sanitation services for selected rural communities in the target states using a decentralized, community driven, demand-responsive delivery approach, complemented by behaviour change activities to promote latrine usage.
  • AMS was commissioned to capture quantitative and qualitative data relating to the following project processes—
  • Assess whether and how community mobilization, community action planning procedures, criteria and training have been successful in enabling community decision-making and in reaching informed choices;
  • Study and comment on the degree of variation in each major activity after comparing the actual observed behaviour relative to the expectations. Specifically, how did the project deviate from planned and actual project planning and mobilization with respect to a Gram Panchayat and consolidating the same at the district level to draw learning? While doing this, participation of women and other vulnerable groups like the SC/ ST and BPL families in the various activities should be clearly brought out.
  • Comment on the changes needed in the capacity building initiatives, particularly w.r.t. various project components;
  • Study and suggest changes in the scheme cycle in the light of the experience of batch 1 for Gram Panchayats in batch –II of the Project;
  • Study & comment on the staffing and institutional patter
  • Study and comment on the role and involvement of GP/ GPWSC/ MVWSC in facilitating planning and implementation of the Project.

Baseline survey under Community led Total Sanitation (CLTS) Campaign in Rural Punjab

Client(s): The World Bank Group

Coverage: Punjab

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • After making commendable success in PRWSSP, World Bank approved another closely linked initiative named ‘Punjab Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Sector Improvement Project’ (PRWSSIP) in March 2015, to be continued up to March 2021. The overall development objective of the programme was to improve water & sanitation service levels, reduce open defecation, and strengthen service delivery arrangements in the targeted villages in Punjab. The project is expected to directly benefit 8.47 million rural people, including 4.02 million female beneficiaries and 2.44 million SC beneficiaries.
  • One of the major areas of support of the programme is to assist Department of Water Supply & Sanitation (DWSS) to implement SBMG across all the villages in Punjab for 100 percent toilet coverage and 100 percent toilet use. The Government of Punjab is looking forward to the initiatives of DWSS and World Bank as a vital support in its vision to set an example by accomplishing the desired results under SBMG within next 2 years, much ahead the fixed deadline of 2019. The main goal was to facilitate the achievement and sustenance of open defecation free (ODF) communities. A community led total sanitation (CLTS) approach has been adopted by the DWSS in motivating communities to attain ODF.
  • The overarching goal of this assignment was to generate statistically valid estimates regarding the current status of sampled communities with regard to hygiene and sanitation behavior and other intended outcome and impact variables that the programme aims to effect. In view of this, the survey aimed at collecting all necessary data needed for addressing the following research questions – (i) What is the effect of CLTS campaign on hygiene behavior? (ii) What is the effect of CLTS campaign on toilet construction and use? (iii) What is the effect of the interventions on health, education and satisfaction with quality of life? (iv) What is the effect of intensive school awareness programs (both primary and proposed mid-school awareness programs) on hygiene awareness, sanitation behavior and toilet use? (v) What is the effect of intensive follow-up and vigilance post toilet construction on toilet use? (vi) What is the effect of availability of piped water connection to house on toilet use? (vii) What is the effect of variation in village level toilet coverage and usage on health and education outcomes (Sanitation externality)?
  • Apart from these primary research questions, the evaluation also identified factors that influence household sanitation behaviour and choice of toilet technology. It also assessed the influence of mass media campaign on sanitation behaviour and provide an estimate of percentage of toilets constructed that are used for other purposes (for example storage).

Inland Waterways Transport Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building

Client(s): Inland Waterways Authority of India, Ministry of Shipping, Government of India

Coverage: West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Developing Communication Strategy & Capacity building

  • The NW-I shall pass through 4 states (i.e. West Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh) of the country. Every state has some villages/cities that are located along the riverside and depend upon the river for their livelihood. It is perceived that inspite of the project benefits to the people living along the stretch of the river, there might be wrong perceptions among certain section of the population in the respective villages/towns.
  • In a bid to provide the concerned stakeholders with correction information on the benefits of the project, thus securing their support for the ongoing project, the current study plans to develop a long-term communication strategy. The communication strategy shall aim at improving the knowledge of key stakeholders by addressing their main concerns through different means of mass communication.
  • The establishment of the navigation system across the NW-I shall span several years and require continuous public support for successful completion and smooth implementation of the navigation system. Thus, understanding the people perception and correcting the same through various communication media shall play key role in securing public support for the ongoing Jal Vikas Marg Project for NW-I. The main objective of the current study shall be two-fold:
  • Understand the perception of key stakeholders for the current project.
  • Devise communication strategies to educate the stakeholders on project related benefits and secure public support for the project.

Socio-economic Impact of micro hydro projects (20 Nos.) in terms of productive use & conjunctive use in Uttarakhand

Client(s): GIZ

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • Water mills represent the oldest and most conventional use of Pico Hydro Energy for productive use. The use of Pico hydro energy through water mills has played an important economic and social role in the lives of mountain communities, particularly in view of the fact that these make use of water falling through a height and are technologically simple; involve low capital investment and are assembled with locally available material. Moreover, they (water mills) are environmentally friendly.
  • Uttarakhand is one among the mountain states where water mills have been in use from ages, particularly for grinding flour. In most of the households a hand-driven flour mill used to be a common feature in the olden times, which used to take heavy toll on the lives and time of women. And this is what led to the invention of water mills as they addressed an important need of grinding flour at a faster pace resulting in time saving and avoidance of manual labour in flour grinding.
  • As per a survey conducted by UREDA in 2005-06, there were about 15,500 water mills in Uttarakhand. However, with availability of main power grid, many of the water mills in the state have been rendered defunct due to coming up of diesel/electrically operated flour mills which provide easy access to people for grinding flour and take less time. With gradual extension of power grid and consequent growth of diesel/electrically driven flour mills, the use of water mills kept on declining and as per the findings of the aforesaid study, around 8,600 were reported to be non-functional.
  • Notwithstanding, the declining use of water mills, they represent the true application of Pico Hydro Power for productive use, i.e., production of flour. If upgraded or revived, they stand a good potential to generate employment and means of livelihood. Inspired by this, UREDA undertook implementation of the water mill up-gradation programme with subsidy made available through MNRE and the State Government. As part of this programme, understandably, 1100 water mills both mechanical and electro-mechanical were upgraded till 2012.
  • Accordingly, AMS was commissioned by GIZ, on behalf of Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Authority (UREDA), to study the various ways in which the water mill sites are being put to productive use and whether they were actually being used for production of income or value. For this purpose, traditional as well as electro mechanical (upgraded) water mills were taken up.
  • The site selected and visited for study included the following —
  • Pico Hydro Plant, Village Genwla, Uttarkashi (Electro mechanical)
  • Pico Hydro Plant, Dadhmeer, Uttarkashi (Electro mechanical)
  • Mawakot Water Mill, Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal (Traditional)
  • Toli – The Cluster of Water Mills, Bageshwar (Traditional)
  • Milkhet Water Mill, Dewal, Chamoli (Traditional)
  • When this study was commissioned, 43 Micro Hydro Projects (MHPs) had already been operationalized and 20 were under construction in the State of Uttarakhand. However, it was learnt that many of the already operationalized MHPs were not performing up to the mark due to various socio-economic concerns resulting in issues of day to day operations. Accordingly, AMS conducted the techno-social evaluation of 15-20 operationalized MHPs in order to assess and thus recommend the commercial aspects/business mode modifications in them. The study was also mandated to cover potential end use application of Micro Hydro Power that can consume the surplus energy during off peak hours.

Healthy Home Survey (HHS)

Client(s): State Water and Sanitation Mission, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Household Survey

  • The State of Uttarakhand is implementing Uttarakhand Rural Water Supply & Sanitation Project (URWSSP) with financial assistance of World Bank, GoI and GoUK. It was a community-based demand-driven project which involved stakeholders at every stage like project planning, implementation, O&M and in the long term, sustainability of newly created physical water supply assets as well as related behavioural and attitudinal changes in the community. To bring this about, the project has formulated a community empowered strategy which includes Hygiene and Environmental Sanitation Awareness (HESA). The broad objective of HESA was "To reduce morbidity by generating a demand for safe Drinking water and sanitation

Hiring Services of an Agency by UP-WALMI to facilitate Capacity Building of Water User Associations under UPWSRP

Client(s): Director, Water & Land Management Institute, WALMI Bhawan, Lucknow, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • The objectives of the World Bank funded Uttar Pradesh Water Sector Restructuring Project Phase-I were—
  • To set up an enabling institutional and policy framework for water sector reforms in the State for integrated water resource management; and
  • To initiate irrigation and drainage sub-sector reforms in the State to increase and sustain water and agricultural productivity.
  • AMS was commissioned by the Department of Irrigation, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh to contribute to UPWSRP– Phase I both as their planning as well as training & capacity building consultants. As planning consultant, AMS undertook to design a consolidated discipline-wise intervention plan for the rational distribution of surface irrigation water in the minor command areas. Within the broad framework of rational distribution of irrigation water, the minor components of planning that were dealt with by the organization included scheduling Water User Association (WUA) meetings, constitution of “kulaba samities”, events management on environmental protection, wetland management & promotion of fisheries, organization of cluster level dissemination workshops and developing a monitoring mechanism for the assessment of groundwater level. Besides, AMS developed a plan for the enhancement of crop productivity through crop intensification & diversification, and yet another plan for promoting income generation activities through formation of new SHGs and strengthening of the existing ones in order to establish sustainable linkages with financial institutions and marketing entities.
  • As training & capacity building consultant, AMS served to facilitate the WUAs for participatory irrigation management, scientific crop cultivation, finance & accounts management, promotion of group cohesiveness and management of irrigation assets & resources. Besides, motivating farmers to adhere to conjunctive use of surface and ground water and encouraging them for the installation of tube wells, adopting fishery and wetland management activities and celebration of important environmental events & plantation activities were covered simultaneously. In addition, training & capacity building of the SHGs on group management, accounts & audit management and bank linkages for grading was undertaken by the organization in the said capacity.

Formative Research on Sanitation & Hygiene and Diarrhoea Management

Client(s): NR Management Consultants India Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi

Coverage: Bihar

Nature of Study: Formative Research

  • The Global Sanitation Fund (GSF) in India has initiated community-level interventions in Bihar aimed at enabling access and effective use of improved sanitation facilities and hygiene promotion at scale in select locations. GSF plans to intervene along four behavioural domains, including — hygiene & hand washing; toilet construction and use; excreta disposal, water storage and handling; and prevention & management of childhood diarrhoea.
  • In pursuance of above and for preparing strategic future interventions, it was required to understand the prevailing WASH practices in Bihar by undertaking a ‘Formative Research’ on the behaviour of people. It aimed at helping the authorities identify and understand the characteristics - interests, behaviours and needs - of target populations that influence their decisions and actions. The NR Management Consultants Pvt. Ltd. (the Executing Agency for GSF in India) commissioned AMS to undertake a ‘Formative Research’ with a focus on assessing—
  • (a) Prevailing behaviours and reasons for the same
  • (b) Knowledge, attitude and perception towards required behaviour
  • (c) Barriers to required behaviour practice
  • (d) Triggers and motivations for required behaviour practice
  • (e) Social and cultural norms and socio – economic compulsions
  • (f) Gender angle to the behaviours
  • (g) Social inclusion angle to the behaviours
  • The study was undertaken in 6 sample districts of Bihar. Of these, 3 districts (Patna - Maner Block, Nalanda - Rajgir Block and Madhubani - Jhanjharpur Block) had been covered under the GSF program only partially and the rest 3 districts (Banka, Gopalgunj and West Champaran) had been covered completely.
  • The target respondents under the study comprised of the heads of Households, adolescent girls, ANMs, AWWs and school principals. It inter alia adopted the following qualitative research tools—
  • Focus groups discussion and participatory rural appraisal
  • Participant Observation
  • Focused ethnographic study
  • Trials for Improved Practices

Impact assessment of multimedia water campaigns undertaken by State Water Resources Planning Department (SWRPD) in Rajasthan during the years 2005, 2006 & 2008

Client(s): The World Bank supported State Water Resources Planning Department (SWRPD), Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: impact Assessment

  • State of Rajasthan’s share of surface water and ground water in the country is a paltry 1.16% and 1.70%, respectively. As a mitigation strategy, ‘The European Commission’ supported the State of Rajasthan in bringing reforms with an aim to develop sustainable and integrated water resource management since nearly, a third of the State is arid and another 30 per cent semi-arid, which implies that nearly two-thirds of the state suffers from recurrent water scarcity. To this end, three awareness raising campaigns were designed, coordinated and managed by the SWRPD (Water Campaign: 2005, Jal Chetna Yatra Kisan Mahotsav: 2006 and Jal Melas : 2008).
  • The SWRPD had planned 3 Annual Water Campaigns. However, before undertaking these campaigns, there was a strong need to learn from both the mistakes as well as successes of the previous three campaigns so the learning’s could be applied into the upcoming Annual Water Campaigns in the State. Accordingly SWRPD decided to conduct a comprehensive evaluation of the aforementioned three campaigns. AMS had been commissioned by the Department to conduct the assessment study. The evaluation study was undertaken in 6 districts, namely, Ajmer, Alwar, Dungarpur, Churu, Kota and Nagaur. From each of these 6 districts, 4 blocks had been selected. Further, from each sample block, 7 Gram Panchayats (GPs) were selected. For evaluating the impact of the three awareness campaigns, a ‘quasi-experimental design’ was used to assess the change in the awareness and knowledge levels.

Evaluation of Safe Drinking Water Campaign under The World Bank supported Health Systems Development Project (UPHSDP)

Client(s): The World Bank supported Uttar Pradesh Health Systems Development Project (UPHSDP), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Under the World Bank sponsored Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project, an extensive IEC campaign was launched so that the people would have a better understanding of the importance of safe drinking water; the diseases caused by intake of unsafe/impure water; precautionary measures for storage of drinking water and preventing the same from getting contaminated. The campaign was launched by the UKHSDP through a well-designed IEC strategy for creating awareness and to bring about behavioral change at the household level. Having a rich experience in the sector, AMS was assigned the task of evaluating the impact of the campaign. The evaluation involved both formative and summative research, in order to provide insight into the extent of success or failure of the interventions besides yielding information about their effectiveness in terms of the primary objectives.
  • The key outcomes / deliverables of the assignment were the submission of schedules canvassed with the respondents along with their finalized data sets, an inception report, monthly reports and draft & final reports of the evaluation study.

Impact Assessment and Evaluation of Safe Drinking Water Multimedia Campaign in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project (UKHSDP), Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • Under the World Bank sponsored Uttarakhand Health Systems Development Project, an extensive IEC campaign was launched so that the people would have a better understanding of the importance of safe drinking water; the diseases caused by intake of unsafe/impure water; precautionary measures for storage of drinking water and preventing the same from getting contaminated. The campaign was launched by the UKHSDP through a well-designed IEC strategy for creating awareness and to bring about behavioral change at the household level. Having a rich experience in the sector, AMS was assigned the task of evaluating the impact of the campaign. The evaluation involved both formative and summative research, in order to provide insight into the extent of success or failure of the interventions besides yielding information about their effectiveness in terms of the primary objectives.
  • The key outcomes / deliverables of the assignment were the submission of schedules canvassed with the respondents along with their finalized data sets, an inception report, monthly reports and draft & final reports of the evaluation study.

Evaluation of the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Program in Central Zone(ARWSP)

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh; Uttarakhand; Madhya Pradesh; and Chhattisgarh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The primary objectives of the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme are to cover the residual “Not Covered (NC)”, “Partially Covered (PC)” and “Quality Affected” rural habitations; evolve an appropriate technology mix; improve performance and cost effectiveness of on-going Programs; create awareness on the use of safe drinking water; and take conservation measures for sustained supply of drinking water.
  • In order to accomplish the envisaged objectives of any scheme/programme, it is essential to institutionalize a mechanism for regular monitoring and evaluation from time-to-time. Regular monitoring and in-depth evaluation help in the identification of the strengths & weaknesses of a particular scheme and in earmarking the gray areas. Realizing the importance of this fact, the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India decided to undertake a comprehensive “Evaluation Study of the Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme”. Accordingly, AMS was commissioned to undertake the same in the Central Zone covering 16 sample districts across 4 States.

Evaluation of the Sub-mission Projects funded under Accelerated Rural water Supply Program (ARWSP)

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh; Rajasthan; Andhra Pradesh; Odisha; West Bengal; Assam; and Tamil Nadu

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • In order to tackle the drinking water quality problems, the Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India is assisting state governments under the sub-mission programme of ARWSP. 13% of ARWSP funds are earmarked and utilized for new projects under the sub-mission activities. The Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India decided to conduct an evaluation study of the Sub-mission (Quality) Projects (SMP) funded under ARWSP. AMS was commissioned to conduct the same covering a total of 31 SMPs across 7 states in the country.
  • As a part of the assignment, AMS was involved in collecting data on water availability at the habitation level, type of sources of drinking water, sustainability of sources, operations & management issues and community participation, user charges and the like. Planning and implementation of the scheme as such was an integral part of this study. Based of the data collected from various stakeholders, including the officials, community and individual households, detailed report including all important parameters were prepared and submitted. In case of sub-mission project, the nature of water contaminations, measures undertaken by the government for mitigating such problems, health hazards associated as a result of consuming contaminated water and related issues were duly covered under the study.

Evaluation of Rajeev Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission

Client(s): Planning Commission, Govt. of India

Coverage: Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, West Bengal and Assam

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Clean drinking water is a basic necessity of life. Supply of clean drinking water in the rural areas has always been one of the highest priorities of the government. A Technology Mission on drinking water named "National Drinking Water Mission" (NDWM) was launched in 1986, which was subsequently rechristened as "Rajiv Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission” (RGNDWM) in 1991
  • with three key objectives—
  • i. Providing safe drinking water to all villages
  • ii. Assisting local communities to maintain sources of safe drinking water in good condition
  • iii. Giving special attention for water supply to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
  • To achieve the objectives, Accelerated Rural Water Supply Programme (ARWSP) is being implemented to resolve the drinking water problem in rural habitations. The Central Government supplements the efforts of the states by providing financial and technical support. Accordingly, AMS was commissioned to conduct an “Evaluation Study on Rajeev Gandhi National Drinking Water Mission” covering a sample that consisted of 10 districts across 5 states of the country. The evaluation exercise included the physical verification of the assets created under the mission.

NRM & Forestry

Assessment of the potential social impact of large scale pine needle collection on local communities in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Indo German Energy Programme - Renewable Energy Projects (IGEN-RE) Projects, GIZ - India and Uttarakhand Renewable Energy Development Agency (UREDA)

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Pine needle (a dry forest litter of pine trees) has multiple traditional uses but seeing the threat of forest fire posed by it and to avert the loss arising from it, the government of Uttarakhand permitted large scale collection of pine needles for industrial uses such as bio-briquette manufacture and, to some extent, for power generation (through gasification).This led to large scale collection and supply of pine needles to private players, especially for power generation. AMS was commissioned to forecast the changes (positive or negative) to the local communities arising out of practice, understand the implications of such supply on local communities and develop appropriate mitigation measures to minimize the negative impacts, if any. The assignment involves adoption of a participative approach that involves all stakeholders in the local community, especially the marginalized and vulnerable sections, while undertaking the study.
  • Overall, the scope of work included—
  • Establishing the baseline involving identification of traditional uses, as well as traditional users and developing an overview of the supply chain and economics of pine needles supply for traditional uses.
  • Identifying and quantifying the changes at various levels within the local communities from supply of pine needles for power generation.
  • Assessing the impact on local communities from the supply of pine needles for power generation.
  • Proposing mitigation measures to minimize the negative impacts, if any, from the supply of pine needles for power generation.

