Study to Identify barriers to Access of Services by Urban Poor

In Bhopal Samarthan conducted a study commissioned by the Bhopal Municipal Corporation under MPUSP Programme to identify the barriers faced by the urban poor who lived in slums in accessing statutory rights/entitlements/benefits. The study found that lack of timely awareness was a major drawback in accessing services followed by location and distance. There were no assistance booths and the multiplicity of documents required for applications was a point for harassment and manipulation by the civic staff. There were many layers of verification for most benefit schemes and hence delays became inevitable. The study made recommendation advocating the efficient use of technology, management of human resources, decentralization of service counters, and spreading awareness on schemes and services.

Using the findings of the study, Samarthan set up an information centre and women were mobilized as Information Friends to provide information about applying for BPL cards and social security schemes. This resulted in:

• 100 residents receiving BPL cards
• 800 children being registered for birth certificates
• About 65 forms for social security Pensions were filled up and signed by the respective ward Councilor
• 60 appeals for the BPL survey were made to the SDMs office