More than 30% women increased their participation in Gram Sabha exclaimed partners of Gram Nirman programme in Jharkhand. Similarly, the decision-making power of the community has increased and with capacitated Gram Sabha leaders. These are some of the achievements shared by the partners at the Gram Nirman Cluster Programme review organised by Caritas India at Charnebera Namkum, Jharkhand from March 12 -13, 2019.

Gram Nirman is operational in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh to support the tribal communities for their socio-economic wellbeing. Its three-tier objective is to improve access of tribal communities to various entitlements and manage resources through village level institutions; increase 20% income of the targeted 60% marginalised farmers; ensure recognition and participation of 70% marginalised communities in the decision-making process.

All the partners have worked tremendously to achieve the programme aims and objectives. Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) have been formed, strengthened and made functional to ensure improved access to basic entitlements of populace belong to most vulnerable sections of the society. “Gram Nirman” considering one of the cluster programmes of Caritas India has brought in that thrust to enable access to basic entitlements by building capacity to manage local resources with acknowledging the participation and contribution of most marginalised section of the community, especially tribal living in the vulnerable ecosystem.

Mr. Pran Ranjan from Society for Promotion of Wastelands Development (SPWD) being the observer, gave more focus on the systematic function Gram Sabha. The systematic functional Gram Sabha is the institution that can ensure the wholistic development of the community. He suggested that all the Gram Nirman partners should give more focus on the convergence of schemes and put their demand with proper evidence to the respective departments to expect necessary action.

Mr. Alex, Thematic Manager of Caritas India on Tribal Development shared about the Caritas India’s Key Strategic Pillars (KSPs) with all the partners.

He explained the importance of the programme outcomes which contributes to the organizational mandate and commitment.

All the partners strategized to Identify and promote volunteers in each programme area specifically for creating awareness and facilitating into the community for monthly Gram Sabha (apart from the 4 Gram Sabha notified by the Govt in a year). It was also decided to build capacities of Identified community leaders, reform and strengthen standing committee, Job distribution and Quarterly Review meeting with stakeholders.