Evaluation of Forest Development Agency (FDA) Works (in 2010)

Client(s): Dy. Conservator- Forests, Ajmer, Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Forest Development Agency (FDA) integrates the common afforestation & eco-development efforts of various ongoing schemes of the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India, with enhanced financial allocations from the Planning Commission in the Tenth Plan period. It is registered as federation of all Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) within a territorial/wildlife forest division under the Societies’ Registration Act, under the Chairmanship of the Conservator of Forests.
  • The FDA aims at reducing the overdependence of local community on forests by creating forest and communal assets for the ecological development. Its overall functions are to—
  • Implement centrally sponsored afforestation schemes
  • Take up beneficiary oriented activities like agro forestry, avenue plantations
  • Take steps for value addition and marketing of produce
  • Prepare inventory of land and other natural resources
  • Organise training and awareness programmes for environment protection
  • Awareness and active association in protection against poaching and illicit felling of timber
  • Establish and manage decentralised nurseries with marketing arrangements
  • Assist in management of CPRs Address socio-economic needs of people
  • Manage existing captive water resources in the villages
  • Active involvement in forest fire fighting operations
  • Monitor activities of local NGOs
  • Approve plans for all afforestation activities in forest fringe villages, including micro plans
  • Provide support and assistance to JFMCs for micro planning
  • Implement water harvesting and soil conservation measures with appropriate approvals
  • Decide entry point activities
  • Formulate guidelines for utilisation and sharing of usufruct
  • Evolve rules for use of funds created
  • Improvise technological improvements
  • Develop guidelines for employment generation opportunities
  • Establish and maintain decentralised nurseries
  • Coordinate and monitor the activities of their constituent JFMCs
  • Conceptualise innovative schemes, viz. establishment of botanical gardens, sacred groves, etc.
  • Deal with contingencies such as drought, flood and forest fires
  • Coordinate with DRDAs and other relevant govt. departments to dovetail their schemes and programmes with afforestation schemes in order to develop watersheds in a holistic manner
  • AMS was commissioned by the FDAs of the aforementioned forest divisions to carry out the monitoring & evaluation of the scheme in their respective jurisdictions at different instances of time (2007-12). Accordingly, AMS undertook to evaluate all the components of the scheme by collecting secondary data on physical and financial progress as well as primary data through physical verifications, FGDs and interactions with the local community represented by Village Forest Management & Protection Committees (VFMPCs).
  • These evaluation studies revealed that the FDAs have undertaken serious efforts on their part, though at few places they needed to fine tune their strategies for attaining sustained outcomes. Broadly, they carried out activities, such as, construction of soil & moisture conservation structures; construction of structures termed as 'entry point activities' for the benefit of local community; erected plantations; constituted VFMPCs, built their capacities, included them in preparing micro plans through PRA technique and handed over to them the charge of sustainable management of local assets and forests. The construction of assets generated tens of thousands of labour-days which provided employment to local villagers and reduced their dependence on the forest produce and helped save the overall ecology.
  • For the conservation of soil & moisture, the structures constructed mainly included check dams (loose stone type), v-ditches, contour trenches, notches, etc. The soil removed for trenches was, in fact, used to erect bunds upon which were sown plants (Kumtha, Rongh, DeshiBabool, Khair, Ber, Ratanjot, etc.) with medicinal & commercial value that fetched additional incomes for the VFMPCs. Further, under the entry point activities, they mainly undertook construction of Chabutaras, YatriPrateekshalayas, Community Centers, anicuts, sun sheds, etc., installation of hand pumps, solar lights, lift irrigation equipments, and even distribution of iron ploughs to the local farmers. As regards the plantations, they planted saplings, erected their protection walls, appointed chowkidars, and undertook their maintenance for 3 consecutive years for ensuring their survival. AMS was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive study of the FDA works with special focus on the impact of such activities on the socio-economic development of tribal communities and others dependent on forest produce as means of livelihood and survival.

Evaluation of Forest Development Agency (FDA) Works (in 2012)

Client(s): Dy. Conservator- Forests, Pratapgarh, Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Forest Development Agency (FDA) integrates the common afforestation & eco-development efforts of various ongoing schemes of the Ministry of Environment & Forest, Government of India, with enhanced financial allocations from the Planning Commission in the Tenth Plan period. It is registered as federation of all Joint Forest Management Committees (JFMCs) within a territorial/wildlife forest division under the Societies’ Registration Act, under the Chairmanship of the Conservator of Forests.
  • The FDA aims at reducing the overdependence of local community on forests by creating forest and communal assets for the ecological development. Its overall functions are to—
  • Implement centrally sponsored afforestation schemes
  • Take up beneficiary oriented activities like agro forestry, avenue plantations
  • Take steps for value addition and marketing of produce
  • Prepare inventory of land and other natural resources
  • Organise training and awareness programmes for environment protection
  • Awareness and active association in protection against poaching and illicit felling of timber
  • Establish and manage decentralised nurseries with marketing arrangements
  • Assist in management of CPRs Address socio-economic needs of people
  • Manage existing captive water resources in the villages
  • Active involvement in forest fire fighting operations
  • Monitor activities of local NGOs
  • Approve plans for all afforestation activities in forest fringe villages, including micro plans
  • Provide support and assistance to JFMCs for micro planning
  • Implement water harvesting and soil conservation measures with appropriate approvals
  • Decide entry point activities
  • Formulate guidelines for utilisation and sharing of usufruct
  • Evolve rules for use of funds created
  • Improvise technological improvements
  • Develop guidelines for employment generation opportunities
  • Establish and maintain decentralised nurseries
  • Coordinate and monitor the activities of their constituent JFMCs
  • Conceptualise innovative schemes, viz. establishment of botanical gardens, sacred groves, etc.
  • Deal with contingencies such as drought, flood and forest fires
  • Coordinate with DRDAs and other relevant govt. departments to dovetail their schemes and programmes with afforestation schemes in order to develop watersheds in a holistic manner
  • AMS was commissioned by the FDAs of the aforementioned forest divisions to carry out the monitoring & evaluation of the scheme in their respective jurisdictions at different instances of time (2007-12). Accordingly, AMS undertook to evaluate all the components of the scheme by collecting secondary data on physical and financial progress as well as primary data through physical verifications, FGDs and interactions with the local community represented by Village Forest Management & Protection Committees (VFMPCs). s
  • These evaluation studies revealed that the FDAs have undertaken serious efforts on their part, though at few places they needed to fine tune their strategies for attaining sustained outcomes. Broadly, they carried out activities, such as, construction of soil & moisture conservation structures; construction of structures termed as 'entry point activities' for the benefit of local community; erected plantations; constituted VFMPCs, built their capacities, included them in preparing micro plans through PRA technique and handed over to them the charge of sustainable management of local assets and forests. The construction of assets generated tens of thousands of labour-days which provided employment to local villagers and reduced their dependence on the forest produce and helped save the overall ecology.
  • For the conservation of soil & moisture, the structures constructed mainly included check dams (loose stone type), v-ditches, contour trenches, notches, etc. The soil removed for trenches was, in fact, used to erect bunds upon which were sown plants (Kumtha, Rongh, DeshiBabool, Khair, Ber, Ratanjot, etc.) with medicinal & commercial value that fetched additional incomes for the VFMPCs. Further, under the entry point activities, they mainly undertook construction of Chabutaras, YatriPrateekshalayas, Community Centers, anicuts, sun sheds, etc., installation of hand pumps, solar lights, lift irrigation equipments, and even distribution of iron ploughs to the local farmers. As regards the plantations, they planted saplings, erected their protection walls, appointed chowkidars, and undertook their maintenance for 3 consecutive years for ensuring their survival. AMS was commissioned to undertake a comprehensive study of the FDA works with special focus on the impact of such activities on the socio-economic development of tribal communities and others dependent on forest produce as means of livelihood and survival.

Agriculture & Irrigation

Evaluation of Community Lift Irrigation Scheme in Odisha

Client(s): Programme Performance Outcome & Monitoring Unit (PPOMU), Finance Department, Government of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The study aimed at covering the community lift irrigation projects created under BKVY in Odisha. Among other things, the study sought to explore and examine the status of community lift irrigation projects in the state, the implementation mechanisms, including analysis of institutional arrangements, the bottlenecks in implementation process, and recommend suitable measures for effective implementation of the scheme. On the other hand, the evaluation also explored the impact of the scheme on irrigation coverage and on socio-economic condition of the scheme beneficiaries. Thus, the study included both the evaluation as well as the implementation process and its impact.

Baseline Data Collection for the OLAM India Project

Client(s): The World Bank Group

Coverage: M.P. and Maharashtra

Nature of Study: Data Collection

  • The proposed baseline study aimed at generating evidence-based data regarding the status of livelihoods of sugarcane farmers that supported in measuring the impact of the project which was envisaged by IFC and Olam. The study generated baseline estimates for indicators along the following domains: land utilization pattern, soil environment, capacity building, climate resilient infrastructure, forest use and other key environmental attributes. The study also gave insights on climate-smart agriculture interventions which were tailored to the needs of the community.

Impact Assessment of Drought on Farmer Households in Endemic Areas with particular focus on children and adolescents – SCBR, for Save the Children, Bal Raksha Bharat, Gurgaon (Haryana)

Client(s): Save the Children, Bal Raksha Bharat

Coverage: U.P., M.P., & Maharashtra

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • The study particularly focused on vulnerable children and adolescents in households of drought-affected areas that characterize the primary target group of the study. It attempted to assess the impact of drought on farmer households with special emphasis on various direct and indirect ways in which it influences the wellbeing of children and adolescents. The specific objectives of the study were:
  • To undertake an assessment of the socio – economic impacts of the drought in the endemic regions of India with a focus on the vulnerabilities of children;
  • To specifically focus on the needs of the vulnerable groups like SCs, STs and women in the drought areas, with a focus on children in these groups;
  • To document the best practices in terms of existing interventions;
  • AMS was commissioned to undertake this study which was conceptualized to generate insights to help design focused interventions that would prove essential in mitigating the impact of drought in the selected endemic regions especially on children and adolescents.

Evaluation of UNDP Micro-Capital Assistance to Farmer Groups

Client(s): State Institute for Management of Agriculture, (SIMA), Rehmankhera, Lucknow

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Micro-enterprises play an extremely crucial role within the rural economy. Once the rural populace — especially the farmers realize their own potential, they can raise their own resources and develop the capacity to manage external resources as well. Engaging in micro-enterprise not only helps improve their economic position, but it also provides them an opportunity to improve their skills in areas other than agriculture as well. In keeping with this line of thought, the State Institute of Management for Agriculture (SIMA), Lucknow, has adopted almost 550 farmer groups, spread across 11 districts. Under the project, these groups are encouraged to take up various income-generating activities, in addition to their traditional occupation of agriculture. In this regard, SIMA has co-ordinated to provide a micro-capital assistance (MCA) to each of these farmer groups, spread across various districts of Uttar Pradesh, namely — Raebareli, Unnao, Banda, Varanasi, Saharanpur, Siddharthnagar, Baghpat, Deoria, Baharaich and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh and TehriGarhwal in Uttarakhand.
  • The micro-capital assistance was meant to enable the women self-help groups to undertake various agri-business activities, especially those related to – horticulture, fisheries, poultry, loaning of agricultural inputs, animal husbandry and other sustainable livelihood activities, both collectively and individually.

Baseline Survey under Food Security Programme through Empowerment of Women

Client(s): State Institute for Management of Agriculture, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • Although traditionally, farming has been considered a male dominated society, women have always played a central role in agriculture. Apart from ploughing, women perform all other agricultural operations. Recent studies indicate the fact that the pressure on women has increased manifold. Despite their pivotal role in society, malnutrition, illiteracy and discrimination within the family are problems that a large proportion of women face. The United Nations Development Program is supporting SAWERA project aimed at empowering the landless/marginal women farmers about better upkeep of their food grains and other agricultural products. Being implemented in six districts, the project aided over 6,000 women from economically and socially backward classes. Co-ordinated by the State Institute for Management of Agriculture, the project aims at improving the overall agricultural production, diversifying the cropping pattern, imparting knowledge to women farmers about modern farming methods and developing alternative systems for improved distribution of food grains.
  • AMS was involved in collection of baseline data on the key inputs, processes and output indicators in the total project area. The respondents included women belonging to SC/ST and BPL households, and PRIs.

Study on “India’s Cotton Revolution: Outcomes and Insights”

Client(s): National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi

Coverage: (Punjab, Rajasthan and Haryana)

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The assignment involved field survey of cotton farmers in 48 villages across 16 districts of the three states – Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan. Under the same, the exercise involved conducting mapping & listing of about 100 farmers within each village and then out of this list selecting a sample of 30 farmers for the face-to-face interviews. During the interviews, the farmers were quizzed regarding their household composition, occupations, cropping patterns, savings, investments, borrowings, cost of production, perceptions regarding Cotton adoption, etc. Besides, information was sought from the cotton seed growers regarding the types of contracts that they enter and economic viability of their seed growing activity.
  • Additionally, village schedules were canvassed with the village PRI representatives. This sought information related to demographic, cropping pattern, access to various services in the village, and changes that seem to have occurred after the introduction of Bt cotton cultivation.

Evaluation of Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) for The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, Govt. of India

Client(s): The Ministry of Statistics and Program Implementation, Govt. of India

Coverage: Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Majority of the irrigation projects in the country are managed by the respective State Governments. Irrigation projects are formulated, executed and funded by the State Governments from their own resources. However, being capital-intensive in nature, many of these irrigation projects are often faced by delays as the State Governments due to limited resources at their disposal find themselves unable to meet the required funds for the completion of all the projects. In this background, the Government of India launched the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) in the year 1996-97, to provide Central Loan Assistance (CLA) to major and medium irrigation projects in the country, with the objective to accelerate the completion of on-going irrigation/multi-purpose projects on which substantial progress had been made but were beyond the resource capability of the State Governments to complete and other major & medium irrigation projects which were in the advanced stage of completion and could yield irrigation benefits over the next four irrigation seasons.
  • To accomplish the objectives envisaged under each project covered under AIBP, it is essential to ensure adequate follow-up and regular monitoring of the various irrigation projects from time-to-time. Considering this fact, AMS was commissioned by the Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India, to conduct an Evaluation of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) in the States of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. The primary objective of the study, sponsored by the World Bank through the Ministry, was: “to evaluate the actual impact of the Accelerated Irrigation Benefit Programme (AIBP) and to ensure effective implementation of the AIBP scheme by developing a system of monitoring aimed at analysing the desired benefits envisaged through the scheme upto September, 2004”. Specifically, the study aimed at the following key areas : (i) Assessing the impact of the AIBP on various completed as well as on-going irrigation projects including extension, renovation and modernization projects; (ii) Assessing the impact of the AIBP on projects under Fast Track Programme; (iii) Provide feedback to the MoSPI about the past performance on various completed as also on-going projects and help in initiating suitable corrective measures for improving future performance;(iv) Identification of the impediments/constraints in the implementation of the on-going projects; (v) Developing requisite guidelines, policy frame-work and decision support systems; (vi) Developing a database on implementation of various completed projects; and (vii) Improving upon the existing follow-up and monitoring mechanism.

Impact Evaluation Study of the National Horticulture Board (NHB) for Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Client(s): National Horticulture Board (NHB) for Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare

Coverage: All 29 States of India

Nature of Study: Impact Evaluation

  • Frequent crop failures and heavy dependence on monsoon have been the concerning issues of Indian agriculture. Horticulture is no exception to this and there is frequent variation in the production of horticultural crops, especially vegetable crops. The horticulture sector is generally characterised by highly unorganised production of fruits and vegetables and their perishable nature. The government has taken certain measures to curb the heterogeneity aspect of cultivation, but the perishable nature of the commodity still remains a major issue to be tackled. Thus, it becomes a major prerogative to improve the production and processing of fruits and vegetables by providing credit linked subsidy for various schemes related to post-harvesting and storage facilities for horticulture products in India. The study in hand looks to evaluate the impact of two schemes running under NHB in the country:
  • Scheme 1: Capital Investment subsidy scheme for construction/expansion/modernisation of cold storages and storages for horticulture products;
  • Scheme 2: Accreditation and Rating of Fruit Plant Nurseries;
  • AMS is involved in evaluating various factors of the scheme pertaining to its current functioning as per prescribed guidelines under the NHB, its benefits to the individuals or associations involved in production of horticulture crops, improvement in overall availability of the fruit and vegetables during the off season, improved storage conditions of horticulture crops, reduced distress sale during the peak harvest season, and production of quality planting material from the nurseries etc

Evaluation of Fodder Bank Scheme

Client(s): State Planning Commission, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Madhya Pradesh (West) and Bihar

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The Fodder Bank Scheme was launched in the State on the model of warehousing of fodder to maintain round the year fodder availability through the Uttarakhand Livestock Development Board (ULDB). Under the scheme, fodder is sold through block level fodder banks to farmers at reasonable prices to stabilize the fodder prices during lean seasons and minimizing wastage by improving the overall supply chain.
  • AMS was commissioned to undertake the evaluation of this scheme in 3 districts each of Kumaon and Garhwal divisions of Uttarakhand.

Facilitating optimal use of assets and resources for income generating activities like agriculture intensification & diversification and capacity building of Water Users Associations (WUA’s) under UPWSRP in Sharda Sahayak Khand-51, Pratapgarh, Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Uttar Pradesh Water Sector Restructuring Project (UPWSRP), Irrigation Department, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • The U.P. Water Sector Restructuring Project (UPWSRP) envisages in its purview the following parameters — (i) establishment and operationalization of apex water resources institutions critically needed for holistic planning and allocation of apex water resources, following a river-basin approach; (ii) establishment & operationalization of a State Water Tariff Regulatory Commission, aimed at rationalizing tariff settings; (iii) institutional reforms and business process re-engineering in the irrigation sector; (iv) piloting of replicable options for basin planning and integrated water resources development and management; (v) rehabilitation and modernization of irrigation systems, covering about 3,00,000 hectares and of associated drainage networks in two selected sub-basins and the piloting of replicable management options for sustained irrigation and drainage operations; (vi) feasibility studies and preparation activities for the next phase of the programme; (vii) co-ordination of project activities.
  • AMS was designated as the Consultant for the UPWSR Project for designing and implementing a comprehensive "Capacity Building Programme — aimed at ensuring the mobilization and involvement of the farmers in the development of autonomous, cost-efficient, financially self-sufficient, well-managed farmer-oriented Water User Associations (WUAs) — which are able to increase agricultural productivity and in turn, farmers' income through efficient and reliable irrigation services, judicious use of water, crop intensification and diversification." The assignment involving intensive study of the water resources systems in the State and covering two divisions, namely the Sharda Sahayak Khand (SSK) and the Saryu Nahar Khand (SNK) projects, included the following activities —
  • Designing appropriate awareness & educational campaigns
  • Gap analysis
  • Preparation of asset inventory
  • Training needs assessment of farmers, WUA members & PIM task teams
  • Redesigning of irrigation & drainage systems under PROIDO component
  • Preparing project proposals for modernization of outlet command
  • Preparation of pilot action research projects on conjunctive use of water
  • Finalization of outlet-wise action plans for the minors
  • Organizing meetings of WUAs & outlet committees
  • Training of WUA & outlet committee members on efficient water management practices
  • Documentation of good/innovative water management practices
  • Field demonstration of good water management practices

Evaluation of Integrated Scheme of Micro Irrigation

Client(s): Planning Commission, Govt. of India

Coverage: Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • With the formation of a National Mission on Micro Irrigation in June-2010 there was a strong need to evaluate the level of achievements from the earlier initiatives under the Micro Irrigation Scheme. Towards this end, AMS was commissioned by the Planning Commission (GoI) for conducting the country-wide survey and evaluation of the MI Scheme for the reference period: January 2006 – March 2010. The sample for the study included a total of 33 districts spread across 10 states (Punjab, Rajasthan, Haryana, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Chhattisgarh and Orissa) in the country. The study was taken up with the following objectives—
  • To estimate the total area covered under drip and sprinkler in selected states since the inception of MI Scheme;
  • To estimate the reduction in fertilizer usage, increase in fertilizer use efficiency, and savings in labour, pesticides, energy and other operational needs;
  • To assess the extent of the use of marginal and otherwise uncultivable lands and that of saline water;
  • To assess the popularity of micro-irrigation systems in terms of their efficiency, adequacy and usage in different states, especially in potential belts/regions having a water deficit (arid & semi-arid areas);
  • To assess the roles played by major stakeholders, like, NCPAH, SMIC, DMIC, IA, TSG, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and farmers/ beneficiaries at different levels in planning, implementation and monitoring of the scheme under the program;
  • To analyze the approach/strategies adopted by the administrative/ implementing machineries for future course of action;
  • To study the role played by HRD in imparting training programs, conducting seminars, workshops and exhibitions and demonstrations of MI systems for the officials, farmers, entrepreneurs and other active players involved;
  • To identify the major constraints, if any, and to suggest the remedial measures.

