Meetings

If association of people is viewed, it has been found that informal meetings of the village are quite positive because both men and women in these meetings is on high side and they are able to put their viewpoints openly. Through these meetings institutional objectives and mission can be driven home among the people in a right perspective. The community was given information regarding the panchayati raj act and rights under the act through the village level meetings. Along side an understanding regarding social issues of the village like deteriorating status of primary education, girl child and health, employment, child marriage, etc., was made.

As the term of the panchayats neared, information was provided through the meetings about forthcoming elections. This covered importance of vote, qualities of pradhan, participation of women in panchayats, youth leadership, etc.

• A total of 265 village level meetings were organised by the organisation through the community and self help groups

• Meetings were organised with panchayat representatives

• Citizens leaders were identified in gram panchayats and 29 meetings were held with active members

Information Dissemination

During the institutional interventions it was witnessed that village residents do not get benefit of panchayat and other developmental schemes because of the lack of knowledge. Keeping this in mind, attempts were made to make information available to the people at the local level and sensitise them with panchayats. The efforts done included:

Establishment of Panchayat Information Centre

Panchayat Information Centres (PICs) were set up in three gram panchayats to make information available to the people at the local level. Since the people are now getting information at the local level, they do not have to run around for getting information. Reading material related to panchayati raj, health, education, agriculture, information related to developmental schemes, posters and pamphlets related to the forthcoming election, etc., have been made available at these PICs.

Video Film Show

A large section of the community is illiterate. Since they do not have information, they are unable to participate and lead in panchayat and development processes. Keeping this in mind, video shows were organised in panchayats to impart information to the residents of panchayats and villages. Films like Aahat, Sanshodhan, Aguwai, Bua-Bhatiji, Raj Karenge, etc., were screened to sensitise the community. During follow-up it was seen that an environment of collectivism was created in the villages, women became sensitised regarding employment and discussions started on election of pradhans and panches.

Street Plays

During the interventions it was felt that if information was disseminated along with entertainment, the process was more effective and more people were involved. Keeping this in view, the Lucknow team staged eight street plyas in six gram panchayats. A total of 1,600 people witnessed these street plays. The street plays gave information regarding panchayati raj and participation of women in panchayats.

Essay Writing Competitions

It was witnessed during the interventions that adolescent boys and girls of panchayats take initiatives and participate in panchayats. Keeping this in view essay writing competitions on given topic were organised in intermediate colleges at the block level. Over 200 students participated in the essay writing competition. A total of 44 students were given away prizes. These essay writing competitions sensitised the students about panchayati raj and enhanced their writing skills. They also helped the institutional efforts reach non-intensive panchayats and helped creating awareness among the people about the functions of the panchayats.

Interviews with Pradhans

As the tenure of the panchayats neared, pradhans of 20 gram panchayats were interviewed. These interviews revolved around issues like obstacles during functioning, the mode of overcoming these obstacles, probability of winning the forthcoming elections, plans of development of the village, in case they won, etc. These interviews helped sensitise the pradhans.

Wall Writing

Wall writings are an easy and effective mean to give messages for building an easy environment for panchayat elections. Keeping this in mind, wall writings were carried out in 98 villages of 25 gram panchayats of the development. Indigo and geru (a brown colour) were used for wall writing. Apart from this, posters from Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra were distributed and pasted and pamphlets were also distributed.

Training to Panchayat Representatives

It was witnessed during the interventions that participation of village residents, particularly those of women panchayat representatives, was very low in gram sabha and gram panchayat. Kin of women representatives participate in place of women representatives. As a result, women and deprived sections do not get benefit while preparing plan for the gram panchayat. Keeping this in mind, training were organised at the block and nyaya panchayat level. These training included topics on the provisions made under the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution and leadership quality. Apart from this, systematic knowledge was imparted regarding the forthcoming elections.

Media Workshop

Following the interventions of the organisation, some gram panchayats have done praiseworthy work and pradhans and active members, including women members, have taken initiatives to give new direction to the panchayats. To reach these commendable works to the government and media, a media workshop was organised at the organisation’s office. Nine media representatives attended this workshop. The organisation’s work in the fields of education, health, panchayat and forthcoming panchayat elections was revealed to the media. A discussion was also held with media on constructive and commendable work being done by the panchayats. Media persons were sensitised with the organisation’s work and they promised to give space to such efforts in their respective publications.

Training to Youth at Nyaya Panchayat/Cluster

During the interventions by the state level voluntary organisation it was observed that the gram panchayats having younger pradhans work with more zeal as compared to other gram panchayats. If these young leaders are given right direction, they have zeal, energy, fighting spirit and risk taking capability. Keeping this in mind, if 40 per cent youths were given a new direction through training, they will help in giving new direction to the panchayats. For this the organisation made efforts to build capacity of the youth by organising 11 training at its office. These training included the following topics:

• To build understanding of the youth on the social, economic, political and developmental issues in the backdrop of panchayats

• To enhance participation in developmental processes

• To impart information of panchayati raj

• To organise the youth and prepare pressure groups so they can raise local issues

Block Level Inauguration

For spreading the objectives of the youth campaign in panchayats and making media, academia, government system, community based organisations and other voluntary organisations aware of the programme, a block level inaugural ceremony was organised. Jyeshtha Pramukh, block development officer, youth officer, Mahila Samakhya representatives, adolescent boys and girls of the villages and active women and men from the villages participated in this inaugural ceremony. The Pramukh lighted the lamp to inaugurate the campaign. They expressed their views for leading in panchayat election.

