COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 2012 1

COMCAP Newsletter No. 3 Falgun 2068 (March 2012)

OverviewProject Introduction Wisheshes Project Activities

• AccomplishedActivitiesduringFirstandSecond Year of the Project

• UpcommingProjectActivities• NumberofDisputesResolvedinSindhuli

andMahottariDistrict• TypesofdisputesregisteredinVDCs

ExperienceandSuccessStories

Project IntroductionTheStrengtheningCommunityMediationCapacityforPeacefulandHarmoniousSociety(COMCAP)Projecthasbeenimplementingfor3and9monthsfromJanuary2010toSeptember2013inSindhuliandMahottaridistrictsunderconcernedDistrictDevelopmentCommitteewiththecollaborationbetweenMinistyofLocalDevelopment,governmentofNepalandTechnicalAssitanceofGovernmentofJapanthroughJICA.Thecommunitymediationprogramhasbeenalreadybeenimplementingat10VDCsoftwodistrictstillnowanditisplanedtoextendandimplementprograminadditional10VDCsofthesamedistrictin3rdyear.

Cheif editor: Mr.KenichiTANAKA Editor: Ms.KabitaPandey

Contact Address:Karmachari Sanchaya Kosh Building Harihar Bhawan, Lalitpur, NepalThe Strengthening Community Mediation Capacity for Peaceful and Harmonious Society Project Phone/Fax: 977-1-5010157District Development Committee Mahottari Phone: 977-44-520532

District Development Committee SindhuliPhone: 977-47-521043

CommunityMediationOrientationProgramtocommunityResidence

The Strengthening Community Mediation Capacity for Peaceful and Harmonious Society Project

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 20122

Welcome speech

Discussionduringadvancetraining

WiththetechnicalcooperationofJICANepal,MinistryofLocalDevelopment,GovernmentofNepal,COMCAPhasbeenimplantedsince2010inSindhulidistrict.Tillnow,COMCAPhastriedtoresolvesimpledisputesinthelocallevelbyestablishingthecommunitymediationcenterat5VDCs.ThisprogramisgoingtobeextendedtofiveadditionalVDCswiththisfiscalyear.

Weseemanypeopleinthesocietyhavegonetothecourtforyearstosolvedisputesandhavebeenroamingaroundandnotbeingsatisfiedtowiththedecision.Inthissituation,COMCAPhasestablishedcommunitymediationcenteratVDCandmakeresponsibletoVDCassistantforcoordinationoftheprogram.Disputantchoosetrainedmediatorswhomtheyknowwellandmediatorssupporttoresolvetheproblemswithdeveloptheirpreciousrelationshipbetweendisputantparties,whichispraiseworthy.IamfullyconvincedthatthecommunitymediatorswillcontinuetheirvolunteerworkinthecoordinationofVDCevenafterthephase-outoftheProject.IhopethatVDCwillcontinueofcommunitymediation,andIwish the success of the Project.

Mr. Sagar DhakalProgramOfficer(SocailDevelopment)DDC,Sindhuli

Mr. Sailendra Pandey ProgramOfficer(SocailDevelopment)

MediatorsParticipationatReviewMeeting

SinceJanuary2010,withthesupportofgovernmentofJapan,MinistryofLocalDevelopment,GovernmentofNepalhasbeenimplementingtheCOMCAPprojectin5VDCsofMahottariandithasbeenexpandedintomore5VDCsuptotheprojectperiod.Theprojecthasdevelopedskilledmediatorsatlocallevelbyprovidingmediationtrainings.Smalldisputesofthecommunityhavebeenresolvedatlocallevelbythemediators.Thisprocesssavestime,effortandresourceswhicharesupportingtoupliftthelivelihoodconditionofcommunitypeople.We,thereforeextendourthankfulnessonceagaintoJICA,Nepalhopingcontinuoussupportformtechnicalcooperation.ThisworkhasshownrealsupporttomakepeaceandprosperityinthesocietyofMahottariDistrict.