Handicrafts & Handloom

Registration and Inspection of Carpet and Durry Looms to Check Incidents of Child Labour

Client(s): Carpet Export Promotion Council of India (CEPC), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India, New Delhi, India

Coverage: 11 states — Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Nagaland, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Gujarat

Nature of Study: Registration & Inspection

  • With its inception, the Carpet Export Promotion Council (CEPC) launched a major Loom Registration and Inspection / Surveillance program all over India. AMS has been supporting the Council in this endeavor since 1998, by undertaking a loom registration and inspection/surveillance exercise across 5 major states (i.e. Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Jammu & Kashmir) which are the hubs of carpet & durry looms in India. AMS also prepared a computerized list of registered looms containing the names of the loom-owners, their fathers’ name and the names of the villages, tehsils, districts as well as the locations of looms. Later in 2008, AMS was again commissioned to undertake the loom registration work in the craft pockets of Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and Jammu & Kashmir. Yet again in FY 2013-15 & 2014-15, AMS conducted the random inspection and survey of 33,708 carpet and durry loom owners under CEPC.
  • The study led to the registration of carpet and durry looms in the states surveyed and preparation of a computerized database of registered looms. In addition, it also assisted CEPC in identification of cases of employing child labour in the industry and its elimination form the registered looms, in keeping with the national policy of abolition of child labour. Besides, it also ensured rehabilitation of child labour and their education.

Census of Handicraft Artisans (Round-III)

Client(s): Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India

Coverage: 9 states (U.P., Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, J&K, Delhi)

Nature of Study: Data Collection

  • The study involved a complete Census and Evaluation of Handicraft Artisans in terms of various socio-economic parameters of development. Overall, it involved primary data collection from the artisans by exhaustively covering all their households within their identified pockets, in terms of demographic details, handicraft activities undertaken, and socio-economic evaluation of their current situation in terms of craft groups, religion, social status, income/wages, expenses, physical assets owned, working capital, credit & raw material availability, trainings, etc.

Census of Handicraft Artisans (Round-II)

Client(s): Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India

Coverage: 13 states (Odisha, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, U.P., Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, J&K, Delhi)

Nature of Study: Data Collection

  • AMS was commissioned by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Govt. of India for carrying out the second round of the Census of Handicraft Artisans in Central, Northern and Eastern regions of the country. The assignment involved primary data collection pertaining to the artisans, in terms of their demographic details and handicraft activities.
  • AMS research teams visited all the districts in these states to identify the artisans’ clusters with the help of district officials and a list of all the villages containing artisans’ clusters was prepared. Thereafter, the survey teams exhaustively covered all the artisan households within the identified villages. Primary data related to the artisans and the handicrafts was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data so collected was coded and analyzed using specially developed software. Comprehensive databases were generated to analyze the various issues using statistical research techniques. Overall, the activities taken up under the assignment included the following—
  • Evaluation of the number of artisans in different crafts
  • Study of the employment and wage structures of handicraft artisans
  • Carrying out social and economic mapping of handicraft workers indicating the following—
  • Number of artisans duly classified by sectors of production; location; specific and major craft groups, religion, social status (SC / ST / OBC / Minority), including its sub-categories, like, APL/BPL, Male/Female, physical infirmity and age groups
  • Sources of working capital, requirement of working capital and availability of credit
  • Raw materials, production, value addition in different crafts, sale and marketing channels through which manufactured products are sold
  • daily working hours and seasonal calendar
  • Average wage rate in crafts, annual households income from crafts, income from other sources, income from all sources, and per capita income from different crafts
  • Contribution of handicraft sector to family income
  • Distribution of households by levels of dependency on handicraft activity
  • Distribution of craft communities by their caste state-wise, bringing out their economic status
  • Artisans holding awards like, Shilp Guru, National Award, State Award, National Merit Certificate, State Merit Certificate,
  • Artisans having identity cards, credit cards, and availing facilities of welfare programmes, like, Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, Bima Yojana, etc.
  • Consolidating data at the National, State, district, block (rural) and ward (urban) levels.
  • Conducting detailed mapping of the handicrafts being practiced in different areas, indicating topography of the area, crafts and the craft pockets.

Census of Handicraft Artisans (Round-I)

Client(s): Office of Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Ministry of Textiles, Govt. of India

Coverage: 7 States and UTs (Uttarakhand, U.P, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu)

Nature of Study: Data Collection

  • AMS was commissioned by the Development Commissioner (Handicrafts), Govt. of India for carrying out the first round of the Census of Handicraft Artisans in Central, Northern and Eastern regions of the country. The assignment involved primary data collection pertaining to the artisans, in terms of their demographic details and handicraft activities.
  • AMS research teams visited all the districts in these states to identify the artisans’ clusters with the help of district officials and a list of all the villages containing artisans’ clusters was prepared. Thereafter, the survey teams exhaustively covered all the artisan households within the identified villages. Primary data related to the artisans and the handicrafts was collected using a structured questionnaire. The data so collected was coded and analyzed using specially developed software. Comprehensive databases were generated to analyze the various issues using statistical research techniques. Overall, the activities taken up under the assignment included the following—
  • Evaluation of the number of artisans in different crafts
  • Study of the employment and wage structures of handicraft artisans
  • Carrying out social and economic mapping of handicraft workers indicating the following—
  • Number of artisans duly classified by sectors of production; location; specific and major craft groups, religion, social status (SC / ST / OBC / Minority), including its sub-categories, like, APL/BPL, Male/Female, physical infirmity and age groups
  • Sources of working capital, requirement of working capital and availability of credit
  • Raw materials, production, value addition in different crafts, sale and marketing channels through which manufactured products are sold
  • daily working hours and seasonal calendar
  • Average wage rate in crafts, annual households income from crafts, income from other sources, income from all sources, and per capita income from different crafts
  • Contribution of handicraft sector to family income
  • Distribution of households by levels of dependency on handicraft activity
  • Distribution of craft communities by their caste state-wise, bringing out their economic status
  • Artisans holding awards like, Shilp Guru, National Award, State Award, National Merit Certificate, State Merit Certificate,
  • Artisans having identity cards, credit cards, and availing facilities of welfare programmes, like, Rajiv Gandhi Shilpi Swasthya Bima Yojana, Bima Yojana, etc.
  • Consolidating data at the National, State, district, block (rural) and ward (urban) levels.
  • Conducting detailed mapping of the handicrafts being practiced in different areas, indicating topography of the area, crafts and the craft pockets.

Women & Child Development

Vulnerability Assessment for Protecting Children through trained Child Protection Community 'Cadre‘

Client(s): Save the Children, India

Coverage: West Bengal & Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • AMS is commissioned by Save the Children, India to conduct the Vulnerability Assessment with the following focused objectives:
  • Understand nature, extent and consequences of violence/ harm experienced by children across intervention area
  • Understand the differences in vulnerability between boys and girls
  • Kind and extent of child protection issues being reported from the intervention areas
  • Understanding community’s (children & adults) perspective of harm and abuse in the villages and families
  • How do the frontline workers connect with or coordinate with community-based child-protection mechanisms?
  • Identify the barriers and enable factors to access child protection, prevention and response services in the intervention area.
  • The study is a combination of both qualitative and quantitative methodology. PRA methodologies of Transect Walk, Social Mapping, together with Small Group Discussion and In-Depth Interviews with Key Stakeholders along with the review of secondary data and analysis are being used. Methodology and tools for the PRA processes are finalised in consultation with Save the Children team. The principle of Do No Harm is being inherent in the methods used.
  • The Participants of the Focused Group Discussions are boys, girls, men and women in the community. Key Informants in interviews are District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) functionaries, Child Welfare Committee (CWC) members, Local Police, Child line, Labour Superintendent, ANM, Anganwadi Worker, Teachers, VLCPC (Village Child Protection Committee), Community Members, Community Leaders and Children.

Baseline Survey for the Child Rights Project in U.P for UNICEF

Client(s): UNICEF

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The Child Rights Project (Bal Adhikar Pariyojana) focuses on overall development of children, primarily by linking them to education and improving the quality of their lives as well as that of their families. In order to achieve its goal, the Project needs a comprehensive database of all the children in 6-14 years age cohort who are presently not going to school. This data base will be used as a tool to launch an intensive campaign, targeted at getting all these children enrolled in schools. Further, in order to monitor the progress and evaluate the ultimate achievements of the Project, the impact of various programme interventions need to be assessed from time to time. For this purpose, it is essential to have a set of baseline values against which any change can be measured. Accordingly, AMS conducted baseline surveys in three blocks of eastern U.P. under the Bal Adhikar Pariyojana (Child Rights Project).

Kopal Project on Early Childhood Care & Developments in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Directorate of ICDS, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • Recent researches have conclusively proved that the first three years of a child, beginning from the pre-natal stage, are the most crucial period and the care and attention provided by family members, is critical for the development outcomes for the young child. Keeping this in mind, a project Kopal (The Beginning of Life) was launched by the Directorate of ICDS, Govt. of U.P.— aimed at developing resource teams that would concentrate on facilitating better parenting, safe motherhood, quality care for newborns and promoting infant care practices for optimal early child development. The project envisaged a unique convergence of all the key village level functionaries, namely, ANMs, AWWs, Primary School Teachers and PRI Members. AMS was involved in conceptualizing the project right from its initiation to the capacity building of various resource teams. Later on, AMS facilitated in conducting capacity building programme of the grassroots level functionaries.

Community mobilization and empowerment of adolescent girls under Rajeev Gandhi Kishori Balika Shashaktikaran Yojana

Client(s): Uttar Pradesh Mahila Kalyan Nigam Limited, Lucknow

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Community Mobilization

  • Adolescent girls, being the future mothers of the nation, must be duly empowered to handle the issues of critical maternal & child healthcare needs. Based on this premise, improving their overall well-being, particularly about their health, nutrition, lifestyle-related behaviour and adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) had been one of the topmost priorities of the Government. Towards this end, the Govt. of India launched the Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA), in November 2010. The scheme was being implemented on a pilot basis by the Ministry of Women and Child Development (MWCD), Govt. of India through the ICDS programme in 200 districts across the country, including 22 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • One of the major objectives of the scheme was to empower the adolescent girls by suitably educating them and mobilizing them towards taking up activities that guarantee them a marked improvement in their health & nutrition status. AMS, having a vast experience of successfully delivering community-based assignments in the health sector, was commissioned by UNICEF for mobilizing the adolescent girls towards a better health & nutritional status through a specially designed training tool-kit. Further, it was also mandated to undertake the training of the ICDS programme managers and grassroots level functionaries viz. community health workers, ASHAs, ANMs, etc. for sensitizing them on the adolescent girls’ related issues through the specially developed training modules & training toolkits and for enabling them in implementing the SABLA scheme in various districts of UP.
  • The training tool-kit so developed focused on educating the adolescent girls regarding the adolescent reproductive and sexual health (ARSH) and maternal & childcare, besides providing the information/guidance on accessing public services through the primary health centres (PHCs), community health centres (CHCs), etc. Additionally, counselling of the adolescent girls formed an integral component of the assignment. Further, disseminating the essential child healthcare practices, especially routine immunization, to ward-off diseases among the newborns, promoting easy, affordable and effective treatment, and thereby reducing dependence on heavy antibiotics to cure common ailments, such as pneumonia and diarrhoea, among children aged below 5 years, were also taken up under the assignment. Another important aspect of the assignment was educating adolescent girls in life skills to make them self-dependent and lead a life of dignity.

Knowledge Assessment and Training of Adolescent Girls on Reproductive & Sexual Health under SABLA Scheme

Client(s): UNICEF

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment & Training

  • Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (SABLA) is an initiative of the Government of India that aims at improving the nutritional & health status of adolescent girls by augmenting their knowledge & skills (home based and vocational) and their level of awareness on health, nutrition, lifestyle-related behaviour and adolescent reproductive & sexual health. In Uttar Pradesh, the scheme is being implemented on pilot basis in 22 districts. AMS was commissioned by UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh to sensitize the ICDS program managers on the SABLA training module and design the training kit. The overall objectives of the assignment included—
  • Translate the SABLA training module, developed by NIPCCD, from English to Hindi;
  • Based on the SABLA training module, develop a training kit for imparting training under the SABLA scheme; and
  • Conduct capacity building workshops for ICDS officials at the district level on SABLA and sensitize them on the module and the training kit in the 22 pilot districts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The draft training kit contained the following items—
  • Personal Hygiene Kit containing the following items — (i) Cotton; (ii) Bandage; (iii) Comb; (iv) Hair Clips; (v) Hair Oil; (vi) Shampoo; (vii) Soap; (viii) Tooth Brush; (ix) Toothpaste; (x) Nail-cutter; (xi) Sanitary Pad; (xii) Savlon; and (xiii) A pair of Scissors.
  • Skipping Rope
  • Booklet on Adolescent Reproductive and Sexual Health (ARSH)
  • Prototype of Menstrual Clock
  • A pack of Playing Cards along with a laminated Score-Sheet.
  • The sensitization trainings of the ICDS programme managers related to building their capacity in creating awareness among the adolescent girls with regard to their legal rights and the ways & means of availing benefits from the National Legal Services. Besides, they included imparting awareness regarding the availability of public facilities, such as, opening an account in bank/ post office, filing an FIR at the Police Station and accessing police services, etc.

Baseline Survey of Women Self Help Groups in Rajasthan

Client(s): Women Self Help Group Institute, Department of Women & Child Development, Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • Conducted the study to ascertain the socio-economic and demographic profile of WSHG members, present status of the WSHGs, identify the areas that need interventions and suggest implementable solutions for the same and at the same time collect baseline indicators against which the future progress of the WSHGs can be measured.
  • The exercise involved in-depth interaction with various stakeholders, such as, the WSHG President/Secretary, member households, Anganwadi workers, CDPOs and the bank managers.

Effect of community led Video Education on Increasing Immunization Coverage amongst Children between 6 to 17 months in Fatehpur district of Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): PATH

Coverage: Fatehpur, Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The current project undertakes digital approach to bring Behavioural Change among the stakeholders on key public health issues related to mother and child health. It uses the CVE (Community Led Video Education) approach to bring awareness among the respondents in the intervention villages on the needs and benefits of immunization.
  • The current study in response to the same is an impact assessment study that seeks to understand the impact of the intervention in the project block as compared to the control block in the Fatehpur District of Uttar Pradesh. It would thus try and assess the following:
  • Improvement in knowledge, attitude and belief among key stakeholders on benefits of immunization
  • Increase in the number of children who have been immunized during the intervention year
  • Improved awareness among the key stakeholders on several other maternal and child health issues arising at their home and the surrounding areas at different time periods
  • Improved knowledge and confidence among frontline workers to undertake discussion on key health issues with the stakeholders using the digital media
  • To assess the following mentioned above, we shall first undertake a Baseline Survey to understand the current levels of the parameters mentioned above and then undertake an end-line survey at the end of 18 months of intervention to understand the impact of the PATH Projecting Health (PH) project.

Baseline survey (including anthropometric measurements of children under 5 years) for the Impact Assessment of Odisha Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group Empowerment and Livelihoods Improvement Programme (OPELIP)

Client(s): Programme Management Unit (PMU), OPELIP, Govt. of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • Prior to making investments under OPELIP, the Project Management Unit (PMU) intended to undertake a baseline assessment towards benchmarking the key outcome indicators, against which programmatic progress could be measured at any subsequent stage of the project. The proposal pertained to undertaking data collection under the same. The scope of work undertaken by AMS included:
  • a. Providing technical inputs / feedback on the survey methodology, already developed by RIA and OPELIP;
  • b. Training of Field Staff
  • c. Data Collection & Management
  • d. Quality Assurance through Regular monitoring and supervision of data being collected by enumerators
  • e. Delivering Consolidated datasets in the prescribed formats
  • The primary data was collected through handheld tablets loaded with soft versions of the questionnaires and having inbuilt GPS mechanism to capture the geospatial coordinates of the study locations. The survey was conducted successfully by AMS and reports were submitted to the client.

Training Needs Assessment and Development of Training Strategy For DWCDSS/JWDS Staff at All Institutional Levels

Client(s): Tejaswini, Jharkhand Women Development Society (JWDS), Department of Women, Child Development and Social Security, Government of Jharkhand

Coverage: Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Training Needs Assessment

  • The overall objective of the proposed project sought to support the Jharkhand Women & Child Development Sector (JWCDS) in the design and implementation of capacity development strategies for the DWCDSS / JWDS Staff rooted in evidence-based practices, to strengthen the capacities of those engaged in the service provision/service delivery of Project Tejaswini Programme that seeks to enhance socio-economic empowerment of adolescent girls and women. The following goals specifically sought within the ambit of this project’s training and capacity development strategy—
  • Fortify staff’s knowledge and skills for improved and effective program delivery to Tejaswini Project’s target beneficiaries – adolescent girls and women.
  • Institutionalize a pre-existing capacity development program to augment the professional development of DWCDSS/JWDS staff.
  • Additionally, the wider scope of the project entails the following—
  • Rigorous assessment of the existing infrastructural support - training sites and programs / courses available for the staff engaged at all levels with service delivery of adolescent girls and women programs/ schemes (including cost, annual output, qualification of trainers, prerequisites for enrolment, targeted beneficiaries, sponsorship opportunities)
  • Training needs assessment of staff, contract workers and other stakeholders (e.g. block and district administration, functionaries of other line departments, vocational training service providers/ master trainers).

Evaluation of Mid-Day Meal Scheme

Client(s): State Planning Commission, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Mid-Day Meals scheme MDMS also offers a platform to the children wherein they also develop necessary skills on important aspects of life, such as, socialization, personal hygiene, health and nutrition, etc. However, to ascertain whether the scheme has been able to increase retention of children in the school and their attendance in class, the Government of Uttarakhand commissioned AMS to conduct a study on the impact of MDMS in increasing retention and attendance of children in school.

Evaluation of Mahila Dairy Scheme

Client(s): State Planning Commission, Govt. of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The scheme entailed establishment of milk cooperative societies at village level, and by linking them to market make them avail fair price of milk and milk products. Besides, the scheme attempted to provide means of self-employment for women groups linked with Mahila Dairies. The study was proposed by the State Planning Department of Uttarakhand as an evaluation exercise to understand the problems being faced in implementation of the programme and its actual impact on the ground.
  • AMS undertook the assignment with the following objectives:
  • Planning and Execution of the Scheme
  • Purpose and need of selection/ establishment of Mahila Dairies
  • Training provided to milk society secretaries and working milk producers
  • Availability and usage of tools/ equipment and medicines
  • Facilities provided by central and state governments, and their utilization
  • Adequacy of veterinary doctors
  • Marketing facility of milk
  • Availability and adequacy of fodder go-downs
  • Availability of local and hybrid milch animals in milk societies
  • Need and availability of bulls (both cow and buffalo species) in the milk societies
  • Offspring produced by Artificial Insemination
  • Adequacy/ excess of employees under the scheme
  • To gauge the utility and effects of the Scheme
  • Condition of milk production
  • Cooperation by milk society members
  • Utility of milk routes
  • Utility of the Scheme with respect to the objectives
  • Success of private milk ventures
  • Production of milk under the scheme with respect to salaries and other expenditures incurred in implementation of the scheme
  • Advantages and disadvantages of merger of Mahila Dairy Scheme with other similar schemes being run for state cattle owners’ welfare
  • To analyse the financial condition
  • Analysis of financial condition and management
  • Milk production and prices of milk in milk federations
  • Condition of payment to milk societies
  • Physical Progress
  • Milk societies getting active and inactive each year
  • Each year reduction in milk production in milk federation
  • To list out the obstacles in Effective Implementation of the Scheme and Suggestions

Assessment of Communication Needs under Baseline and Endline Evaluation of Pilot Program for “Developing Public Infrastructure in Early Childhood Learning and Education in the State of Uttarakhand” (Gali Gali Sim Sim Project) for Government of Uttarakhand

Client(s) : The Sesame Workshop India along with Government of Uttarakhand (GoUK) and Infrastructure Development Finance Company (IDFC)

Coverage : Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • IDFC, with the Government of Uttarakhand, has planned to implement a program titled ‘Improving the Quality of Early Childhood Development in ICDS Uttarakhand’. This program is being implemented in 6000 Anganwadi Centres (AWCs), across five districts of Uttarakhand— Dehradun, Haridwar, Uddham Singh Nagar, Tehri- Garhwal and Nainital.
  • It is a 12-month program aiming to improve the health, hygiene and literacy indicators of children attending these 6000 Anganwadi Centers in the mentioned districts of Uttarakhand. The program will include the involvement of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) and the community (specifically parents) for interventions in early childhood development. It would further add on towards improvement of the learning outcomes of the targeted children.
  • AMS was contracted to conduct a baseline study to generate estimates for the current situation of AWCs, AWWs, children between 3-5 years and their parents with regard to key impact areas proposed to be influenced through the project.
  • The basic objective of the baseline study was to generate, analyze and interpret data around the following three key domains—
  • Learning Levels of Children between 3-5 years of age: Assessment of learning levels of children, specifically pre-Literacy indicators along a pre-defined framework of abilities developed by Sesame Workshop India.
  • Resources and Capacities of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs): To assess the current availability of teaching materials, and capacities of the AWWs for transaction of Early Childhood Education.
  • Community Involvement in Early Childhood Development: To assess the current levels of community involvement in early childhood development. Parents of children attending the surveyed AWCs were interviewed to assess their understanding & perception of AWC’s role in offering preschool education to the children, and to ascertain their levels of awareness regarding the aspects of early childhood development.

