“The impact of three years’ intervention of the program is very much visible in the lives of target communities. The partners have built-up long-term acquaintance and partnership with the communities and stakeholders. There emerged a lot of people’s movement and government engagement for the upliftment of tribal and Dalit communities. Overall, the program had very positive results and outcome,” said Fr. Jolly the Assistant Director, Caritas India.

Gram Nirman is a community-led and development program initiated in 2017 with the support of Caritas Australia. Currently, the program is being implemented in three states of the country (Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand & Delhi) in partnership with 12 grassroots NGOs. The objective of the program is to empower the marginalized and vulnerable communities especially the Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh states of India.

Considering the immense learning and achievements from the program in the last few years, Caritas India received one more year extension for Gram Nirman program as the transit phase. To commence and orient the partners, Caritas India organized a virtual orientation workshop for her 12 partners of three states on 8^th Oct 2020. It was attended by Partner Directors, Project Coordinators, animators and other staff.

The orientation workshop commenced with a prayer led by Mr. Cosmos Joseph State officer, Chhattisgarh followed by the welcome note and context setting by Mr. Erose Ekka, State Officer, Jharkhand.

The further proceeding was marked with an opening address by Fr. Jolly the assistant Directors, Caritas India, who admired the partners for their efforts in creating a change in the lives of the tribal and Dalit population. He said that the impact of the program is very much visible in the beneficiaries and stakeholders at a different level. He concluded with a note of appreciation and motivation for the partners.

Mr. Samir Stephen, Operations, manager, CI threw light on the implementation part of the program. He emphasized on the need to prepare the ground for a smooth transit so that village institutions and community take up the process of change forward on their own. He also explained each activity of the program in alignment with output and outcome integrating various examples from the past intervention.

There was also an orientation session for the participants on Child protection facilitated by Ms. Rashi, Officer-Child rights, CI. She spoke on various types of violence that can be committed against children in the community and how to protect them. She also highlighted some of the child rights and how a community can be a great support for children in helping them exercise these rights.

Participants were also given input on project documentation and reporting by Mr. Cosmos Joseph and Erose Ekka, state offices, Chhattisgarh & Jharkhand.  Each project document format was explained to them on how and what to fill in those formats as per the Donor compliance.

The last session was focused on orienting partners on Exit & Entry Strategy by Mr. Pradipta, Zone Thematic Officer, CI. He spelt out various steps or methods for partners to understand how to make an exit from the current project areas and make an entry to the new project areas in the coming year.  He also explained the role of ABCD approach (Asset Based Community Driven) and M&E planning for exit and entry in any program.

The workshop came to an end with a vote of thanks extended by Mr. Erose Ekka, state office, Jharkhand. He thanked all the Directors and project staff for their presence and making the workshop interactive.