Nyaya Panchayat Level Training

Under the youth campaign in panchayats, 10 nyaya panchayat level training were organised. Active young women and men of the villages, pradhan and panches, anganwadi workers, citizen leaders, teachers, cluster in-charge women, media, ANM, adolescent boys and girls and voluntary organisation representatives were invited to the training. Attempts were made to sensitise the participants through discussions and role plays on questions like status of panchayats, how they wanted to see panchayats, what will be our role in them, etc. Later they were given information on panchayati raj and PEVAC (Panchayat Election Voters’ Awareness Campaign). Video films were screened in some of the training for sensitisation of the participants.

Organisation Building

To consolidate the interventions and to build capacity of women and deprived sections, organisations were promoted in the villages. For this ward level meetings were organised to clarify concept of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution and information regarding developmental schemes in the villages was imparted. Concept of group/organisation was clarified through meetings and it was told that through small savings and self-employment economic condition can be improve upon. Discussions were held on mutual cooperation and small decisions through the organisation. During this year, 39 organisations were formed. Out of the 26 women, five adolescent organisations, eight men’s organisations, 12 organisations have been linked with banks and they are transacting money from banks.

Microplanning

It was realised by the institutional workers while participating in gram sabha meetings that the residents of the gram panchayats do not have any understanding as to which work be given priority for the development of the village so overall development of the village can materialise. Keeping this in mind, microplanning was carried out in two gram panchayats to make the villagers aware of the problems of their villages and to develop their understanding regarding planning. Ward level meetings were held to gather information and developing feeling regarding planning. The people were involved through social mapping, pie mapping, seasonal analysis, timeline process, etc. Good participation of panchayat members, citizen leaders, women, men and deprived sections of panchayats was witnessed. Attempt was made to analyse the issues that emerged from the processes and find out basic needs of the villages as could lead to development of the deprived sections and women.

Training to Community Based Organisations/Meetings

It was realised during the process of panchayat strengthening, it was easier and more effective to give messages by holding meetings with the community based organisations. Meetings were held with groups and organisations promoted by government employees and other institutions. While linking the organisations with the mainstream of development, self help groups and women groups were motivated for savings. Discussions were also held to enhance women participation in the forthcoming panchayat elections.

Identification and Training of Citizen Leaders

During the institutional interventions, it was witnessed that some women and men start leading and help the village residents in developmental works of the village. Such people were identified and they were named development animators or citizen leaders. For building their capacities training were organised at the block and nyaya panchayat levels. These training included topics like concept of the 73rd Amendment to the Constitution, its main provisions and formulation of village development plan. Keeping the forthcoming panchayat elections in the year 2005 in view, attempts were made to sensitise them regarding their role in gram panchayats under voter awareness campaign so eligible and active women and men representatives were elected. Block level officials and employees participated in these training. The total number of citizen leaders is 130 in 40 intensive and non-intensive gram panchayats.

Excursions

After imparting training to the identified citizen leaders in the gram panchayats, it was found that their capacity can further be built if they see for themselves some good gram panchayats and they can give better leadership in their respective gram panchayats. For this they were taken to a model gram panchayat Beehat Gaur in Pisawan development block. They held discussion on the issues related to development with pradhan and members. After coming back from there, they formed organisations in the panchayats and made the community aware of the issues related to development, education and financial rights of the pradhans. They started interacting with block level employees in connection with developmental schemes of the village and taking initiatives related to the problems of village residents.

Women Awareness Campaign

It is necessary for social development that there is equal participation of the women of deprived sections. It is often seen that for the lack of information and negative thinking of men kin, women are left behind everywhere. Women awareness week was celebrated during the period October 25 to 31, 2004 in collaboration with Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra, Sitapur. Panchayat representatives, citizen leaders, women of groups, adolescent girls, principals, etc., participated in the week. Developing understanding during the forthcoming panchayat elections was one of the agendas of the week so maximum number of women were elected in the forthcoming panchayat elections. Another agenda of the campaign was to develop understanding of men kin, old women and adolescent girls regarding the processes of the forthcoming panchayat elections. For this contact was established in the panchayats, meetings were held and rallies taken out. This helped the women in homes in getting sensitised and they came out of homes. A total of 165 women actively participated in the women awareness week.

Meetings with Adolescent Girls and their Friends

During the interventions of with the panchayats, it was observed that participation of adolescent girls and their friends can be quite meaningful in creating better environment and enhancing participation of women in elections. Keeping this in mind, meetings were held with adolescent girls at gram panchayats, nyaya panchayat and block levels. During the meetings posters on women reservation and participation were shown to the girls to sensitise the adolescent girls on panchayat elections. This way 38 resource adolescent girls were readied in 20 gram panchayats. Adolescent girl information providers were readies in seven non-intensive gram panchayats and five groups of adolescent girls were formed.

Excursions of Adolescent Girls and Active Women

For encouraging and boosting morale of some active adolescent girls and women in the intensive intervention panchayats, a fair of adolescent girls was organised by the organisation Vatsalya at Bakshi Ka Talab in Lucknow. Twelve adolescent girls from the organisation participated in the fair. The participants in the fair were sensitised over health, education, self help groups, forthcoming panchayat elections, equal status to boys and girls, social atrocities, rights of women and equal participation through plays, songs and discussions. As a result, adolescent girls developed an understanding on panchayats, health, education and self help groups. Later the adolescent girls formed groups in their villages.

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