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 2012 3

Project ActivitiesAccomplishedActivitiesduringFirstandSecondYearoftheProject

UpcommingProjectActivities

Activities Brief Description Implementation Date Output/Results

Baseline assessment and Survey

Conducted baseline assessment and survey to identify the baseline values on dispute and dispute resolution practice at VDC level of Sindhuli and Mahottari district

June 2010 (Jestha, 2067)Identified the disputes and disputes resolution practice of community at VDC level

Orientation program at center and district level

Organized one day orientation program at center and district April, May and June 2010 Familiarized about community mediation

program and COMCAP

Mater Trainer’s Training to district trainers

Conducted Master Trainer’s Training to 18 district trainers from Sindhuli and Mahottari

3-12 August 2010 Trained 18 district trainer

Centre and district Joint Coordination Committees meeting

Review of progress of COMCAP project Regular Knew about progress of the Project by stakeholders

Third country visit program

Visited Indonesia to exchange and learnt about community mediation experience

1-8 September 2010 Exchanged experience about community mediation of 7 government officials

Observation Visit Visited Tanahu district by VDC secretary and district trainers 14-17 September, 2010 Got the information about community

mediationVDC Orientation and selection of Mediators

Briefed about community mediation and shared about criteria of selection of mediators

From October 2010 to January 2011

Selected 108 community mediators from 27 mediators from each VDC.

Refresher Training to district trainers

Organized refresher training to district trainers to support for facilitation the basic training to mediators

23-25 January 2011Acquired additional skill of training and learnt more on community mediation by sharing of experience of CM.

Basic community mediation training

Provided basic community mediators to selected community mediators 26 January to 1 March 2011 Trained 104 mediators out of 108 selected

mediators. Social marketing about community mediation

Show the street drama program at Sindhuli madi of Sindhuli district and jaleshowor of Mahottari district

April and May 2011 Community residence were aware about community mediation

Advance training to district trainers

Organized 5 days advance training to district trainers

From 28 November to 2 December 2011

17 district trainers were trained (9 from Sindhuli and 8 from Mahottari)

Advance training to community mediators

Organized 5 days advance training to 4 pilot VDCs which were selected in first year

From 26 December 2011 to 5 January 2012

104 meditators trained on advance training (52 from each districts)

Mid-tem evaluation of COMCAP

Joint team of MoLD and JICA Nepal conducted the Mid-tem evaluation of COMCAP.

From 8 December to 27 December 2011

Recommended on 5 areas for future implementation of COMCAP

Activities Brief Description Implementation Date Expected output Selection of 5/5 VDCs of two districts and organize orientation program

Select the VDCs with the consultation of DDC and orient about COMCAP and community mediation

Chitra 206810 new VDCs will be selected and will be known about COMCAP and community mediation

Selection of community mediators and basic community mediation training

27 mediators from each VDC will select and will provide 8 days training. Baishak 2069 270 mediators from 10 VDCs and 10

VDC assistant will be trained

Advance training to mediators

5 days advance training will prove to mediators who have already got basic training.

Baishak 2069 Will be trained 16 VDC community mediators

Observation visit to VDC secretary and assistant

Visit program to 10 VDC’s secretary and assistant.

Will get the information about community mediation

Monitoring and evaluation Regular monitoring and evaluation will do. Continuous/regular Will measure the expected output

and outcome of the COMCAP.