Providing consultancy under the sub-grant agreement of SHG Platform in community mobilization project for UNICEF

Client(s): UNICEF

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

Strengthening the ICDS System for Enabling Effective Delivery of Nutrition Interventions

Client(s): Unicef, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • AMS was commissioned by UNICEF to strengthen the ICDS system for enabling effective delivery of nutrition interventions in select districts of Uttar Pradesh. To address these challenges, it was planned to undertake three key strategic interventions: Enhancing capacities of training institutions on IYCF; Undertaking concurrent monitoring and offering hands on support to functionaries of selected model AWCs with a view to develop their capacities for improving delivery of nutrition services like nutrition counselling and growth monitoring linked to the home visits and Aanganwadi centres;
  • In select focus districts and AWCs, built capacities on nutrition counselling along the lines proposed in the ICDS Mission; established demonstration centres for community-based management of severely malnourished children (Sneha Shivirs

Data validation & updation of SHGs under SWAAYAM Project of UNDP in selected districts of UP

Client(s): United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Data Validation

  • The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) launched the SWAAYAM project in Uttar Pradesh in partnership with IKEA foundation, in the year 2009. The project titled “Strengthening Women’s Social, Economic and Political empowerment in Jaunpur, Mirzapur and Sant Ravidas Nagar of Uttar Pradesh” applied an integrated approach to women’s empowerment combining social, economic, political, legal and environmental dimensions.
  • The project involved mobilizing women at the grassroots level by organizing them into self-help groups and larger collectives. Women were provided with legal awareness training, information about their rights and entitlements, skill development training, financial literacy and entrepreneurship with linkages established to value chain and market instruments.
  • A web-enabled Management Information System (MIS) was developed under the SWAAYAM project to improve the efficiency and transparency of the operational processes. The MIS system stored information related to the women SHG members to track their social, economic, political & legal progress. The MIS also tracked and managed project’s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), activities and learning’s besides providing accurate & timely information to programme managers & other interested parties.
  • AMS was commissioned by UNDP for validating and updating the database of women SHG members of the SWAAYAM project operational in the selected districts of Uttar Pradesh. The assignment involved the following activities:
  • Evaluation and updation of the existing database of more than 48,048 women self help group members (SHGs) of SWAAYAM project in 500 villages of six blocks of district Jaunpur, Sant Ravidas Nagar and Mirzapur of Uttar Pradesh.
  • Uploading the photographs of SHG members on the database.
  • The field teams used laptops with in-built cameras to capture the photographs and the IT experts from AMS, along with the UNDP experts, trained the enumerators on operating the database for data collection.

Training Needs Assessment (TNA) of Adolescent Girls & Women

Client(s): Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society (UWCDS)

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Training Needs Assessment

  • In the earlier phases of developmental planning, the concept of women's development was mainly `welfare' oriented. This has witnessed a paradigm shift towards 'development'. During the last three five-year plans, the focus has been on 'Empowering Women as the Agents of Social Change and Development'. The focus now is on initiating various types of programmes for women, which emphasis on their overall development, including their vocational skills.
  • In pursuance of the above, a number of initiatives have been launched by various departments for development of women in India, as also in Uttarakhand. The Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society (UWCDS) under the aegis of the Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development, Uttarakhand has organized a number of training programmes for adolescent girls & women in the State, with focus on their overall development. Further, under the ICDS program, various vocational and skill development activities are organized for adolescent girls through Kishori Shakti Yojna and SABLA Scheme; to enable them to take charge of their lives. On the other hand, the Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society (UWCDS) organizes women to form Self Help Groups and implements various activities for empowering them to come forward and take up income generating activities so that they could be mainstreamed in the development process, at par with men.
  • However, being broad based, these initiatives do not specifically and comprehensively address the area-specific training and capacity building needs of the adolescent girls and women of the State. The training needs of adolescent girls and women differ from region to region based on the opportunities available in a particular region and the capacity of various social and/or age groups to exploit them. Moreover, the aspirations of adolescent girls for career development also differ from place to place and region to region, based on their background and the career development opportunities available to them from time-to-time. Further, the training needs would be different for different cross sections of women and adolescent girls, based on their socio-economic condition, educational status, marital status, and across various age-groups.
  • In the above backdrop, it was thought necessary to identify economic and career development opportunities for women and adolescent girls in different districts/regions of the State and provide training to them, so as they may gainfully exploit the same to become an active partner in social development process.
  • For the purpose, Academy of Management Studies (AMS) has been commissioned by the Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society (UWCDS) to conduct a 'Training Needs Assessment (TNA) Study' across the State for the women, including adolescent girls, with a view to design and implement more beneficial, customized & need based training programmes for their holistic development.

Baseline Survey of Adolescent Girls in Tribal Districts of Rajasthan

Client(s): Directorate of Women Empowerment, Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • Adolescent Girls Club Project is one such UNFPA supported intervention, which is being implemented in two blocks each of Udaipur, Dungarpur, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand districts. The mandate of these clubs is to build capacities of illiterate/out of school adolescent girls on reproductive health & gender issues, HIV/AIDS, life skills education, personal & reproductive hygiene, environment & sanitation awareness, legal literacy, and vocational skills. It is a pioneering effort in the direction of improving the quality of lives of adolescent girls in the State.
  • In order to evaluate the ultimate achievements of the Project, it is essential to conduct a Baseline Survey to have a set of baseline values (performance indicators) against which changes can be measured in future. Accordingly, the Directorate of Women Empowerment commissioned AMS to conduct a Baseline Survey of the out-of-school Adolescent Girls in the 4 tribal districts in Rajasthan. The exercise involved in-depth interaction with various stakeholders, such as, the out of school adolescent girls and their parents, school teachers, PRIs, AWW, Sathin, ANM, PHC Incharge, and the district and block level officials of the department.

Education

Study to investigate the reasons of high dropout at secondary and senior secondary stage in India for National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Client(s): Ministry of Human Resource Development (GOI) through National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • On behalf of the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, a countrywide study was undertaken by the National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to investigate the reasons for high dropout at secondary and senior secondary stage. The project involved a sample survey of schools, dropout students, their parents, and the community to learn their perception about education and reasons for dropout. Under the study, an in-depth impact assessment was made as regards various factors like education, economic status, and profession of the parents, prevailing social practices, proximity to schools, infrastructure available in the schools, availability of employment opportunities for children, etc. NCAER had commissioned AMS to undertake the study in Rajasthan, Haryana and Uttarakhand. The primary objective of undertaking this study was to help design interventions aimed at curbing the high rate of dropouts at secondary and senior secondary stage in India.

Study on Deployment and Professional Competence of Para Teachers for National Council of Applied Economic Research, New Delhi

Client(s): National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The Ministry of Human Resource Development, Department of School Education and Literacy, Government of India commissioned a study on the deployment and professional competence of para teachers in the country. The study entailed school-wise listing of the number of para teachers, selection of 30 para teachers from the rural as well as urban schools of the selected blocks of the study districts, assessment of the achievements vis-à-vis the regular teachers, identify the service conditions and give recommendations for improving the initiative. AMS was involved in conducting the field work in the Uttarakhand.

Evaluation Study of the Level of Motivation among Govt. School Teachers at the Elementary Level for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Sabhi Ke Liye Shiksha Parishad

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Education is a process of behavioural change and development that occurs continuously throughout every stage of life. Teachers are active in every stage of that process. The formation of desirable behaviour in the student is closely linked to the motivation levels of the teacher, as well as the teacher's attitude and behaviour. Low motivation levels in the teacher, who is in a critical position in the education and schooling process, has a negative impact on the achievement of high standards in education. The enthusiasm of the teacher in daily activities has a significant impact on increasing the students' motivation levels. Significantly, job satisfaction and motivation are very essential to the continuing growth of educational systems around the world and they rank alongside professional knowledge and skills, center competencies, educational resources as well as strategies, in genuinely determining educational success and performance. The relevance of job satisfaction and motivation are very crucial to the long-term growth of any educational system. While almost every teacher works in order to satisfy his or her needs in life, he or she constantly agitates for need satisfaction, job satisfaction and the ability of the teaching job to meet teachers’ needs and improve their job/teaching performance. Accordingly, was thought by the Sarva Shiksha Abiyan, Uttarakhand to undertake an assessment study on the motivational level of teachers in the State.

A study the effectiveness of BRC/CRC and functional evaluation of Block/Cluster Resource Persons (BRPs/CRPs) in Jharkhand for Jharkhand Education Project Council, Government of Jharkhand

Client(s): Jharkhand Education Project Council

Coverage: Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • The process of establishing Block and Cluster level Resource Centres was initiated in 1995 by District Primary Education Program (DPEP) to initiate a change process and address the day-to-day problems of teachers by providing them on-site support. These centres undertake school visits, on-site teacher training support, provide feedback, conduct teachers’ training, resource material preparation, discussions of specific problems in monthly meetings, etc. In order to measure the effectiveness of BRCs/CRCs in providing support to teachers at the field and to evaluate the functioning of Block Resource Persons and Cluster Resource Persons, AMS was commissioned to undertake the study in all of the 22 districts of the State. The major objectives of the study were to find out the functional status of BRCs/CRCS, identify the role being played by BRCs/CRCs vis-à-vis their envisioned role under SSA, nature of resource support available, existing linkage structure among DIET, BRCs & CRCs and to suggest action points with regard to improving the functioning of the BRCs/CRCs in achieving the goals of the SSA.

Baseline Study on Effectiveness of DIETs, District Project Offices, BRCs and CRCs in providing Academic Support and Supervision to Elementary Schools in Selected Districts of Uttarakhand for Azim Premji Foundation in 2008

Client(s): Azim Premji Foundation

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Baseline Assessment

  • For effective monitoring of various activities of SSA and to provide academic support to teachers, the institutions, such as, District Level Project offices, DIETs, BRCs and CRCs have been established in the State. These institutions often do not benefit from each other’s learning and experiences. Instead of pursuing a common and defined goal, the approach of these institutions is just to implement different activities. In order to synergize and streamline the activities of these institutions for achieving the overarching aim of SSA, this study was undertaken for assessing the activities and the impact of work of these institutions on schools and teachers. The study covered the role and functions of DIETs, District Project Offices, BRCs & CRCs and the extent to which the activities undertaken by them were in accordance with their prescribed duties; the workload and time devoted by these institutions in providing academic support to teachers; abstruseness in the intra and inter-institutional linkages of these institutions, particularly on qualitative aspects of education. The study also covered various other aspects, such as, the selection procedure of BRCs and CRCs, mechanism of supervision by DIETs, District Project Offices, BRCs and CRCs and the availability and use of various facilities and equipment that are provided to them for their functioning, etc. Based on the inputs derived from the study, a baseline for various indicators in regard to different dimensions of the functioning of DIETs, District Project Offices, BRCs & CRC Coordinators were determined.

Evaluating the impact of the Computer Aided Learning Program (CALP) on the achievement level of students in Uttarakhand for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The Computer Aided Learning Program (CALP) is a novel initiative, intended to enhance the learning of children without any burden of studies and to improve their comprehension. Obviously, such a program needs to be monitored regularly for its impact and for improvements over the shortcomings in its implementation in order to derive full advantage of the same. AMS was commissioned for this purpose. Besides assessing the attitude of teachers and VEC members towards this program, the study aimed at comparing the performance of students studying in CALP and Non-CALP schools to evaluate the impact of the program on the achievement level of students to find out the usefulness of program, especially in respect to competency building

Assessment of Impact of the inputs given for Children with Special Needs (CWSN) under SSA in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The intervention under SSA for inclusive education are identification, functional and formal assessment, enrolment drives, home-based education, individualized educational plan, physical barrier free access, provision of aids and appliances, etc. Accordingly, SSA Uttarakhand has also taken various initiatives for inclusive education, such as, annual process identification of CWSN, providing home-based education, training of teachers in keeping with the needs of the CWSN, providing aids and appliances, involvement of NGOs in the inclusive education, capacity building, etc. The purpose of this study was to assess and identify the gaps in the process of implementation of various initiatives and to suggest measures for improvements. AMS was commissioned by SSA Uttarakhand to undertake this study

Evaluation of the Status of Enrolment, Retention and Achievement Levels of Minority Children, and Strategies to Meet their Educational Needs in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The National Policy on Education envisages paying greater attention to the education of backward minorities to mainstream them in the process of economic growth, of which education is the key determinant. In keeping with this, SSA Uttarakhand is also committed to ensure universal coverage of the children belonging to educationally backward sections with special focus on minority children and has provided various special inputs for their education, such as, provision of Urdu teacher, scholarships, launching of awareness campaigns, appointing para-teachers in Madrasas under AIE scheme, etc.
  • To take feedbacks of various stakeholders, including the school administration, teachers, minority students and their parents about the efficacy and effectiveness of the inputs so provided in mainstreaming the minority children and to suggest grey areas for periodical corrections, the SSA commissioned AMS to undertake this study.

A Comparative Evaluation Study of enrolment, retention and achievement level of Girls in Model Cluster Schools under NPEGEL and Non-Model Cluster Schools in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sabhi Ke Liye Shiksha Parishad, State Project Office, Mayur Vihar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The objective of NPEGEL is to facilitate the retention of girls in the schools, ensure greater participation of women and girls in the field of education and improve the overall quality of education through various interventions and stress upon the relevance and quality of girls' education for their empowerment. Several incentives are available to these schools so as they could act as girls-child friendly schools in the respective cluster. There are around 400 such schools in Uttarakhand. Assessment of the outcomes of the programme was necessitated for understanding whether the interventions were moving in the right direction or not.
  • In view of this, the State of Uttarakhand commissioned AMS to undertake a comparative study on enrolment, retention and achievement level of girls in MCSs and Non-MCSs and the extent of utilization of the inputs provided under the scheme by the MCSs.

Evaluating the status and functioning of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs) and achievement level of their girl students

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • KGBV is a scheme for setting up residential schools at elementary level (6th to 8th Class) in Educationally Backward Blocks (EBBs) for out-of-school girls belonging predominantly to the SC, ST, OBC and minorities or physically challenged categories. It aims at ensuring access and quality education to the girls of disadvantaged groups of society by setting up residential schools at upper primary level. In Uttarakhand 25 such schools have been established. The study was undertaken to assess the status and functioning of these schools as well as achievement level of girls studying therein. Apart from assessing the achievement level of girls, the study also entailed assessing different inputs provided to the KGBVs and their utilization; efforts made for enrolment and retention of out of school girls; extent of participation of girls in curricular and co-curricular activities; adequacy of human resource, boarding, lodging and healthcare facilities; effectiveness of administrative and academic support system, etc. The study also highlighted measures for improving the academic and administrative support system.

Study on Ascertaining the Status of EGS Centers in Uttarakhand for Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Sabhi Ke Liye Shiksha Parishad, State Project Office, Nanoorkhera, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The Supreme Court has recognized the education of children in the 6-14 years age group as a Fundamental Right which cannot wait. Several efforts in the State have also been made under SSA in this regard, which include activities like enrolment drives, contact programmes, bridge courses and the like. The effort to provide access to ‘out of school’ children and ensure their regular participation and completion of primary/elementary level of education with satisfactory levels of learning has to form a part of the overall efforts for achievement of Universalization of Elementary Education (UEE). A significant proportion of the 'out of school’ children (at the primary level) do not have physical access to a schooling facility within 1 km of the habitation. In addition, children who are in extremely difficult conditions, for example, street children, children who migrate with their families, wage earning child labourers, adolescent girls (11-14 years of age) cannot be easily enrolled into formal schools directly.
  • In view of above, a reorientation in this regard was imperative and subsequently the concept of EGS & AIE evolved. Alternative, EGS like schools set up in such habitations are full-time day schools and continue to exist in these habitations as Education Guarantee Centers or become upgraded to regular schools once certain conditions are fulfilled. However, to maintain the quality of any educational initiative, certain basic essentials need to be ensured such as, minimum infrastructure, equipments, reasonable honorarium of the Education Volunteers, proper investment in their professional preparation and regular academic support, etc.
  • In view of the above, it was decided by the State Project Office, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Uttarakhand) to undertake a study for ascertaining the status of EGS Centers in the State.
  • Accordingly, AMS performed all concerned activities including preparation of the study design, developing research instruments, training of field teams on research instruments, preparing the data analysis plan, conducting data analysis and documenting the findings in the form of a detailed report, in consultation with the Client.

Identifying the Discriminatory Practices in Elementary Schools and their Impact on Enrolment, Attendance, Retention & Achievement of Students in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Government of Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Under SSA, it is envisaged that the learning situation should be just and equitable for everyone in the school situation. The students should not be discriminated on the basis of caste, creed, culture, religion, gender or any other basis. The idea underneath is that the students will enjoy schooling if their individuality is respected and they are treated fairly without any discrimination. In this direction, various inputs and systemic interventions have been brought in by the SSA in the State.
  • Nevertheless, instances of discrimination towards students in schools have kept coming to light off and on. Discrimination in schools may not necessarily have a physical impact on the child but certainly dents his/her morale, personality and character. Such damage in turn leads to reduced attendance, achievement and learning. In many cases, this has been the reason behind students opting to drop-out from the schools. Discrimination towards students sends a negative message in the community besides impacting adversely the enrollment in schools.
  • This makes it is necessary to focus into school practices and situations, such as classroom transaction & co-curricular activities, mid-day-meal etc. and ensure that the climate in the school is free of discrimination. However, to make schools discrimination free, it is extremely important that first a systematic evaluation is done of the type of discriminatory practices towards students that are in existence. This would help in designing concerted strategies to do away with the discriminatory practices and make the school atmosphere enabling and more congenial for students. In view of the aforesaid, the SarvaShikshaAbhiyan (SSA), Uttarakhand commissioned AMS for undertaking a study entitled ‘Identifying the Discriminatory Practices in Elementary Schools and their Impact on Enrolment, Attendance, Retention & Achievement of students.

