Resource information
India's Uttar Pradesh Sodic Lands
Reclamation Project has two objectives. First, it seeks to
reverse the decline of productivity through sustainable
reclamation of sodic lands. Second, it is intended to
prevent additional increases in sodicity through
strengthening local institutions and enabling effective
management of such programs with strong beneficiary
participation and nongovernmental organization (NGO)
support. This objective contributes to the alleviation of
poverty of families managing sodic lands. Social Development
best practices elements were identified as using:
multi-dimensional approach to poverty reduction aimed at
enhancing opportunities, capabilities, empowerment, and
security of the poor; institutionalized mechanisms for
participation and decentralized implementation; and ongoing
monitoring and evaluation of social development outcomes by
the government and community. Lessons learned focused on
establishing the correct sequence of project activities is a
key ingredient of success. In this case, the sequence
involved first establishing property rights and land
titling, then creating organizations of the poor, and then
providing technical solutions and resources for
implementation. Transparency and participatory
problem-solving by stakeholders builds ownership. Investment
in organizational development and local capacity building
lays the groundwork for decentralized management by beneficiaries.