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 20124

Types of disputes registered in VDCs

GroupDiscussionduringadvancetraining

Number of Disputes Resolved in Sindhuli and Mahottari District

District VDCsNumber of disputes

registered

Number of disputes resolved

Number of disputes

under process

Sind

huli

Puranojhangajholi 13 9 4

Ratanchura 13 9 4

Kusheshowr Dumja 2 0 1Jhangajholi Ratmate 6 3 1

Jalakanya 4 2 2

Sindhuli Total 38 23 12

Maho

ttari

Gauribas 32 28 4

Mahottari 13 12 1

Mahisthan 4 4 0

Belganchi 10 8 2

Mahadaya Tapanpur 14 7 7

Mahottari Total 73 59 14

Grand Total 111 82 26

District Sindhuli Mahottari

VDC Purano jhangajholi Ratanchura Kusheshowr

DumjaJhangajholi

Ratmate Jalakanya Gauribas Mahottari Mahisthan Belganchi Mahadaya Tapanpur

Property 1 - - - - 11 - - 3 2Family 1 - - - - 3 5 - 1 -Lending Money 1 3 - - - 3 2 2 3 3

Bitting 3 - - 1 1 3 2 - 1 1

Scolding 2 5 - 1 - 4 3 2 - 1

Crop damage 1 - - 1 - 3 - - 1 2

Water Tap distribution - 1 - - 1 - - - - -

Thief - - - - - 2 3 - 1 -Damage and destroy

- - - - - - - - - -

Boundaries - - - - - 3 - - - 5

Total 9 9 - 3 2 32 15 4 10 14

Number of Disputes Resolved up to December 2011

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 2012 5

Mediation ProgramSupport to

Office Work

CommunityMediationProgramhadbeenimplementinginBelganchiVDC,MhaottariwiththecollaborationofJICAandGovernmentofNepal,forlastoneyear.Afterestablishmentofcommunitymediationcentereightdisputantshavebeenresolved.Beforeimplementthisprogram,Ihadtolistendifferentdisputesanddoalltheadministrativeactivities.Ibarelyhadatimeinthattimeforadministrativework.Afterthisprogramhasimplemented,Ihavegotchancetoinvolveindevelopmentactivitiesinthevillagesinceeverythingwillbedonebylocalmediators.Somewouldwillandloseintheprocessbuttheloserswouldoverlookus.Now-a-days,Igiveendorsementtolocalmediatorsifsuchdisputescome.Theysupportedtoresolvetheproblemssatisfactorybyfacilitatingtodisputantparties.Consequently,bothpartiesdon’tlookatnegativetotheVDC.Inonehandtheyhavegotreliefforgoingtocourtforsmalldisputesandontheotherhand,women,poorindigenous,backwarded,untouchableandmarginalizedcitizenhavegotjusticeinlocallevelthathassavedtime.Ifthisprogramwasnotimplemented,thousandofrupeeswouldbespendfordifferent8disputes.We, therefore need the communitymediationprogramsamelikehowcommunitymediationprogramhashelpedpoorandVDC.

Mr. Balkrishna PradhanSecretaryBelganchi

Mahottari

SuccessStory:DAHA & JHANDAMahottraidistirct,TapanpurVDCisfamousfordifferentcastesreligiousandculturewheremostlyYadav,Kalawar,Sha,mandalandmuslimcommunitylives. It is natural tohavedisputebecauseofculturaldifferences.”DAHA”isoneofthemostimportantMuslimfestivalscelebratedinthememoryofreligiousspiritMohammad.AccordingtoMuslimcalendar,the festival is celebratedineverythreeyears.Likewise,“JHANDA”isoneofthemostimportantfestivalsofHinducelebratedinthemonthofMangsirorPoush.Both festivals arecelebratedinthesameplace,Accordingtocalendar,“DAHA”festival has fallen atthesametimeofJHANDAinthisyear.BothHinduandMuslimstartedquarrelingdemandingtocelebratetheirrespectivefestivalinthisassignedplaceandhaveadispute.Bothcommunitieswerecalledforameetingfortheresolve.Itlengthenedfortwodaysbuttherewasnoconclusion.Mr.MaulabisfromMuslimcommunityandmediatorfromHinduplacedwiththeircommunitiesnottodisruptthesituationandsatfordiscussioninseparateroom.Thediscussionwasmaderegardingtheirreligionandculture.BothinitiativesfoldeachotherhowtocelebrateDAHAandJHANDA.TheHeadofHindusaidthatDAHAiscelebratedinfixedtimeandJHANDAiscelebratedinthesamemonth,whichcanbeshiftedwithoutdifferingmonth.TheheadandinitiativesofMuslimrequestedtoshiftJHANDAtotheheadsandmediatorsofHindu.Aftertheyknew,HinduandMuslimagreedtocelebrateDAHAfirstandpromisetohelptobothcommunitieseachothertocelebratethefestival.Withthehelpofmediatorabigissueshadresolved.