Evaluation of National Talent Search Scheme

Client(s): National Council of Educational Research & Training, New Delhi

Coverage: All Five Zone of the Country i.e. North, South, East, West and North-East

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The National Talent Search (NTS) Scheme is a flagship program of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) and is aimed at bringing about qualitative improvements in school education in the country. Under the scheme, scholarships are awarded annually to about 1,000 meritorious students of Class 10th, based on their performance in Mental Ability Test (MAT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) and personal interview. The awardees are eligible for the scholarship from Class 11th onwards up to Ph.D. level while studying basic and social sciences, including commerce. Those studying professional courses, such as, medicine, engineering, technology, management and law, are eligible to receive the same only up to the second-degree level.
  • A proposal for increasing number of scholarships of National Talent Search (NTS) from 1000 to 3000 was mooted in 2010 by NCERT to Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), New Delhi. However, as per recommendation of the Committee on Non-Plan Expenditure (CNE), MHRD directed NCERT to get an external evaluation of the Scheme before the proposal to enhance the number of scholarships may be considered. Accordingly, the NCERT commissioned AMS to evaluate the NTS scheme in all five regions of the country i.e. North, South, East, West and North-East.
  • The broad objectives of evaluation of NTS Scheme were:
  • To study the extent to which the NTS scheme is meeting its objectives in identification and nurturance of talent.
  • To study if the provisions of the number and amount of scholarships are suitably revised over the years
  • To examine the patterns of distribution of scholarships to awardees and stakeholders across areas/gender/social group/subject streams/states/UTs
  • To study the patterns of the selection process of NTSE in selecting talent
  • To examine the perceptions of the NTS awardees about the efficacy of the scheme
  • To recommend suitable measures for improvement of the scheme
  • To study the extent to which the scheme has been able to nurture scientific temper amongst students

Evaluation of “Distribution of Free Bicycles to Students of Class X” Scheme in Odisha for the Government of Odisha

Client(s): The Programme Performance Outcome & Monitoring Unit (PPOMU), Finance Department, Government of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS was commissioned by the Government of Odisha for conducting the evaluation of the scheme. The objectives of the scheme were to:
  • Review the scheme design, scope and implementation process;
  • Find out the role of SMDC and that of the community in implementation of the scheme;
  • Evaluate on a sample basis whether the bicycles are being used for the purpose for which they were given, e.g., whether the cycles are being misused (uses by family members that bar the student from using the bicycle for educational purposes) by other family members or not;
  • Evaluate the impact of the scheme with respect to attendance, dropout and learning achievement of the children in Class X;
  • Evaluate the impact of the scheme with respect to the children (both boy and girls) enrolled in Class X and their learning achievement, who belong to SC/ST, weaker sections, BPL and minority communities;
  • Find out the transition from secondary to higher secondary education.
  • Elicit parental perception about the scheme;
  • Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages in continuing the programme further, and sustainability of the scheme;
  • Examine feasibility of centralized procurement of bi-cycles;
  • Identify and document 25-30 good practices worth emulating for publication purpose.
  • Suggest better policy design, if necessary, and develop a results framework for the scheme with in-built monitoring mechanism and having little scope for fund mismanagement.
  • AMS performed all concerned activities including preparation of the study design, developing research instruments, training of field teams on research instruments, preparing the data analysis plan, conducting data analysis and reporting.

A Study of Enrolment Trends and Affecting Factors in Government and Private Schools

Client(s): State Institute of Educational Management & Training (SIEMAT), Government of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • Researches have shown that although the proportion of private schools is only around a quarter of the total number of Government schools in the country, their enrolment have increased to over a half of that at the Government schools. The problem is even more evident in the State of Uttar Pradesh, where the private schools, despite numbering only around two-fifth of the Government schools, have enrolments to the tune of a whopping 80% of that at the Government schools.
  • In view of the above facts, the State Institute of Educational Management and Training (SIEMAT), which is mandated to carry out orientation & training of educational planners, managers, heads of educational institutions and other related functionaries, commissioned AMS for undertaking a research study on the enrolment trends and affecting factors in Government and Private Schools, across 7 districts in the State of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The major objectives of the study were as listed below—
  • I. To assess differences in enrolment patterns of classes I, V, VI & VIII;
  • II. To estimate the total extent of enrolments over the last 5 years in both Government and private schools of the sample areas;
  • III. To assess the supply side factors, at both Government and private elementary level schools, affecting the following— (a) physical facilities, including the availability of school teachers; (b) overall education environment in schools in terms of the conduct of classrooms, homework assignments, etc.; and (c) types of incentives being provided to the students;
  • IV. To assess the reasons for transfer of elementary level students from the Government schools to private schools and vice-versa;
  • V. To assess the reasons for the preference of private schools among parents of children enrolled in private schools;
  • VI. To assess and compare the socio-economic and educational status of the households of children attending Government and private schools in the same village or town; and
  • VII. To assess the attendance pattern of teachers and students in Govt. and private schools, and the roles of respective School Management Committees (SMCs).
  • The study covered a total of 1120 schools (Government, private and Madarsas inclusive) and the overall sample comprised of 12320 face to face interviews with parents/guardians and 2240 IDIs with teachers & the members of school management committees. Besides, the study also involved documentation of case studies.

Sample Study of House Hold Survey 2013-14

Client(s): State Institute of Educational Management & Training (SIEMAT), Government of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • To supplement its efforts for increasing enrolments at the elementary schools, the Government has initiated an innovative concept of conducting annual household surveys towards identifying the out-of-school children in the country.
  • The household surveys have been envisaged with the assumption that the needs, problems and priorities of any village are best known to its residents rather than to the planners in the Government. Further, the villagers themselves are the best sources for providing suggestions /alternatives for the fulfilment of their needs.
  • The study for verifying the information collected through the Annual Household Survey of 2013-14 in the State of Uttar Pradesh was taken up with the following objectives—
  • I. To ascertain the reliability of data collected during the Annual Household Survey of 2013-14, particularly in respect of the out-of-school children;
  • II. To assess whether all households were covered under the survey, and to identify the sources of discrepancy;
  • III. To check from the school records that whether the children reported to be enrolled in school are attending the classes, and that whether any student is enrolled at two different schools; and
  • IV. To suggest measures for enhancing reliability of Annual Household Surveys.
  • The study covered a total of 420 schools (both primary and upper primary). The data was collected from a total of 10,000 HHs by conducting face to face interviews with parents/guardians and 866 IDIs with teachers, members of school management committees and the block/district/ state level officials. In addition, the study also involved documentation of case studies.

Study on the Motivational Level of Teachers at Elementary Level

Client(s): Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, Sabhi Ke Liye Shiksha Parishad, State Project Office, Mayur Vihar, Dehradun, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Education is a process of behavioural change and development that occurs continuously throughout every stage of life. Teachers are active in every stage of that process. The formation of desirable behaviour in the student is closely linked to the motivation levels of the teacher, as well as the teacher's attitude and behaviour. Low motivation levels in the teacher, who is in a critical position in the education and schooling process, has a negative impact on the achievement of high standards in education. The enthusiasm of the teacher in daily activities has a significant impact on increasing the students' motivation levels. Significantly, job satisfaction and motivation are very essential to the continuing growth of educational systems around the world and they rank alongside professional knowledge and skills, center competencies, educational resources as well as strategies, in genuinely determining educational success and performance. The relevance of job satisfaction and motivation are very crucial to the long-term growth of any educational system. While almost every teacher works in order to satisfy his or her needs in life, he or she constantly agitates for need satisfaction, job satisfaction and the ability of the teaching job to meet teachers’ needs and improve their job/teaching performance. Accordingly, was thought by the Sarva Shiksha Abiyan, Uttarakhand to undertake an assessment study on the motivational level of teachers in the State.
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Rural Development & Livelihood

Field Verification of Panchayats recommended by the state Government/UT for Panchayats Awards (DDUPSP/NDRGGSP) 2018 for appraisal year 2016-17

Client(s): Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India

Coverage: 26 states

Nature of Study: Verification

  • AMS has been empanelled as the third party verification agency for the State Government’s Panchayat Awards. Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sashaktikaran Puraskar(DDUPSP) are given to best performing Pancayats (District, Intermediate and Gram Panchayats) across the states/UTs in recognition of the good work that is done by PRIs at each level for improving delivery of services and public goods. The Nanaji Deshmukh Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar (NDRGGSP) are given to Gram Panchayats only for their outstanding contribution to the Socio-economic development by involving Gram Sabhas.
  • The Verification was carried out in Districts of Madhya Pradesh and Chattisgarh.

Concurrent Evaluation of SGSY

Client(s)s: Ministry of Rural Development (AI Division), Govt. of India

Coverage: 20 districts across the State of Uttar Pradesh;

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The objective of the SGSY is to bring the assisted Swarozgaris above the poverty line by providing them income generating assets through bank credit and Government subsidy. The SGSY somewhat intended to provide self-employment to millions of villagers. Poor families living below the poverty line were organised into Self-help groups (SHG)s established with a mixture of government subsidy and credit from investment banks.
  • The main aim of these SHGs was to bring these poor families above and concentrate on income generation through combined effort. The scheme recommended the establishment of activity clusters or clusters of villagers grouped together based on their skills and abilities. Each of these activity clusters worked on a specific activity chosen based on the aptitude and skill of the people, availability of resources and market potentiality.
  • AMS submitted the report on the evaluation of SGSY. AMS developed the necessary software for entry and validation of data.

Monitoring & Evaluation of Comprehensive Maintenance Clauses (CMC) in Remote Village Electrification Programme (RVEP) sponsored by Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India and Govt. of Jharkhand in 224 villages of Saraikela-Kharsawan and West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand State

Client(s): Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency, Department of Energy, Govt. of Jharkhand

Coverage: Jharkhand [224 villages of Saraikela-Kharsawan & West Singhbhum districts]

Nature of Study: Monitoring & Evaluation

  • JREDA installed Solar systems under the RVEP scheme for electrification in 224 villages of Saraikela-Kharsawan & West Singhbhum districts of Jharkhand State.
  • Thereafter, AMS was consulted for a large-scale Monitoring & Evaluation study in these villages to ensure that the objectives as per the original RVEP scheme were met. The qualified team of experts and data operators performed a socio-economic, environmental and procedural analysis. This analysis helped in validating that the transparent issues were addressed immediately and all beneficiaries experienced a cost-effective and satisfying solution to their daily woes, by installation of Solar lights.
  • The team also checked that the latest technology was incorporated for setting up of the Solar lights and optimal solutions were in place for the operation, repair and maintenance of these systems. Based on the analysis done using effective Statistical packages, AMS also confirmed that the standardized policies and procedures as laid out by MNRE, Central and State Governments were achieved by JREDA during implementation of the RVE programme.

Monitoring & Evaluation of works taken up under Remote Village Electrification Programme (RVEP) in Angara block of Ranchi district, Jharkhand

Client(s): Jharkhand Renewable Energy Development Agency, Department of Energy, Govt. of Jharkhand

Coverage: Jharkhand [Angara block of Ranchi district]

Nature of Study: Monitoring & Evaluation

  • JREDA initiated RVEP towards implementing renewable sources of energy in several districts of Jharkhand. Ranchi was among the first districts where Solar systems were deployed for electrification in remote villages.
  • AMS was commissioned to monitor and evaluate the work done under RVEP for the Angara block. The team of experts from AMS validated that the RVE programme and the installed Solar energy systems were compliant to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE) guidelines and the procedural protocols set by the Central and State governments. The team probed each beneficiary in the block to ensure if targets evaluated based on the demand assessment for electricity consumption were addressed. The AMS experts used State-of-the-art statistical packages to generate reliable estimates and to provide suggestions for improvements to the social strata of each block. Based on the Evaluation study, AMS also provided recommendations to JREDA for further improvements in the implementation of the RVEP scheme

Survey for Monitoring & Evaluation of Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY)

Client(s): The Planning Commission, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh & Karnataka

Nature of Study: Monitoring & Evaluation

  • Rajiv Gandhi Gramin Vidyutikaran Yojna (RGGVY) of Rural Electrification has been under implementation since 2004. The scheme is indented to fulfil the commitment of the National Common Minimum Program (NCMP) of completing the household electrification and transformation of the rural electricity infrastructure to provide the access to electricity to rural un-electrified households in the next 5 years. In addition, good quality power will also be made available to small industries, KVIC, in the rural areas to accelerate rural development, employment generation and poverty alleviation. This will in-turn, help in rendering better delivery of modern health care, education and application of information technologies.
  • AMS was commissioned by the Planning Commission to evaluate the various aspects of the program, particularly implementation performance and impact of the scheme. The data was collected through the canvassing of structured questionnaires at various levels of sample units selected in consultation with the Planning Commission. This was supplemented by collecting qualitative information on the implementation of the program.
  • Keeping in mind the key issues under study, a sampling plan was developed. Data was collected using the structured questionnaire pre-developed by the commission. The quantitative data was analyzed using various statistical tools and the qualitative data was suitably synthesized. Based on the analysis, final report was prepared and presented to the commission

Socio-economic impact evaluation of Micro Hydel Projects in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Tide Technocrats (P) Ltd.

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Impact Evaluation

  • AMS conducted the Socio-economic impact evaluation of 20 Micro Hydel Projects in Uttarakhand. The study was targeted to assess the impacts of such hydel projects, particularly in terms of electrification of village, providing visibility at night adding convenience to working on various chores at night, thereby easing out the pressure on consumption of kerosene oil, etc. It also sought to assess the constraints being faced by the villagers and even to seek their opinion regarding any changes for the improvement.

Baseline Study of the “Saath Hain Hum Uttarakhand Livelihood Initiative” (SHHULI)

Client(s): Himmotthan Society, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Baseline Surevy

  • The livelihood status of the state of Uttarakhand faced a massive blow in the form of the catastrophic floods and landslides that occurred in the state in June 2013.
  • This situation thus urgently called for the development of plans and strategies for short, medium and long-term support for recovery of livelihoods and services, and rehabilitation of infrastructure.
  • In wake of such a scenario, many government and non-government organizations are undertaking a series of developmental initiatives aimed at alleviating the livelihood scenario of the state. One such initiative is the “SaathHain Hum Uttarakhand Livelihood Initiative” (SHHULI), being implemented by the Himmotthan Society with support from Star TV. The 3 year program is being implemented in 2 clusters—Guptkashi (Rudraprayag) and Tharali (Chamoli). The project was aimed at promoting livelihoods and enhancing income through development of on-farm and off-farm enterprises in the selected disaster affected villages.
  • In order to develop real time estimates of the prevalent scenario and assess the effectiveness of the interventions at a later stage, the organization commissioned AMS to undertake a comprehensive baseline survey covering a total of 800 HHs, for generating estimates for core programme indicators for both the clusters to be covered under the said programme. The baseline survey was undertaken with two fold objectives—
  • a) To help generate in-depth insight into the existing conditions of villages and households that were impacted by the June 2013 disaster and thus enable the programme managers to identify the specific needs of these areas and thereby design and implement suitably responsive interventions.
  • b) To help formalize a monitoring & evaluation framework that may be used for evaluating the progress and impact of the programme at later stages. Further, the estimates generated during baseline were to act as benchmarks against which future progress or improvement may be measured.

Baseline Evaluation Study for Megha LAMP (Meghalaya Livelihoods and Access to Markets Project) under IBDLP (Integrated Basin Development and Livelihoods Program), Meghalaya

Client(s): Meghalaya Basin Management Agency, Meghalaya basin development authority, Govt. of Megahalya

Coverage: Meghalaya

Nature of Study: Baseline Evaluation

  • The Meghalaya Livelihood and Access to Markets Project (MeghaLAMP) was launched in September 2015 with a budget of 174 million USD. It is being implemented by the Meghalaya Basin Management Agency as a part of the state’s flagship programme, the Integrated Basin Development and Livelihoods Programme (IBDLP) and assisted by the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The overall goal of the project is to address the multi-dimensional nature of poverty by raising the living standards in rural Meghalaya.
  • The study specifically aims at generating baseline estimates for indicators along the following domains –
  • General socio-economic and demographic profile of the households;
  • Project impact areas like status of food security, malnutrition among children, quality of life, household income, assets, and women’s empowerment.
  • Project outcome areas like land utilization pattern, cropping & production, livestock, employment, enterprise mix, and key environmental attributes.
  • Project output areas like membership of various groups, capacity building, grants and inputs received, financial services availed, access to & utilization of various support services and marketing channels.
  • The Meghalaya Basin Management Agency (MBMA) has commissioned AMS for undertaking the baseline survey. This baseline survey forms an essential part of impact assessment component of MeghaLAMP. It includes a ‘before-after’ assessment of its interventions and a ‘with-without’ analysis using results from control/ non-project areas. In view of this, the baseline study seeks to generate representative quantitative and qualitative information on livelihoods, well-being and empowerment status of the rural poor households in the Project Intervention area, and the comparable Control area.

Performance Monitoring and Impact Assessment Study of Social Security Pension Schemes for Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department, Govt. of Odisha

Client(s): Social Security & Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (SSEPD) Department, Govt. of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Performance Monitoring and Impact Assessment

  • The assignment involved performance monitoring and impact assessment of the following five social security schemes running in the state of Odisha—
  • Indira Gandhi National Old Age Pension Scheme (IGNOAPS)
  • Indira Gandhi National Widow Pension Scheme (IGNWPS)
  • Indira Gandhi National Disability Pension Scheme (IGNDPS)
  • National Family Benefit Scheme (NFBS)
  • Madhu Babu Pension Yojana (MBPY)
  • The overall objective of the study was to—
  • 1. Examine effectiveness and efficiency in implementation of social security pension schemes including targeting and enlisting of beneficiaries, disbursement of pensions, and communication strategies adopted at various stages of scheme implementation.
  • 2. Analyze the existing monitoring mechanism including self-monitoring tools used by the beneficiaries and suggest ways for improvement in the same, if need be.
  • 3. Examine efficiency and effectiveness of existing grievance redress mechanism.
  • 4. Assess the benefits of social audit process in bringing efficiency and transparency in scheme’s implementation.
  • 5. Assess socio-economic impact of the schemes on the lives of the beneficiaries.
  • 6. Recommend policy/practice level interventions for effective implementation of the schemes.
  • Document human interest stories for the purpose of publication

Socio-economic Impact Assessment of land acquisition for the construction of Bansapani-Daitari-Tomka-Jakhapura Doubling Railway project in Keonjhar District - Nabakrushna – Odisha

Client(s): Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS), Govt. of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • The Govt. of Odisha in 2014-15 decided to commission the 150 km long rail network under Bansapani-Daitari-Tomka-Jakhapura Doubling Railway project in Keonjhar District towards catering to the growing needs of the transportation of goods and services in the region. For the same, land was to be acquired from the title holders, and the affected families were to rehabilitate at some other location. However, as per the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013, the Government was required to first conduct a Social Impact Assessment (SIA) study of the proposed project.
  • AMS was commissioned to undertake the same at the behest of “Nabakrushna Choudhury Centre for Development Studies (NCDS)” across 18 villages of Keonjhar Sadar, Harichandanpur, Sukinda, Ghatagaon and Barbil tehsil of Keonjhar district spread over a total of 19.21 acres of land. The SIA study entailed the following objectives—
  • Assess whether the proposed land acquisition in the affected villages served public purpose;
  • Estimate the number of affected families, magnitude of lost land assets based on the actual holdings of the families and the number of families among them likely to be displaced physically or occupationally due to the acquisition of land;
  • Estimate the extent of land – public and private, house settlements and other common properties likely to be affected by the proposed acquisition;
  • Examine whether the extent of land proposed for acquisition is the bare minimum necessity for the commissioning of the proposed project;
  • Study the social impacts of the project by covering both direct land loser households as well as the indirectly affected households due to loss of common property resources (CPRs), socio-economic infrastructures, etc. and the impact of these costs on the overall costs of the project vis-a-vis the benefits of the project.

Baseline Survey under Bihar Transformative Development Project (BTDP)

Client(s): Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (JEEVIKA), Govt. of Bihar

Coverage: sBihar

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The BTDP (Bihar Transformative Development Project), which is being implemented by the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society (BRLPS), intends to bring about a sustained improvement in incomes, livelihoods, well-being and empowerment status of the rural poor, particularly women in the State. To cull-out the ‘actual’ contribution of its initiatives, the BRLPS has sought to undertake an independent tracking survey of selected households in the State.
  • AMS has been allotted the task to carry out the baseline tracking survey. The study is being duly undertaken by tracking the same set of households at different stages of project’s life cycle – (a) Baseline; and (b) Periodic follow-up rounds. The proposed baseline study will seek to establish credible baseline data that will facilitate measurement of net contributions of the project at all subsequent stages of its implementation.
  • The study involves collecting relevant baseline data in respect of the following—
  • a. Identified indicators mentioned in the Project's Result Framework;
  • b. Economic outcomes (income & indebtedness),
  • c. Social and political empowerment;
  • d. Food security and diversity; and
  • e. Sanitation aspect of Households.

