ON 14TH of Aug, 2001, the new local government set-up was installed in place of the old regime. Some of the old local institutions have ceased to function while others are performing till the time the new set-up has taken up fully.

A key feature of the new set-up is its claimed representative status and as such counsellors, naib nazims and nazims are its essential ingredients. While the whole episode of devolution of power and the creation of new local institutions in replacement of the old ones requires an objective evaluation, one aspect has become clear about the elected representatives.

Like their predecessors, most of the elected representatives have made tall promises to communities from which they have been elected. Stretching from provision of basic services to issues of human rights, elected representatives have not spared any component. Provision of potable water, electricity connections, maintenance works on roads, construction of new roads, building of schools, hospitals and dispensaries, cleaning of mohallahs, all have been pledged to raise the hopes.

Whereas they were able to mesmerize electorate during the voting process, it has done a great deal of damage to ongoing developmental work of various self-help based groups that were collaborating with communities to resolve their pressing issues at various levels. It is interesting to note that this situation is not very different from the previous local government elections held during 1979, 1983 and 1987-88. Even if one considers these promises as well-intentioned, most of them are not realistic given the prevailing contextual situations.

It is obvious that the new local institutions will have a rather tough time to establish themselves and carry through the prevailing phase of transition. It is also a fact that most of these representatives had established link with the existing political parties. Either they were certified supporters of parties or members who surreptitiously left them to justify their electoral eligibility. Therefore, obviously, party mandates and desires are likely to override the needs of the communities.

Secondly, the limited available budgets at the federal and provincial level will pose a barrier in launching and sustaining development projects. Thirdly, in majority of cases, local representatives have little experience of managing any kind of development work. As reviewed from profiles, most of these representatives have not participated in the self-help initiatives which have been prolifically launched by communities on their own in various rural and urban contexts. Such initiatives need a careful study. Uch is a small settlement of historic and religious importance in tehsil Ahmed Pur East, district Bahawalpur. The place is devoid of many basic amenities of life including a proper and safe sanitation system. For years, no heed was paid by any of the elected leaders who represented the area in assemblies and municipalities. Some mohallas decided to do something to improve the conditions. They were supported by a group of professionals trained by the Orangi Pilot Project. It took several months by a team of social mobilisers to motivate the people to attend to this most vital need which was affecting them directly.

According to OPP’s methodology and concept, the people collected money after the process of planning and estimation. Some of the area residents still had reservations and wanted the government to do every thing for them. After patient community work, three lanes were mobilized to take up the work. The OPP’s trained professionals provided technical support while the community led the practical stages. When the project was about to take off, local counsellors started their campaign of ‘promise mongering’, asking their constituencies to wait for the local government. They pledged that the government would provide them every amenity of life. This had an adverse effect on the initiative. The people became confused and finally refused to adopt the self-help approach. Instead they resorted to visiting, waiting and beseeching their elected counsellors for doling out the amenities to their localities. So far, representatives are only giving them verbal promises.

Solid waste was a pressing issue in Shah Rasool Colony in Clifton, Karachi. The people, with the support of a non- government organization, APE (Association for Protection of Environment) organized a small scale self-help project of waste management in their locality. They motivated the residents to contribute a small sum of Rs20 per month to finance the project. The people happily agreed. The project was running smoothly since the past few years when suddenly elected representatives came with their big promises of service provision through the government. When brain-washed that the government would do every thing for them, area residents refused to participate in the project. As a result, the locality is faced with the same unsanitary conditions as before.

The areas of Orangi extension colony in Karachi are located at the tail end of water supply. There is no access to water except through water vendors supplying through tankers at high rates. Through cooperative arrangement on self-help basis, people developed a system of collectively acquiring, storing and distributing water. This mechanism, which was popularly called as ‘awami tank’, became very effective and was even supported by Pakistan Rangers who were entrusted the responsibilities of tanker supply and municipal hydrant management. Elected representative came up with the promises of piped water supply and its merits. Under confusion, people gradually withdrew from self-help initiatives and concentrated their physical and financial resources on constructing underground tanks in each individual house which was an expensive proposition for most houses. The usage of Awami tank started declining to a considerable extent, only adding miseries to area residents.

These are a few example where the initiative and motivation of the communities was adversely affected. There are many more examples around. Few basic conclusions can be drawn from this scenario. Self-help, by no means, is a replacement of any planned governmental work. It however becomes unavoidable when the government fails to address an issue for any reason. Self- help work becomes the compromise alternative for concerned communities for their most essential amenities and services of life. It helps in generating cooperative action to resolve collective problems. Such examples also demonstrate the social willingness and technical capacity — when acquired — to address problems of essential nature.

Therefore, it will be viable for the elected representatives to take few elementary steps for an honest and realistic appraisal of self-help initiatives. Firstly, the elected representatives must educate themselves about what the people have been doing to help themselves. Secondly, they must visit and discuss with the people about their prevailing problems and issues. After analyzing, the priorities of the developmental works may be finalized in a participatory manner. Thirdly, a study of commonplace successful development projects must be carried out so as to undertake a positive initiative. And fourthly, they must accommodate all the work done by the people in their new development schemes so that the people’s investment and initiative is not wasted.