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 20126

Disputes Resolution Strategies andWin-Win Situation

Therearevariousstrategiestoresolvethedisputes.Basedontheconsequencesofdisputeresolution,strategiescanbeseeninfollowingways:

Win-Lose Strategy

Accordingtothisstrategy,thedisputecomestoendingpointsintheconditionofwinningorlosing.Awin-Loseconditionseemstoappearifbothpartieshavestrongsenseofwinningorintheconditionofonepartybeingliberal,generousorinferior.Suchstrategyisappliedifbothpartiesdonotconsentcompletelyorintransitoryperiod.Therearehighchancesofhavingdisputeinfutureasbothpartiesdonotcompletelyconsent.

Lose-Lose Strategy

Sometimes,bothpartiesremainidolignoringdebatableissues.Inthetypicalcircumstancesofignoringtheissue,bothpartywillexperiencelose-losestrategy.Theyhavetoabandonsomethingtocomeintoconsensusoftheyhavetoleavetheposition.Eveninthiscase,itiscertainthatbothofthepartiesdonotwin.Thisstrategyisappliedwhentheyhavetodoimportantagreementwiththenextpartyoftheyhavetoconsentfortemporaryperiodortheyhaveverylimitedtime.Bothpartiescannotbesatisfiedwhilegivingsolution.

Win-Win Strategy

Accordingwiththisstrategy,thedisputeisdeeplyanalyzedfrombothorintactperspectivesanddecisionistakenonlywithWin-Winsituation.Whileresolvingtheproblem,thealternativeoptionsaredoggedoutbasedontheinterestofdisputantpartiesthroughthefacilitationwithfollowtheimpartialityandequality.Reconciliation,istheredonebydecisionwithrealizationbybothofthepartiespossessingwinningregardingdispute.Byreconciliationstrategy,bothofthepartiesfeelcomfortableandwinneranddisputeisresolvedpermanently.Thisisthebestandidealstrategytoresolvethedisputes.

Conclusion

ThedisputesconsistofjurisdictionunderLocalSelfGovernmentAct2055resolvedaccordingtoWin-Winstrategywithtrainedcommunitymediators.IntheprojectimplementedVDCs,thedisputedpeople,families,neighborhavetakehelpoftrainedcommunitymediatorsandestablishpeaceandharmonioussociety.

Mr.MukeshTamang

DistrictTrainer,CommunityMediationProgram(COMCAP)

- Sindhuli

An analysis on objective, effectiveness and significance of Community

Mediation ProgramDisputeisacontinuousprocess

ofthesocietywithoutwhichnosocietyispossibletoform.Itisaconditionofanactiverevoltbetweentwoormorethantwoindividualsorgroups.Therearemanyexamplesofdisputewhichhaveboughtpositivechanges,ifitismanagedontime.Wherethereisdisputetherecometheissuesofforandagainst.Itneverendswhenonepartyfeelswinningandnextpartyfeelslosingwhilesolvingtheproblem.Thebasicfundamentalissuetosolvecontroversialistomakebothpartiessatisfy.Bothpartiesfeeltheexperienceofwinnersifbothofthemaresatisfied.So,communitymediationisthereforeneededtomangedisputes.