Baseline Survey under Andhra Pradesh Rural Growth Inclusive Project (APRIGP)

Client(s): Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty, Andhra Pradesh

Coverage: Andhra Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The overarching goal of the Andhra Pradesh Rural Inclusive Growth Project (APRIGP) evaluation is to assess whether the development objective of the project has been achieved as interventions reach their full scale.
  • In view of this, the proposed baseline survey serves a two-fold benefit. First, the findings generated from this baseline study may act as strategic inputs for modelling the field level approach of implementing the proposed interventions. Secondly, it would help yield baseline estimates of the desired indicators, which would enable measuring the impact of the programme during future rounds of survey. The impact assessment will inform the extent to which the envisioned objectives, purposes and goals set out in the programme have been achieved.
  • AMS has been assigned the task of studying the impact assessment as desired by the client.

Tracking Survey in Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM)

Client(s): Odisha Livelihood Mission (OLM), Govt. of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Tracking Survey

  • Since its launch in 2011, the Odisha Livelihoods Mission (OLM) is being implemented in a phased manner to cover all the 314 blocks of the State over the next four years. The objective of OLM is to reduce rural poverty by creating and strengthening community-based institutions which can function as pathways to sustainable livelihoods. As required under NRLM, OLM adopted a phased approach to simultaneously implement resource / intensive strategies in some blocks, as proofs of concept and live workable models at the ground level, and non-intensive strategies in the others.
  • Now, in order to cull-out the 'actual' contribution of its initiatives, OLM has sought to undertake an independent inter-temporal / longitudinal study of selected households, across both Mission and Non-mission areas in the State. The study would be duly undertaken at different points in the project life cycle – (a) baseline; (b) midline; and (c) endline. AMS had been commissioned by OLM to undertake the same across the entire State.

Study on Sustainable Development of Rural Housing in India

Client(s): National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Coverage: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS was commissioned by National Council for Applied Economic Research (NCAER) to undertake a study on “Sustainable Development of Rural Housing in India”. The survey was aimed at analyzing the status, priorities and needs of housing in rural areas, as regards the type of housing, building materials/sanitary ware used. Primary data was collected from a random sample of households belonging to different socio-economic strata for assessing their preferences and needs as regards the type of housing, building material, etc. AMS has conducted this survey in the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Jharkhand, Bihar and Chattisgarh.

Evaluation of the Status of Rural Housing Facilities in India for HOLCIM India (P) Limited

Client(s): HOLCIM through National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), New Delhi

Coverage: Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluations

Concurrent Evaluation of Targeted Public Distribution System (TPDS) for NCAER

Client(s): National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Coverage: Uttarakhand, M.P., Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Kerala and Delhi

Nature of Study: Concurrent Evaluation

  • The specific objectives of the study were —
  • Assessing the efficacy of the delivery system, including the mechanism built up for monitoring, transparency and accountability;
  • To assess the impact of the scheme on the objective of ensuring food security to the poor and the factors, if any, constraining the desired impact, including off-take by the poor and its determinants;
  • To assess the extent of leakages and diversion of subsidized food grains;
  • To assess the overall performance of the TPDS and suggest corrective measures to improve the performance of TPDS.

Concurrent Evaluation Study of the Flagship Programme of Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA)

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India

Coverage: U.P., Uttarakhand, Haryana, and Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Concurrent Evaluation

  • The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) was notified in September 2005 and implemented on February 2, 2006 covering 200 districts in its first phase and was extended to 130 additional districts in 2007-2008. All the remaining rural areas have been notified with effect from April 1, 2008. With its legal framework and rights-based approach, MGNREGA provides employment to those who demand it and is a paradigm shift from earlier programmes. During the XIth Plan period the Union Govt. released Rs. 1,41,015 crores and total expenditure was Rs. 1,57,693 crores (this includes State contributions).
  • Despite huge expenditure and far reaching consequences of such an intervention in the rural sector (specifically rural as well as urban labour market), and a number of impact research studies to justify the existence of such an important programme, there is complete absence of an evaluation study that covers comprehensively the important aspects of the Act and its implementation. Thus it was proposed to organize a nationwide concurrent evaluation study of MGNREGA.
  • Ultimate objective of the study was to assess how far the goals of livelihood security of the poor including the marginalized sections of the society like SCs, STs, and Minorities etc. have been achieved.
  • Specific objectives of the study were:
  • To examine the efficacy of process of registration of households, issuing of job cards, payment of wages through banks/post offices, Grievance redressal mechanism and Social Audit by Gram Sabha.
  • To assess the physical and financial performance of the states under MGNREGA over a period of last three fiscal years i.e. 2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13 and to understand the reasons of best and poor performance of states.
  • To assess the social and economic impact of MGNREGA on village community in general and on marginalized sections of the society (SC, ST, Minorities etc.) in particular.
  • To examine whether:
  • 50% of the total works have been executed by Gram Panchayat
  • 60:40 wage and material ratio has been maintained
  • 1/3rd of the total beneficiaries are women
  • equal wages have been provided to both men and women
  • wages are paid according to Minimum Wages Act 1948
  • disbursement of wages is done on weekly basis and not beyond a fortnight in any case.
  • disbursement of wages is done through banks, post offices etc.
  • work site facilities such as crèche, drinking water and shade have been provided
  • To gauge the perception of the people about MGNREGA in relation to the availability of employment during lean season, wage rates & disbursement of wages, migration of people from village and worksite facilities.
  • To study the various types of assets created under MGNREGA and people’s perception about the usefulness and quality of these assets.
  • To know the change in agricultural productivity due to creation of water conservation, water harvesting, irrigation related assets in rural areas.
  • To study the individual beneficiary scheme under MGNREGA and assess its socio-economic impact on the beneficiary household.
  • To assess the demand as well as supply side of MGNREGA and estimate employment potential of the scheme.

Evaluation of Mukhya Mantri Gramin BPL Awas Yojana (MGBPLAY)

Client(s): Housing and Urban Development Department (HUDCO)

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Since decades, the Indira Awas Yojna scheme has been operational in all the states of the country and provides for cash based assistance to BPL communities of the country to build their own pakka houses. In order to clear the huge backlog of IAY, which was about 14 lac in 2010, the Govt. of Rajasthan launched its own version of IAY—Mukhya Mantri Gramin BPL Awas Yojana (MGBPLAY) on 3rd June, 2011. This scheme ran parallel to IAY and targeted to cover 6.8 lac beneficiary families in 3 years to reduce the burden on IAY substantially.
  • The scheme turned out to be extremely successful and was able to fulfill it targets for 3 years. Between 2011-2014, about 6,75,176 families got financial assistance to build own dwelling units under the scheme. In total 9,63,045 houses had been sanctioned under IAY and MGBPLAY combined in a 3 year time from 2011-2014. AMS was commissioned to undertake an in-depth evaluation of the scheme.

Evaluation of Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission (HSRLM)

Client(s): Haryana State Rural Livelihood Mission (HSRLM), Govt. of Haryana

Coverage: Haryana

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The HSRLM is entrusted with the task of implementing National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in Haryana. It aims at bringing about sustained improvement in household incomes through sustainable livelihoods and improved access to financial & other public services; well-being, empowerment &participation status of the rural poor; tracking social and economic inequality; and changes in quality of public goods and services through a village and community module.
  • A scientific survey of empanelled households, drawn from the Mission and non-Mission areas, and undertaken at different points of time (tracking survey) was thus needed to establish the ‘net’ contribution of the Mission to the changing livelihoods and well-being status of the rural poor and the factors and processes accounting for such changes.

Evaluation study of interest subsidy scheme for housing the urban poor

Client(s): Human Settlement Management Institute, Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO), Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The Human Settlement Management Institute (HSMI) on behalf of the Ministry of Housing and Poverty Alleviation (MoHUPA) commissioned AMS for an independent evaluation of the ISHUP scheme. The implementation of the scheme on a pilot basis ended in 2012, the last year of the 11th Five Year Plan Period (2007-12). An assessment of the impact of the benefits accrued, lacunae in the implementation of the scheme, feasibility for continuation of the scheme was thus desirable. The scheme had to be monitored and concurrently evaluated independently so that a decision about its continuation could be taken on the basis thereof. The comments and suggestions offered by independent evaluators were to help the MoHUPA develop an understanding for the revised ISHUP, which was then to be implemented in all the states in India in the 12th five year plan.
  • The objectives of the study were to—
  • Critically assess performance of the scheme in 11th Five year Plan vis-à-vis objectives and targets;
  • Critically examine the role /effectiveness of scheme in expanding credit flow for home ownership for EWS/LIG
  • Assess the process, output and outcome performance of ISHUP interventions vis-à-vis the implementation process, program objectives, physical and financial targets delineated in the program
  • Assess the relative performance of the program across regions/States and identify the conditions resulting in its success or failure
  • To provide recommendation on the elements that requires continuity or those that need improvements/corrective measures in the scheme.

Evaluation of Janshree Bima Yojana (JBY)

Client(s): Directorate of Economic Research, Khadi and Village Industries Commission (KVIC), Mumbai

Coverage: Haryana, Rajasthan, J&K, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, Kolkata, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Gujarat, Maharashtra, U.P., M.P., Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS was commissioned by KVIC to conduct an “Evaluation Study of Janshree Bima Yojana” in 21 Indian states covering almost 1/10th of the artisans who have been covered till date by the scheme. The diverse objectives range from analyzing the initial criterions set for inclusion and nomination, studying the reach, awareness and impact of the scheme on the beneficiaries, improvements if any needed in the scheme, expanding the scheme to new beneficiaries, and proposing the measures to make the scheme more efficient in its operations. The effort also strives to extend the possibilities of enhancing the scheme through add-on features inspired from other beneficiary schemes. The survey will also intend to take opinions of stakeholders which can assist to enrich the scheme further for all beneficiaries.
  • Overall, the study entailed the following activities—
  • Development of data collection tools
  • Primary & secondary data collection from households and key official stakeholders
  • Data Processing, validation and Analysis
  • Preparation & submission of report.

Concurrent Monitoring of Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC)

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India

Coverage: Rajasthan, Uttarakhand and Assam

Nature of Study: Concurrent Monitoring

  • Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD) with Office of Registrar General of India (ORGI) and Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation (HUPA) conducted the Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC 2011) across the country in a phased manner. The SECC-2011 had been carried out by the respective State Governments and /Union Territory Administrations with the financial and technical support of the Government of India. The SECC-2011 had started from June, 2011 in different States and Union Territories. The Ministry had decided to engage reputed independent research institutions /organizations to conduct concurrent monitoring of the SECC-2011.
  • The objectives of the Concurrent Monitoring System were to engage third party independent agencies to concurrently monitor the following:
  • Process of SECC 2011 as mentioned in the guidelines;
  • Whether data was collected accurately and fairly;
  • Household coverage irrespective of their socio-economic status;
  • Accuracy of the data collected; and
  • Transparency, inclusiveness, justice and fairness achieved while the data/information was collected/finalized before it is put to use.
  • AMS was commissioned by Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India to undertake the Concurrent Monitoring of SECC in the states of Assam, Rajasthan and Uttarakhand and submit its report to the ministry as per protocol
  • We conceptualized and developed the evaluation framework for the study and then implemented the design for programme assessment. Developing data collection instruments; field testing the instruments for any inadequacies; training of survey enumerators & supervisors on research instruments; quality control measures for fieldwork leading to collection of authentic data; sampling design; data analysis; and report writing were the activities that were sequentially undertaken by us to complete the study within the stipulated timeframe.

Household survey in 9 districts to assess equity and access of vulnerable groups

Client(s): World Bank supported Rajasthan Health Systems Development Project (RHSDP), Jaipur

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Household Survey

  • The World Bank aided Rajasthan Health System Development Project (RHSDP) was launched with the aim of improving accessibility and utilization of basic health services in an equitable manner by the disadvantaged groups, especially the BPL, SC/ST and women & children. Towards this direction, RHSDP had identified 9 priority districts and had initiated several activities, like, outreach health camps, appointment of patient counsellors at CHCs and District Hospitals, and Hospital Managers at the District Hospitals. Further, RHSDP also organized outreach health camps at PHCs and SCs.
  • Subsequently, AMS was commissioned in 2011 to undertake an impact assessment study of these initiatives in the 9 priority districts by gauging the level of awareness of outreach health camps among the households and women folk of vulnerable groups besides undertaking the facility survey evaluating the significance of patient counsellors/hospital administrators in achieving the objectives of the project.

Baseline Survey under Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Project (RRLP)

Client(s): The World Bank supported Rajasthan Rural Livelihood Project, Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • Conducted baseline survey to establish benchmarks for the key outcome indicators, such as, average income, availability of skilled personnel, per capita livestock holding, functional bank accounts, households receiving unemployment allowance, eligible households especially tribal with membership in operating SHGs & cooperatives, youth availing benefits of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, households availing socio-economic and financial entitlements, households seeking wage employment under employment guarantee schemes, level of awareness regarding legal rights and grievance redressal mechanism etc.

Evaluation/Impact Study of NREGS in UP

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS was commissioned by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India to undertake an “Impact Assessment Study of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme” in the three districts of Uttar Pradesh, namely, Pratapgarh, Chitrakoot and Azamgarh. In addition to conducting a comprehensive impact assessment, the overall systems & processes pertaining to the scheme were evaluated during the course of the study. Specifically, the various tasks envisaged under the assignment, include the following
  • Capturing the qualitative progress of the Act by analyzing the key findings, lessons learnt, innovations made and documenting the case studies for further improvement of the programme.
  • Examining the quantitative progress of the programme by assimilating both physical & financial (cumulative) progress.
  • Making an assessment at the process level by investigating the issues related to operational strategies, key interventions, policy environment, planning, institutional set-up for implementation, process of assessment of wage seekers, labour budgeting, system adopted for maintenance of records/registers at all levels, system of cross verification of entries, social vigilance & auditing, system & practice of V&MC, planning & selection of works, wage distribution, sectoral co-ordination, role of stakeholders, system of monitoring, processes of community participation, operational leakages, etc

Evaluation of development plans prepared by PRIs at GP, PS and ZP levels and accordingly prepare 5-year perspective plans (2012-17) under BRGF in 5 districts (Barmer, Dungarpur, Jaisalmer, Jalore & Sirohi) of Rajasthan

Client(s): Department of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS conducted a diagnostic study under BRGF to formulate the Annual and Perspective (Five Year) Plans for 5 districts (Barmer, Dungarpur,Jaisalmer, Jalore & Sirohi) of Rajasthan. The assignment involved conducting in-depth situational analysis of the existing capacities & resources for drinking water supply & sanitation, and providing handholding support to the PRI members in identifying suitable projects that may be taken up to fill-up the gaps under the BRGF scheme at all levels, i.e., at Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti, Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) and Zila Panchayat levels.

Baseline Survey-cum-Diagnostic Study under BRGF Programme in 4 districts (Jaisalmer; Barmer; Jalore; and Sirohi) of Rajasthan

Client(s): Department of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • While a host of centrally sponsored schemes have been in place to address the chronic problems of poverty and backwardness in the country, the "Backward Regions Grant Fund" scheme is a recent major initiative to ensure that the regional disparities in development are bridged and the backward regions catch up with the rest of the country. Under the scheme, the backward districts are to be provided financial resources that would supplement the existing developmental provisions. It is hoped that with the intervention of this scheme, the socio-economic status of the specially identified districts will be espoused. This scheme envisages a participatory bottom-up integrated development approach towards decentralized planning to address the issues of poverty and backwardness. AMS was commissioned by the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Rajasthan for carrying out the Baseline-cum-Diagnostic Study in 8 Districts of the State that were identified as backward and develop a 5-year perspective plan for each one of them through a participatory bottoms-up approach. The assignment entailed—
  • Identifying the underlying causes for the socio-economic backwardness and poverty
  • Determining the baseline for socio-economic indicators for impact assessment at the end of the scheme
  • Identifying the most backward Panchayat Samitis/areas within the Districts for priority attention
  • Based on the above, the sector-wise 5-year perspective district plans were prepared giving sector specific strategies, interventions, budget lines and funding gap that could be filled through BRGF. The district plans also included specific schemes for SC and ST populations in accordance with the BRGF guidelines. The exercise involved in-depth interaction with various stakeholders, such as, the community, state/district/block level government functionaries and the intermediaries (PRIs, CBOs, NGOs, etc.).

National Level Monitoring (NLM) of the rural development programmes of Govt. of India

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Tripura, Rajasthan, Haryana, M.P., Chhattisgarh

Nature of Study: Monitoring

  • Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India has recognized the importance of independent monitoring of its programmes. Keeping this in view, a comprehensive system of national level monitoring was strategized and implemented by the ministry based on the premise that the independent, third party monitors would only serve to conduct an unbiased and objective monitoring of the schemes.
  • As one of their institutional National Level Monitors (NLMs), AMS conducted regular M&E across a total of 9 states during the last 6 years. These inter alia involved conducting process evaluations by way of interacting with the official stakeholders, verifying the physical assets created (including quality of construction and operation & maintenance of assets) and interviewing the beneficiaries. Among others, the exercise covered eight schemes of the ministry—MGNREGS, SGSY/NRLM, IAY, NSAP, IWMP, PMGSY, NRDWP and TSC / NBA (Now SBM-G).

District Level Monitoring (DLM) of Rural Development Programmes, including ARWSP, TSC and Swajaldhara

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Monitoring

  • AMS was commissioned by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India to undertake the District Level Monitoring of TSC and Swajaldhara schemes in 2005-06 for 10 districts of Uttar Pradesh.
  • The important aspect of the assignment was to assess the progress of the two schemes in the given districts. Specifically, the project involved the following key activities – (i) Providing continuous and consistent monitoring support in TSC and Swajaldhara districts, including – monitoring and reporting of the progress and process of the TSC and Swajaldhara program covering different components of it, that is — physical, process of implementation and financial progress both in terms of inputs and outputs; gap identification in implementation of the schemes at all levels; recommendations for necessary follow up actions at all levels; (ii) Eliciting stakeholders' views on project management and approaches to sustainable O&M of the facilities and services created and reporting (level of involvement of Programme Managers, NGOs, GP and PTA, VWSC); (iii) Illustrating the TSC and Swajaldhara status through appropriate maps, tables and charts assessing inter-district variations, comparative progress, temporal improvement or deterioration in different dimensions and wherever possible, comparing with other States and with the national status; (iv) Assessing the institutional issues related to programme and information management (who collects, analyzes, disseminates and use of information), including gaps in collection of information and problems in its use; and (v) Developing case studies and success stories on best practices, innovations and lessons learnt.
  • As a part of the assignment, detailed monitoring & evaluation system was designed by AMS and the same used by members of its research team after approval by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. The quantitative data for the assignment was collected with the help of specially designed schedules for the different schemes, while the qualitative data was collected by organizing personal interviews and group discussions with the beneficiaries, officials, as well as by direct verification of assets created under the schemes. The assignment involves compilation of district-level monthly, quarterly and annual reports and submission of the same to the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.

Evaluation/Impact Study of NREGS in Banswara dist.

Client(s): Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) was launched for ensuring income security, poverty reduction and development of the backward rural areas, thereby addressing the issues of migration, unemployment, food security and social equity. In order to assess its impact, AMS was commissioned by the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of Rajasthan to conduct the "Evaluation/Impact study of the National Rural employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)" in the districts of Karauli, Banswara, Sirohi, Dungarpur and Jhalawar.
  • The study, conducted by AMS, involved assessing the success of NREGS, along the following key parameters —
  • Quality and utility of assets created under NREGS;
  • Physical and financial progress of NREGS;
  • Overall performance and impact of NREGS in terms of improved standard of living of households and holistic community development.

Evaluation/Impact Study of NREGS in Dungarpur dist.

Client(s): Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) was launched for ensuring income security, poverty reduction and development of the backward rural areas, thereby addressing the issues of migration, unemployment, food security and social equity. In order to assess its impact, AMS was commissioned by the Department of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, Government of Rajasthan to conduct the "Evaluation/Impact study of the National Rural employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS)" in the districts of Karauli, Banswara, Sirohi, Dungarpur and Jhalawar.
  • The study, conducted by AMS, involved assessing the success of NREGS, along the following key parameters —
  • Quality and utility of assets created under NREGS;
  • Physical and financial progress of NREGS;
  • Overall performance and impact of NREGS in terms of improved standard of living of households and holistic community development.

Quick Evaluation Study on 14 Major Development Programs in Bihar affected by Left Wing Extremism (LWE)

Client(s): Planning Commission, Govt. of India

Coverage: 5 districts of the State of Bihar — Gaya, Jehanabad, Arwal, Jamui and Aurangabad

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • The task force set up by Govt. of India on Left Wing Extremism (LWE) entrusted Planning Commission to conduct a quick evaluation study of the impact of selected developmental programs that are under implementation in the 33 identified LWE affected districts of the country. Towards this end, the PEO Planning Commission entrusted AMS to conduct an evaluation study in 5 LWE affected districts of Bihar, with the following objectives —
  • Study the physical & financial targets;
  • To monitor the physical & financial performance;
  • Assess the problems faced in the implementation of the scheme and possible solution
  • Impact assessment of the scheme on the target group as envisaged;
  • Assess whether objectives of the scheme could BE achieved;
  • Assess the sustainability, quality, design and plans for maintenance of the assets created;
  • Assess the effectiveness of the monitoring, administrative and implementing system;
  • Assess the participation of PRIs/NGOs in the implementation of the schemes; and
  • Any extra issues impacting the scheme implementation process

Evaluation of Rashtriya Sam Vikas Yojana (RSVY) for Planning Commission

Client(s): Planning commission- govt of india

Coverage: U.P., Rajasthan, H.P., M.P., Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Jharkhand, Nagaland and Kerala

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Balanced economic growth has been one of the prime objectives of planning. In this regard, successive reduction in regional disparities has been adopted as an appropriate strategy for development. In accordance with the same, Rashtriya Sam VikasYojana (RSVY), a special program was launched by the Planning Commission in the year 2004, with the objectives of removing the barriers to growth and improving the quality of life of the people in the 147 selected backward districts, spread over 27 States of the country.
  • The Backward Districts Initiative component under the Rashtriya Sam VikasYojana (RSVY) was initiated with the main objective of putting in place programs and policies, which would remove barriers to growth, accelerate the development process and improve the quality of life of the people. The Backward Districts Initiative component of RSVY intended to address the problems of low agricultural productivity, unemployment and critical gaps in physical and social infrastructure in the selected districts. In order to elicit the success of various implementation strategies and use the learning in implementation of other schemes, it was imperative to conduct an evaluation study to gauge the impact of the program. Accordingly, AMS was commissioned by the Planning Commission to undertake a study for evaluating the Backward Districts Initiative component of the Rashtriya Sam VikasYojana. Relevant information was collected from households, PRIs, block officials and major NGOs working in the study districts.

Training

Capacity Building Program for Elected Women Representatives of 45 Districts in U.P. for NIPCCD

Client(s): National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development

Coverage: 45 Districts in U.P

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • A comprehensive module for capacity building of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayats and a training program for Trainers of women panchayat leaders was launched by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. This training aimed at empowering women to participate effectively in governance processes.
  • The training program conducted by AMS sought to empower EWRs of panchayats by enhancing their capacity, capability and skill in governance and administration of villages. Interactions with the local population gave insights about the issues which women face.

Capacity Building Program for Elected Women Representatives of 35 Districts in U.P. for NIPCCD

Client(s): National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development

Coverage: 35 Districts in U.P

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • A comprehensive module for capacity building of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayats and a training program for Trainers of women panchayat leaders was launched by the Ministry of Women & Child Development. This training aimed at empowering women to participate effectively in governance processes.
  • The training program conducted by AMS sought to empower EWRs of panchayats by enhancing their capacity, capability and skill in governance and administration of villages. Interactions with the local population gave insights about the issues which women face.

Imparting Training to Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) through Mobile Training Teams

Client(s): Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Govt. Of U.P.

Coverage: Jharkhand [Region 1: North Chhotanagpur]; [Region 2: South Chhotanagpur, Palamu]

Nature of Study: Training

  • For conducting regular training of Anganwadi Workers (AWWs), ICDS has set up “District Mobile Training Teams” which moved from district to district and imparted trainings to the AWWs at Block level. In view of this, ICDS had commissioned AMS to constitute 25 such MTTs for effective training of AWWs on Early Childhood Education & Development. AMS has been conducting such trainings since 2001. These trainings also involve designing and developing training modules with locally available resources. Few of the major objectives of the MTTs are to provide information on:
  • Features, beneficiaries and services of ICDS
  • Responsibilities of the AWWs
  • In-depth knowledge about Early Childhood Education (ECE)
  • Skills pertaining to organizing Early Childhood Education activities
  • Personal hygiene and safe drinking water practices
  • Importance of supplementary nutrition

Assessment of Employment Oriented Training Needs of Adolescent Girls and Women with a view to design and implement region specific training programmes to enhance employment opportunities for them for Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society (Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development), Uttarakhand

Client(s): Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society (Department of Women Empowerment and Child Development), Uttarakhand, India

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Training Needs Assessment

  • The Uttarakhand Women & Child Development Society commissioned AMS to conduct a 'Training Needs Assessment (TNA) Study' across the State for women (21 to 45 years old) and adolescent girls (15-21 years old), with a view to design and implement beneficial and customized region specific training programmes to enhance employment opportunities for them. The focus of the TNA study was on—
  • Where is training required?
  • What is to be taught in training?
  • Who should attend the training?
  • Answers to these questions helped in designing trainings for maximizing the benefits and to enhance the actual utilization of skills imparted to the beneficiaries. AMS further proposed to segregate the trainings needs on the basis of various parameters, such as social, economic, education and marital status of adolescent girls & women and also prepared district-wise training needs assessment reports.

Training of Chikitsa Prabandhan Samittee (CPS) Members on Hospital Autonomy for Uttarakhand Health & Family Welfare Society under European Commission's Sector Investment Plan

Client(s): Uttarakhand Health & Family Welfare Society under European Commission's Sector Investment Plan

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Training

  • Reiterating its commitment to ensure availability, equity and quality in delivering better healthcare services, the Government of Uttarakhand had constituted Chikitsa Prabandhan Samities (CPSs) in 33 big hospitals in the State. The constitution of the Samities emerged as a key to provide administrative and financial autonomy to the hospitals, thereby helping them to promote efficiency, accountability, mobilization of resources and sense of ownership in order to improve the quality of healthcare delivery systems. AMS was commissioned by the Uttarakhand Health & Family Welfare Society under European Commission's Sector Investment Plan to undertake Policy review in regard to the autonomy given to the said hospitals in the State. Simultaneously with training on Hospital Autonomy, the task involved—
  • Reviewing the existing manual for the working of the CPSs;
  • Sharing the same with the members of the Samities in all the hospitals;
  • Taking their inputs for incorporating adequate modifications in the existing manual for smooth functioning of the CPSs; and
  • Coming out with revised policy in regard to the functioning of the same.
  • Accordingly, AMS developed a modified manual and monitoring tools for smooth and effective functioning of the autonomous hospitals in consultation with various stakeholders.

Training on Free Expression for Quality Improvement (FREQI) for DPOs, CDPOs & Supervisors of ICDS, Uttarakhand

Client(s): ICDS, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Training

  • FREQI is an innovative concept that challenges the old fashioned, stereotyped methods of project management. Traditionally, managers like to talk, tell, teach, command and they expect the workers to listen, act and keep shut. In such organizations workers are not expected to give any suggestions, innovative ideas or use their brain thereby affecting their motivation level and self-respect. As against this, FREQI initiative invites and involves the workers at all levels - fault finding, decision making and system reforming - by motivating them into voluntary participation so that issues can be thoroughly understood and their remedies can be jointly agreed. AMS, with its enriched and vast experience in developing innovative module for imparting trainings, conducted trainings for ICDS functionaries by using the FREQI concept.

Capacity Building of ICDS & Health Officials and Functionaries for Effective Delivery of Nutrition & Health Education (NHEd) in Madhya Pradesh

Client(s): UNWFP

Coverage: Madhya Pradesh

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • The ASHAs under NRHM required to provide information to the community on determination of health such as nutrition, basic sanitation, and hygienic practices and ensure access to these services. However, the training modules of the ASHA do not effectively capture nutrition related issues. Further, despite their role as a health promoter, they have not been equipped with the requisite job -aids to deliver NHEd.
  • In the given context, the Government of Madhya Pradesh felt the urgency to respond to this at the earliest. In view of the aforesaid, for assisting the Government of Madhya Pradesh, the World Food Programme (WFP) had taken an initiative of enhancing the capacities of ICDS & Health officials/functionaries in NHEd. AMS was commissioned by WFP to undertake the assignment in three districts of Madhya Pradesh, namely, Chattarpur, Panna and Tikamgarh, in the Bundelkhand region of the State. The overall objective of the assignment was to build the capacities of the grassroots functionaries about effective delivery of Nutrition and Health Education (NHEd).

Training and Capacity Building of Elected PRI Members under the Backward Regions Grant Fund (BRGF) Scheme of Government of India for Department of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Department of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, Lucknow

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Training & Capacity Building

  • AMS was commissioned by the Department of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh, to provide three days training for capacity building of elected PRI members under Rastriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) in 17 blocks of Dist. Balia and 9 blocks of Dist. Mau, in Uttar Pradesh. A total of 7693 PRI members in Balia and 5378 PRI members in Mau were provided training under the scheme.
  • The training inter alia encompassed the subjects of Panchayati Raj Acts & Rules, human development, financial management, administration & office management, personnel management, decentralized planning for inclusive development & social justice and gender responsive planning & budgeting.

Training of Uddeepikas in Bihar for BTAST

Client(s): SWASTH, Bihar Technical Assistance & Support Team (BTAST)

Coverage: Bihar

Nature of Study: Training

  • I. Training of Trainers (ToTs) : Conducting the following 3 sets of ToTs at the State level in order to prepare Master Trainers, who would conduct the actual trainings within the identified districts—
  • The training inter alia encompassed the subjects of Panchayati Raj Acts & Rules, human development, financial management, administration & office management, personnel management, decentralized planning for inclusive development & social justice and gender responsive planning & budgeting.
  • 2-day ToT for Induction Training
  • 3-day ToT for On-job Training
  • 1-day ToT for Refresher Training
  • II. Training of Uddeepikas :Conducting the following trainings at the district level—
  • 2-day Induction Training
  • 6-day On-job Training
  • 1-day Refresher Training
  • III. Preparation of Training Modules :Preparing the training modules, materials and job aids
  • for - 6-day On-job Training
  • 1-day Refresher Training
  • In sum, the durations for the induction, on-job and refresher trainings is 2 days, 6 days and 1 day, respectively, while that of their ToTs is 2 days, 3 days and 1 day, respectively

Evaluation of Infrastructural Facilities for Imparting Skill Development Training at Various Middle Level Training Centers (MLTC’s) in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Directorate of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Government of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Infrastructural Evaluation

  • In Uttar Pradesh, the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS) was launched in 1975 both as a preventive and developmental effort. It extends beyond the health and education system to reach children and their mothers in villages and slums and delivers to them an integrated package of services that includes —
  • Supplementary nutrition to the eligible children and pregnant/lactating mothers.
  • Pre-school education to all children, aged 3-6 years, attending the AWCs for their physical/motor, cognitive, social, emotional and language development and preparing them for primary school.
  • Nutrition & health education during the fixed-day immunization sessions, mother-child days, meetings of mothers/Mahila Mandals, community and home visits, village contact drives, etc.
  • Immunization of pregnant women and children.
  • Health check-up of children, adolescent girls and pregnant & lactating women.
  • As the ICDS functionaries have to work in tandem with the PRI system in the state, they need specialized trainings for the same. Accordingly, the Training Needs Assessment is conducted to identify the functionaries who need such trainings. At the same time an assessment of the infrastructural facilities available for skill development training is also conducted to meet the training needs of the ICDS functionaries for efficient delivery of services. AMS was commissioned by the Directorate of Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS), Government of Uttar Pradesh to undertake an in-depth evaluation of infrastructural facilities at various Middle Level Training Centers (MLTC’s) in Uttar Pradesh. Accordingly, AMS conducted the said assignment and submitted its report to the client.

Refresher training of 2800 ANMs on IYCF and MCH CARD in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Uttarakhand Health and Family Welfare Society, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Refresher Training

  • AMS was commissioned by the Uttarakhand Health and Family Welfare Society, Uttarakhand to conduct refresher training programmes at block level, to train and build the capacities of 2800 ANMs to address and provide skills to all frontline health workers for counseling the mother and family on infant & young child feeding issues. Accordingly, AMS conducted a training needs assessment, developed the training strategy, prepared customized training modules, designed and developed the training schedules and conducted training for capacity building of the ANMs. The training also involved refreshing the skills of ANMs in filling the mother and child health card.

Training of AWWs in 16 Polio High Risk Blocks of Badaun district in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): UNICEF

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Training

  • The project involved facilitating the implementation of 2-day trainings of over 2000 Anganwadi Workers (AWWs) across 16 high risk blocks of Badaun district, besides providing post-training reinforcements to these functionaries through ICDS sector level meetings and field visits in an attempt to strengthen the polio eradication initiatives of the Government

Capacity Building of Mothers’ Committees on Service of Hot Cooked Meals at Anganwadi Centres in Pahari Block of Chitrakoot District in Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): Project Director, World Food Programme, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Capacity Building

  • Community participation is vital for ICDS program. Various efforts to evoke community participation in coordination, monitoring and other related activities at the Anganwadi level have been made from time-to-time in the program. Mothers’ Committee is one such initiative of ICDS that serves to involve community in its functioning at the Anganwadi level. Major objective of constituting Mothers’ Committee is to ensure regular distribution of nutritional supplements at the Anganwadi Centres. In addition, Mothers Committee is also expected to help in coordinating activities like vaccination, pre-school education, health education, etc.
  • AMS was commissioned to conduct a training program for providing training to the Mothers’ Committee members on organizing service of cooked food at Anganwadi Centres. Two handbooks, one on various aspects related to malnutrition and ways and means to combat the same, and the other a guide-cum-recipe book to help members of the mothers’ committee cook nutritious meal from the locally available food items for their children, were also published by AMS and distributed among the trainees along with the training kit.

Training of PRI Members on Effective Implementation of NRHM in Uttarakhand

Client(s): Executive Director, Uttarakhand Health and Family Welfare Society (UKHFWS)

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Training

  • AMS was engaged in the task of training the PRI Members on Effective Implementation of NRHM at the behest of the Uttarakhand Health and Family Welfare Society. Among others, the entitlement of public under NRHM was given due importance during the trainings. PRI members were trained on concrete service guarantee that NRHM will provide. Further, special emphasis was laid during the trainings upon the entitlements under NRHM for health institutions, untied funds and their usage at local level, role of PRIs and community in monitoring NRHM activities, etc. Moreover, they were also trained regarding the services available for public at various levels of health facilities under NRHM, so that they can raise voice against the possible denial of service.

District-wise trainings of AWWs on WHO Growth Chart Monitoring in UP

Client(s): UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Training

District-wise trainings of AWWs on WHO Growth Chart Monitoring in Bihar

Client(s): UNICEF, Patna, Bihar

Coverage: Bihar

Nature of Study: Training

  • AMS was commissioned by UNICEF, Bihar to create a pool of Master Trainers, trained in the methods of plotting the weight-by-age for children up to 5 years on the New WHO Growth Chart, as also in the interpretation of the resulting curves on these charts in the light of nutritional status of the children. These Master Trainers were trained by the national level resource persons from NIPCCD Regional Center, Lucknow. Thereafter, these Master Trainers imparted training on New WHO Growth Standards to 130 CDPOs & District Dular Coordinators at the State level, organized in 4 batches at SIHFW, Patna, and later to 354 CDPOs, 187 Lady Supervisors and 79 trainers of the District Mobile Training Teams organized in 31 batches across all the 38 districts in the State. One of the highlights of the training program conducted by AMS was the institution of pre- and post-test exercises for assessing the effectiveness of the training. The analysis of pre- and post-test section marks was carried out to work out the district-level averages. The State average for the district-level trainings was estimated, and it was found there was a robust increase of about 45 percentage points in the participants’ level of learning following the training.

Two-day Orientation Programmes in multiple rounds of the Newly Recruited ICDS Supervisors

Client(s): Directorate of ICDS, Govt. of Bihar, through Bihar Technical Assistance and Support Team (BTAST) supported by DFID, Govt. of United Kingdom

Coverage: Bihar

Nature of Study: Orientation & Training

  • The DFID initiative Sector Wide Approach to Strengthening Health (SWASTH) aims at accelerating the State’s progress towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) by focusing on the increased scale and functionality of nutrition, health and water & sanitation services; Community level initiatives to manage, demand and monitor services; Strengthening systems for improved efficiency and effectiveness; Enhancing Govt. of Bihar’s capacity to work with non-government actors; Improving the quality and use of monitoring and evaluation systems. To provide the desired impetus to the SWASTH initiative, DFID has set up a Bihar-Technical Assistance Support Team (BTAST) consisting of national and international consultants to provide technical and managerial support to the State government. AMS was commissioned to provide support to the ICDS Directorate to orient all Supervisors as soon as they are recruited. The assignment covered 38 districts of Bihar.
  • In accordance with the ToR, an appropriate training module and training kits (including teaching and learning aids, handouts, training material and other necessary stationary) was developed under the expert guidance of National level resource persons from NIPCCD regional centre in close consultation with the ICDS Directorate and BTAST. Working in close coordination with ICDS Directorate and BTAST, AMS is managing 3 days training of Master Trainers that have been empanelled by NMU for Lady Supervisors (LS) training. Further AMS is providing professional and managerial support to various batches of 15 days training of Lady Supervisors (LS). In addition to AMS trainers, ICDS/NMU deputes trainer(s) for supporting training activities. Training management activity involves conducting sessions, grooming independent trainers, developing teaching aids as per experience of TOT, ensuring training materials and participants for the training programme in close coordination with National Monitoring Unit. The assignment also involves submission of analytical report of 3 days training programme and submission of plan for various batches of LS training in close coordination with NMU, submission of a brief report after completion of each batch of ICDS supervisors’ training and a detailed & complete report after completion of 12 batches of LS training. The detailed report comprises of process of each session conducted, analysis of pre-post-test, details of participants, photographs and further training needs as emerged during the training.

Evaluation of Training Programmes conducted by State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRD) in the states of Uttarakhand and Haryana

Client(s): Ministry of Rural Development, Govt. of India, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttarakhand and Haryana

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • AMS was commissioned to conduct evaluation of the training programmes conducted by SIRD in the states of Uttarakhand and Haryana. The main objective of the study was to establish a strong and effective monitoring & evaluation (M&E) system and to study the actual qualitative achievements of establishing and strengthening the State Institutes of Rural Development (SIRDs). Specifically, the study focused on the following objectives–
  • (1) Evaluating the processes involved in organizing training programmes by the SIRDs and finding out the effectiveness of these processes;
  • (2) Evaluating the availability and quality of infrastructure and the faculty/trainers, vis-à-vis the norms and requirements;
  • (3) Evaluating the post-training follow-up system and its effectiveness;
  • (4) Assessing the impact of the training programs conducted by SIRDs on the participants’ knowledge, skill, attitude and performance;
  • (5) Assessing the impact of the training programs on improvements in achieving the outcomes of the rural development programmes (wage employment, self-employment, area development, provisioning of rural amenities, such as – drinking water, sanitation, housing, etc.); and
  • (6) Suggesting modifications needed for making the training programs useful in the future.

Large Scale Serveys

Evaluation Study of Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS)

Client(s): Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan)

Coverage: 29 States & 7 Union Territories

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) has been running a scheme titled Deendayal Disabled Rehabilitation Scheme (DDRS), which relates to providing education, rehabilitation and vocational training, etc. to the children/persons with disabilities. The main objectives of the scheme include – (i) creating an enabling environment to ensure equal opportunities, equity, social justice and empowerment of persons with disabilities and (ii) encouraging voluntary action for ensuring effective implementation of the Right of Persons with Disabilities.
  • DEPwD, hence, commissioned AMS to get an Impact Evaluation Study of the said by covering the following aspects:
  • To make an assessment of the extent up to which the scheme, in its present form, has been successful in delivering the desired benefits to the society, in general, and the targeted beneficiaries, in particular.
  • To examine the existing procedure of service delivery under the scheme and to make an analysis thereof to find out scopes of making improvement, if any.
  • Learning from experience, especially with reference to the peculiar socio-economic characteristics of various regions in the country;
  • Integrating such learning and developments in technology to devise a better mechanism for delivery of services;
  • To move towards a mechanism that ensures efficiency of resource use and optimal allocation of money and human skills, tempered with empathy towards the clientele of this Department.