CommunitymediationisascientificformofPanchaitisystemanoldandtraditionalsystemofNepal.TheimportanceofcommunitymediationisincreasingindevelopingcountrieslikeNepal.Thesignificanceofthisprogramisjustifiedlookingaftertheconditionofworstpoliticalsituationofthecountryandsometimesgettingrebukes,threatsandpunishmentinestablishingpeace.Eventhen,theyspendminimumaweekoftimegoingtothecourtandreturningfromthere.Ifsuchpersonsaregivenjusticeinthevillage,thetimeandeffortissavedandincreasedtheaccessofjustice.Communitymediationrehabilitatestheworserelationofparties,insteadofblamingothersandgivingpenalty.Therearelotsofexamplecanbeseensolvingtheirproblemsinagreement,helpandco-ordinationaftermaintaininggoodrelation.Ithelpstobuildcivilizedsocietyandbelievestofeelthesentimentsofpeaceandprosperityeventothefuturegeneration.Themainimportantaspectofthisprogramistomaintainsecrecyandassist to access justice.

Mr.AalokKarnaDistrictTrainer,Community

MediationProgram(COMCAP)-Mahottarui

GroupdiscussionduringAdvanceTraining

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 2012 7

Community mediation: Alternative for Peace

Samelikeinothercommunity,majorandminordisputeshappenPuranoJhanagajholiVDCofSindhuli.Mostly,disputestookplaceinwardno8and9oftheVDC.Aftertheimplantationof

communitymediation,minordisputesarebeingsolvedwiththefacilitationofcommunitymediations.

Aftersuccesstomediatesmalldisputes,Ihavefeltmyresponsibilitytocontributeforestablishingpeace.Previously,Iusedtofeeldifficulttomediatebutnow-a-days,ithasbeenhabituatedtofacilitatetofilljusticetobothpartieswhichhasencouragedmeandmakeconfidenttofacilitate.Beforeworkingasamediatorscommunitypeopledidnotcometoask,butaftertrainingdisputantpartiescometoaskandsharetheirproblemsopenly,whichencouragedmeandIamfellingthatIamabletogettheirfaith.Disputantpartiespraiseaboutmediator’sbehaviorsandimpartialityofthemediationsprocess.Oneofthecouplepraisedopenheartedlybymakingtheirrelationprosperouswhichwasnotsuitedpreviously.Thecommunitypeopleareawareaboutcommunitymediationandtheyprefertogotocommunitymediationcenteriftheyhavesmalldisputes.Policehavealsoacknowledgedtothedisputantpartiestogotocommunitymediationcenterfirstandthenonlytopoliceiftherecomesanysortofcontroversialissues.Thedisputeswhichcouldnotresolvebythetraditionalsystemalsocomeformediation.ThenewWin-Winstrategyhasassistedactuallytoresolvetheproblemsandhasbecomeinspiringstrategytomoveaheadinthedaystocomeinfuture,withthesupportofpoliticalleadersandelitepersonsofcommunity.

Ms.JanakiSunuwar,CommunityMediator,PuranoJhangaholi8,

Sindhuli

Pride of Being Mediator !

I,MayaPariyar,Local

residenceofGauribas-1,

Mahottariamveryproud

ofbeingamediatorof

communitymediation

whichwasimplementing

withthecollaborationof

JICAandGovernment

ofNepal.Beforebeing

mediator,peoplewouldknowonegiving

identityofmyhusbandandIhadbane

identityofmyown.Iwaslivingmy

suffocativelife.Peoplewouldgotothehead

ofthevillageiftheyhaddisputesandhad

towaitforhours.Theydidnothavetime

andwewouldbesentbackcallingthenext

day.Wehadnorighttogivedecisionof

Dalitwomen.Aftertheimplementationof

communitymediation,Iamwellknownas

amediatorandpeoplecometomeifthey

haveproblems.Ihaveinvolvedsolving

sixdisputes(formallyandinformally)in

myvillage.Iaminspiredgettingchanceof

beingamediator.Iwillbeworkinginthe

samefieldandtrytogivejusticetojustless

peopleinthesociety.

MayaPariyarCommunityMediator,Gauribas-1,Mahottari

DiscussingduringTraining

COMCAP Newsletter - No. 3, March 20128

Success StoryCommunity Mediation Center Wins Locals Community People FaithSIDSNepalanoldsocialNGOofSindhulidistrict

hadmovedaheadtoimplementpuredrinkingwater

projectinRatanchraVDC-9,Sindhulidistrictto

facilitate96houses.Thisprojecthasprecededforming

usercommitteetomoveaheadconstructionwork.But

15familiesfromthesamewarddissatisfied,thinking

thattheprojectignoredthemandwerenotbenefitted

bythewaterpipes.Theysaid“Itwillbenearandeasy

tofetchwaterfromlocalstream”theydamagedto

supplywaterfromwatertankforonlythose15families

andinformedthattheywouldnothieltheprojectit

theprojenctdidinotfulfilltheirdemand.Theuser

committeepropsedtosupplywaterprovidingone

watertaptoeachsevenhouseswithoutanybiasand

deniedtomakeseparatewatertank.

Thedebatecameitsextremephase.Thedemand

seemedratersincetheydadtowalkupanddownin

spreadingfamilies,howevertwotapsinfifteenhouses

seemedappropriateinquantitythecommitteealso

couldnotdoanythingsmoreexceptmoneyandwork

assistedtheproject.Becauseofextremedispute,the

projectwasabouttostop.Inonehand,theconsumer

committeewasworriedincasetheprojectisdismissed

anditselfbecauseofthefailure,andontheotherhand

15houseswerenotpleasedsayingthattheprojectdid

nothelpthem.Despitethetrialofvillageheadsalso,

themeetingdidnotsucceed.Finally,bothpartiescame

tocommunitymediatorsandaskedforhelp

Icoordinatedboththeparties.Thatwas

groupdispute.Wethereforerequestedthe

representativesofdisputedteamtocometo

theCMC.Inthatmeeting,thechairperson,

ConsumerCommitteealongwithtwoother

stakeholders,representativesofSIDS,

Sindhuli was invited. I was selected as a

mediatoroffirstdisputedparty(15houses),

Mr.BhimBahadurShresthafromsecond

disputedpartyandSabitraVermafromthe

sideofVDC.Wethreemediatorsmediated

thedisputedteamaccordingto

ourstepwiseplan.Wediscussed

deeplyregardingthesubjectmatter.

Accordingtothewishoffirstdisputed

team,theagreementcameafteruser

committeeacceptedtoaddone

watertapintotal20watertapsand

thefirstteamwillbegiventhreewater

tapsaltogetherfor15houses.They

alsoagreedtohelptotheproject.Theagreementwas

madeeasilybecauseallthemediatorshavedivided

theirworkproperlyaccordingtopreplan,collecting

directinformationofdisputedareasandboththe

partiesincludingstakeholdersarehurryuptosolve

theproblems.Inthemediationsession,tresurer,SIDS

GopalPoudelsaid,“Ididnotthinkthese,mediators

solvethedisputebutyou,allbecamesuccess.The

wayofresolvingthedisputeisverygood.”Afterthe

resolution,therelationofdisputedteamshasbeen

improved.Inthedisputeofpresident,DrinkingWater

ConsumerCommitteeandpresident,ForestConsumer

Committee,thepresident,WCCsaid,”Ifthisdispute

wassolvedwiththehelpofCMP,therewouldnotform

anygroupingandtension.”Likethisway,theCMC,

RatanchuraVDChaswonthetrustoflocalvillagers

becauseofsolvingthedisputedissues.

DorBahadurTamanCommunityMediator

Ratanchura-9,Sindhuli

Discussingduringobservationtour