Impact Assessment Study on Listenership, Reach, and Effectiveness of Community Radio Stations in India by way of Tangible and Intangible, Direct or Indirect Benefits to the Community in 22 States

Client(s): Ministry of Information & Broadcasting, Govt. of India

Coverage: (U.P., Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, H.P., Chandigarh, Haryana, Punjab, J&K, M.P., Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, T.N., Bihar, W.B., Assam, Delhi and Puducherry)

Nature of Study: Impact Assessment

  • Being a pluralistic society, India is known to have about 18 officially-recognized languages and a total of 1652 mother tongues. Every region, tradition, and class of society is endowed with unique cultural & indigenous identity. The need for development and approach for communication also differs with cultural differences in the community. It was felt that to facilitate the development of different segments of the population and to give them an opportunity to be heard, there was a need for community specific communication medium that can reach the grassroots level.
  • Community radio thus emerged as a viable option that will help address the linguistic and ethnic diversity and will plug all socio-economic and rural-urban gaps in the society. Community radio stations (CRSs) are essentially low power radio stations which are meant to be set-up and operated by the local communities within the third tier of broadcasting after commercial and public broadcasting. They broadcast content that is popular and relevant to a specific audience, thus providing a platform to the local voices (individuals, groups, and communities) to share their own stories & experiences and speak about issues concerning their lives that are largely ignored by the mainstream media.
  • Realizing the vast potential of CRS as an instrument for positive social change and as a tool for community empowerment, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting (MIB) commissioned AMS to conduct a study to assess the listenership, reach and effectiveness of CRS in India by way of tangible & intangible, direct or indirect benefits to the community.

Assessment of Receipt & Consumption of IFA Supplementation among Adolescents and Pregnant Women in 4 States (M.P., U.P., Gujarat and Chhattisgarh) for Micronutrient Initiative

Client(s): Micronutrient Initiative (Renamed as Nutrition International)

Coverage: M.P., U.P., Gujarat and Chhattisgarh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The Micronutrient Initiative (MI), under the Right Start Canadian Grant is supporting state governments in increasing the coverage and adherence to IFA among school going, out-of-school adolescent girls (aged 10-19 years) and pregnant and lactating mothers. The program is currently being rolled out in 377 rural blocks in the states of Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. For pregnant women IFA programs are to be rolled out in 154 blocks in these states, barring Uttar Pradesh.
  • During the initial phase of implementation, it was imperative for Micronutrient Initiative as well as the state governments to understand and assess the current coverage of the IFA supplementation among the target groups. In view of this, MI commissioned AMS to undertake an assessment of the status of WIFS implementation, and iron supplementation for school going and out of school adolescent girls in the project States. Overall, the study covered a total of 3122 villages, spread across 400 blocks of 54 project districts of 4 States.
  • This report is an outcome of the survey carried out in all these states to assess the coverage and implementation of Iron Supplementation Programme. Besides this combined report presenting a comparative picture of the study states, separate detailed state-level reports had also been prepared presenting deeper analysis of the pertinent issues.

Rural Economic and Demographic Survey (REDS)

Client(s): University of Harvard in collaboration with NCAER

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Punjab, M.P., Chhattisgarh, Bihar & Jharkhand

Nature of Study: Demographic survey

  • The study to find out the effect of economic development on demographic changes in rural India with special emphasis on the educational status. The project involved compilation of data on various aspects of education development, economic progress, and demographic changes occurring in rural India. NCAER had commissioned AMS to undertake the study in 9 states of the country. The study has generated a unique time-line data set for tracking the educational advancement in the rural areas of the country.

Baseline Survey under Sample Registration System (SRS)

Client(s): Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL), Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, Govt. of India

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu

Nature of Study: Large-scale Demographic Survey

  • The Sample Registration System (SRS) is a large scale continuous demographic survey for providing reliable estimates of birth rate, death rate and infant mortality rate at the Natural Division level for the rural areas and at the State level for the urban areas. It also provides data for other measures of fertility and mortality including total fertility, infant and child mortality rate at higher geographical levels.
  • With a view to monitor the changes in vital rates, the SRS sampling frame is revised every ten years based on latest Census, apart from efforts for enhancing its scope and rationalizing the system. The SRS sample frame has been revised based on 2011 Census frame. To maintain the desired level of reliability at natural division and at State/UT level, the number of units has been increased from 7597 units to 10000 sample units across all State/UTs.
  • The Baseline survey for all the replaced SRS sample units is carried out prior to the start of continuous enumeration to obtain demographic details of the usual resident population of the sample areas which will act as the basis point of comparison for next ten years. This involves preparation of a notional map of the area to be surveyed, house numbering and house listing and filling-in of a household schedule. A list of all women in the reproductive span along with their pregnancy status is also prepared for each sample unit at the time of the base line survey. Besides canvassing of village schedule and urban schedule, data on morbidity, personal habits and socioeconomic status of the households along with the information on maternity history and family planning practices will also be collected in prescribed schedules during baseline survey.
  • The survey agencies were inter-alia, responsible for ground identification, preparation of map, canvassing of the schedules for direct data collection through computer devices, data entry of the collected data, maintaining the quality of data by undertaking different levels of inspections & scrutiny, validation and finalization of data, submission of maps, canvassed schedules/ computer devices, attending to the queries/ clarifications of the ORGI during the field survey and also during data processing stage, preparation of provisional baseline report etc.
  • The project involved canvassing of baseline data using handheld computing device /paper schedules with data entry into the BLS application software, which were made available by ORGI.

Validation of REDS (IDRC)

Client(s): National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER)

Coverage: Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Himachal Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Kerala and Tamil Nadu

Nature of Study: Demographic Survey

  • The National Council of Applied Economic Research (NCAER), an autonomous institution established by the Govt. of India, conducted the fourth round of Rural Economic & Demography Survey for understanding the economic development and demographic changes occurring in rural India.
  • During this round, information was gathered from the households regarding the demographic profile & socio-economic profile, status of basic facilities, productive assets and the agricultural practices being used by them. However, it was later found that several elements of the data collected during this round had significant gaps and inconsistencies in the sections pertaining to health, education and conditional grants. As such, AMS was commissioned to carry out the validation and updating exercise for REDS-2006 in 2009 that involved — (a) administering the questionnaire on extent and magnitude of devolution to the State level functionaries; (b) updating the village schedule; (c) re-canvassing of the section on Conditional Grants in the village schedule; (d) matching of identities of the beneficiaries of various sponsored schemes with the listing sheet identification numbers; and (e) updating the revenue expenditure records for all Panchayat periods in the existing village questionnaires

Assessing the Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) levels of the HHs regarding the Four Key Health & Hygiene Behaviours through the Most Significant Change (MSC) Technique in Lalitpur district Phases-I to IV (2007-2011)

Client(s): UNICEF, Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Assessment

  • The Behaviour Change Communication (BCC) program in collaboration with other program components seeks to promote inter-related health behaviour at family level and health seeking behaviour at community level. The Most Significant Change (MSC) technique is a form of participatory monitoring and evaluation technique, as it involves project stakeholders both, in deciding the type of changes to be recorded and in analyzing the data. It is a form of monitoring which occurs throughout the program cycle and provides information to help people manage the program. It contributes to the evaluation by providing data on the impact and outcomes that can be used to help assess the performance of the program as a whole. AMS was commissioned by the UNICEF, for monitoring the change process in Lalitpur district of Uttar Pradesh through MSC technique. The organization was involved in facilitating the collection of significant changes (SC) stories from the field level, and systematic selection of the most significant of these stories by the panels of designated stakeholders or staff.

National Family Health Survey (NFHS-4)

Client(s): IIPS Mumbai through Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India

Coverage: Madhya Pradesh (West) and Bihar

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-round survey conducted in a representative sample of households throughout India. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW), Government of India, had designated IIPS as the nodal agency, responsible for providing coordination and technical guidance for the NFHS. NFHS used to be funded by USAID with supplementary support from United Nation’s Children’s Fund (UNICEF).

Global Adult Tobacco Survey (GATS) - 2009

Client(s): Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India through Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Deonar, Govandi, Mumbai

Coverage: Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh

Nature of Study: Large-scale survey

  • GATS is a household standard global adult tobacco survey that consistently tracks prevalence (cigarette smoking and other tobacco use) exposure to risk, second-hand smoke, cessation, risk perceptions, knowledge & attitudes, exposure to media and price as well as taxation issues. It is implemented through close coordination and partnership among the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Foundation and WHO. Funded by the Bloomberg Global Initiative to reduce tobacco use, GATS was carried out in 16 low and middle-income countries, where more than half of the world’s smokers live and bear the highest burden of tobacco use. These countries were — India, Bangladesh, Brazil, China, Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Russian Federation, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Uruguay and Vietnam. In India, the Bloomberg school partnered with the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), Mumbai for conducting the survey, that is, GATS-India.
  • The key objective of the GATS-India was to provide estimates of the levels of tobacco use & smoking, second hand exposure and cessation attempts among the men and women in both urban and rural areas. AMS was commissioned by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India to conduct the survey in the states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh.

GATS-2016-17

Client(s): Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai

Coverage: Rajasthan, H.P., Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Odisha, Bihar

Nature of Study: Large-scale Survey

  • Funded by the Bloomberg Global Initiative to reduce tobacco use, GATS was carried out in 16 low and middle-income countries, where more than half of the world’s smokers live and bear the highest burden of tobacco use.
  • The key objective of the GATS-India was to provide estimates of the levels of tobacco use & smoking, second hand exposure and cessation attempts among the men and women in both urban and rural areas. AMS was commissioned by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Govt. of India to conduct the survey in the states of Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Gujarat, Rajasthan and H.P.

Programme Management Units

Setting up District Program Management Unit (DPMU)

Client(s): Department of Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha

Coverage: Odisha

Nature of Study: Programme Management Unit

  • The study is undertaken with the objective of compiling a body District Programme Management (DPMUs) which envision to support, monitor and manage all the different youth related activities under ‘Biju Yuva Vahini’ at the district level. Since, the program involves huge spectrum of activities, so it is imperative to have professionals who can provide technical Assistance and program management support to the department of Sports and youth services. AMS aims to provide the same to the department. As a DPMU, AMS has to provide the advisory support and assistance in the major areas which includes-
  • Facilitates implementation of youth engagement interventions at District, Block and Panchayat level.
  • Provides support to YV’S to set up to structures at Panchayat /ULB level.
  • Capacity building, training and youth mobilization for social actions.
  • Track the progress of youth intervention at district level
  • AMS will be the link between Dist. administration and state units (SPMU).

Technical Assistance to State Water Resources Planning Department (SWRPD) Under European Union Assisted State Partnership Programme – Rajasthan

Client(s): State Water Resources Planning Department (SWRPD), Govt. of Rajasthan

Coverage: Rajasthan

Nature of Study: Technical Assistance

  • In order bring in reforms towards a sustainable, efficient, and integrated water resources management in the State of Rajasthan, the European Union is supporting the State Govt. through its State Partnership Program (EU-SPP). The EU-SPP is based on its India Country Strategy Paper (CSP) and National Indicative Programme (NIP).
  • The NIP has identified water scarcity as the main constraint for social and economic development in Rajasthan. Focussing on poverty alleviation, protection & management of environment and improving governance, the EU-SPP supports a comprehensive multi-sectoral and integrated policy approach to address the current unsustainable use of water through the following six components—
  • i. Support to SWRPD;
  • ii. Sustainable water campaign;
  • iii. Institutional development and capacity building of key line departments, such as the Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Water Resources Department (WRD), Ground Water Department (GWD) and Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Department (RDPRD);
  • iv. Institutional developments of PRIs and User Groups;
  • v. Capacity development component of PRI and User Groups Plans;
  • vi. Investment component of PRI/user group plans.
  • AMS was commissioned as the TA Agency by the State Water Resources Planning Department (SWRPD), Govt. of Rajasthan for providing technical assistance to its key line departments such as Public Health Engineering Department (PHED), Water Resources Department, Ground Water Department, etc. In this role, the organisation is required to undertake inter alia the following tasks—
  • Assist the Chief Engineer, SWRPD in monitoring & evaluating the program activities, identifying the bottlenecks and suggesting measures for overcoming the bottlenecks
  • Plan, institute and follow up evaluation studies relating to SPP and Water Policy
  • Study and develop performance indicators for various project components based on State Water Policy, Action Plan, M&E Systems, etc.
  • Develop online IT based outcome monitoring system for (a) SPP and (b) Various components of the State Water Policy, from field level to the State level
  • Assess the designs of drinking water supply projects
  • Assess the capacity of drinking water storage facilitiesAMS was commissioned by SIFPSA for undertaking the monitoring and assessment of programmes being organized under its IEC campaign.

Technical Assistance for setting-up State Public Health Research Institute (SPHRI) under the aegis of State Institute of Health and Family Welfare (SIHFW), Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Client(s): State Institute of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of Uttar Pradesh

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study:Technical Assistance Provider

  • To alleviate the health scenario of the State, NRHM mandated the establishment of a State Health Resource Centre (SHRC) as a ‘think-tank’ for facilitating implementation of NRHM interventions besides providing technical assistance for improving the public health delivery systems.
  • The SPHRI was proposed to be established over a period of five years (2012-17) in a phased manner under the auspices of State Institute of Health and Family Welfare. For the institute to get established and become fully functional, it required a long gestation period. However, for the institute to start delivering on its mandate effectively right from its inception, it required support from external sources. It was therefore proposed to engage a Technical Assistance Provider (TAP), who would not only systematically assist in establishing the resource centre/institute but also offer the intended services to the directorates on behalf of SPHRI while still being established. As a Technical Assistance Provider, it was proposed to offer services under two broad categories —
  • Provide managerial and administrative support towards the establishment of SPHRI.
  • Provide technical support to SPMU (NRHM) and the Directorates of Medical Health and Family Welfare enabling informed decision making.
  • TAP sought to offer the support to the SPHRI for the entire project duration (2012-17), after which it left, leaving the organization self-sustained and independent.

Micro-Finance & Financial Literacy

Baseline Survey for Building Financial Literacy among SHG Women in 43 Districts of Madhya Pradesh

Client(s): National Centre for Human Settlements and Environment (NCHSE)

Coverage: 43 Districts of Madhya Pradesh

Nature of Study: Baseline Survey

  • The baseline study specifically aimed at generating estimates for indicators along the following domains:
  • Identified, analysed and documented the existing financial knowledge, attitude and practice of the SHG members and assessed the training requirement for the SHGs during the intervention phase.
  • Assessed the existing financial habits and practices at three levels- individual SHG members, SHG as a unit, Village and Cluster Level Federation.
  • Assessed how institutional support through the formation of the SHGs and Federation could help the members to make financial decisions, retain greater control over cash flow at household and enterprise level and help them to plan for a better future and take decisions.

Evaluation of UNDP Micro-Capital Assistance to Farmer Groups

Client(s): State Institute for Management of Agriculture, (SIMA), Rehmankhera, Lucknow

Coverage: Uttar Pradesh

Nature of Study: Evaluation

  • Micro-enterprises play an extremely crucial role within the rural economy. Once the rural populace — especially the farmers realize their own potential, they can raise their own resources and develop the capacity to manage external resources as well. Engaging in micro-enterprise not only helps improve their economic position, but it also provides them an opportunity to improve their skills in areas other than agriculture as well. In keeping with this line of thought, the State Institute of Management for Agriculture (SIMA), Lucknow, has adopted almost 550 farmer groups, spread across 11 districts. Under the project, these groups are encouraged to take up various income-generating activities, in addition to their traditional occupation of agriculture. In this regard, SIMA has co-ordinated to provide a micro-capital assistance (MCA) to each of these farmer groups, spread across various districts of Uttar Pradesh, namely — Raebareli, Unnao, Banda, Varanasi, Saharanpur, Siddharthnagar, Baghpat, Deoria, Baharaich and Lalitpur of Uttar Pradesh and TehriGarhwal in Uttarakhand.
  • The micro-capital assistance was meant to enable the women self-help groups to undertake various agri-business activities, especially those related to – horticulture, fisheries, poultry, loaning of agricultural inputs, animal husbandry and other sustainable livelihood activities, both collectively and individually.

Disaster Management

Baseline Study of the “Saath Hain Hum Uttarakhand Livelihood Initiative” (SHHULI)

Client(s): Himmotthan Society, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study:Baseline Study

  • The livelihood status of the state of Uttarakhand faced a massive blow in the form of the catastrophic floods and landslides that occurred in the state in June 2013.
  • This situation thus urgently called for the development of plans and strategies for short, medium and long-term support for recovery of livelihoods and services, and rehabilitation of infrastructure.
  • In wake of such a scenario, many government and non-government organizations are undertaking a series of developmental initiatives aimed at alleviating the livelihood scenario of the state. One such initiative is the “SaathHain Hum Uttarakhand Livelihood Initiative” (SHHULI), being implemented by the Himmotthan Society with support from Star TV. The 3 year program is being implemented in 2 clusters—Guptkashi (Rudraprayag) and Tharali (Chamoli). The project was aimed at promoting livelihoods and enhancing income through development of on-farm and off-farm enterprises in the selected disaster affected villages.
  • In order to develop real time estimates of the prevalent scenario and assess the effectiveness of the interventions at a later stage, the organization commissioned AMS to undertake a comprehensive baseline survey covering a total of 800 HHs, for generating estimates for core programme indicators for both the clusters to be covered under the said programme. The baseline survey was undertaken with two fold objectives—
  • a) To help generate in-depth insight into the existing conditions of villages and households that were impacted by the June 2013 disaster and thus enable the programme managers to identify the specific needs of these areas and thereby design and implement suitably responsive interventions.
  • b) To help formalize a monitoring & evaluation framework that may be used for evaluating the progress and impact of the programme at later stages. Further, the estimates generated during baseline were to act as benchmarks against which future progress or improvement may be measured.

Baseline Study of the Uttarakhand Post Disaster Livelihood Programme (UPDLP)

Client(s): Himmotthan Society, Uttarakhand

Coverage: Uttarakhand

Nature of Study: Baseline Study

  • The livelihood status of the state of Uttarakhand faced a massive blow in the form of the catastrophic floods and landslides that occurred in the state in June 2013.
  • This situation thus urgently called for the development of plans and strategies for short, medium and long-term support for recovery of livelihoods and services, and rehabilitation of infrastructure.
  • In wake of such a scenario, many government and non-government organizations are undertaking a series of developmental initiatives aimed at alleviating the livelihood scenario of the state. One such initiative is the Uttarakhand Post Disaster Livelihood Programme (UPDLP), being implemented by the Himmotthan Society with support from Tata Relief Committee (Uttarakhand Programme). The 3 year program is being implemented in 5 clusters—Kalimath (Rudraprayag), Chandrapuri (Rudraprayag), Didasri (Uttarkashi), Munsyari (Pithoragarh) and Dharchula (Pithoragarh).
  • The project is aimed at promoting livelihoods and enhancing income through development of on-farm and off-farm enterprises in the selected disaster affected villages. The project seeks to cover 5,871 (as per Census, 2011 data) disaster-impacted households, spread across 62 villages in 3 districts including Rudraprayag, Uttarkashi, and Pitthoragarh.
  • In order to develop real time estimates of the prevalent scenario and assess the effectiveness of the interventions at a later stage, the organization commissioned AMS to undertake a comprehensive baseline survey for generating estimates for core programme indicators for all 5 clusters to be covered under the said programme (UPLDP). The baseline survey was undertaken with two fold objectives—
  • To help generate in-depth insight into the existing conditions of villages and households that were impacted by the June 2013 disaster and thus enable the programme managers to identify the specific needs of these areas and thereby design and implement suitably responsive interventions.
  • To help formalize a monitoring & evaluation framework that may be used for evaluating the progress and impact of the programme at later stages. Further, the estimates generated during baseline were to act as benchmarks against which future progress or improvement may be measured.
  • AMS successfully conducted the survey covering a total of 1580 HHs.