Gram Nirman enters into the third phase

Directors and the staffs of Diocesan Directors of Social Apostolate involved in Gram Nirman Programme have been getting to grip on the strategy and outcomes to enhance the programmatic interventions in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh.

All the partner staff from both the states have attended the orientation programme for the next phase to bring impact for the larger societal change. Since the programme is operational in Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh, the thrust was given more on programmatic elements of outcomes and results for impact.

Caritas Australia has once again restored their faith in the programme partners and the opportunity is given to excel in bringing impactful intervention in the lives of the community- especially the most marginalized sections. Gram Nirman is the core development initiatives of Caritas India in the Eastern Zone supported by Caritas Australia enters into phase 3 of operations.

For tribal Community Forest Rights Act (FRA), Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to the Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA) and Traditional Governance as well and management of local resources is the basis of livelihood and survival issues and hence legal understanding is often significantly important in the challenges that they face to claim their full rights. Hence legal cell initiative is one of the unique features of the programme and therefore all efforts needed to be put in to make it a successful model.

Creating awareness and sensitizing the community towards issues PLWD and other most vulnerable community members have been of considerable importance as collectives of these people have been formed to understand their issues and nature of struggle they face for survival. Government interface for accessing benefits and entitlements especially for them has drawn the attention of the officials through group formation and regular follow up for the entitlements.

The third-year 2019-20 will have more thrust to consolidate the results outcomes of the Programme in a more specific manner to have clarity and set sustainable parameters. Developing Collective unity through Gram Sabha participation and thrust on their understanding of Government decision-making process on government development programs for the people and efforts to access them. Though this approach will have to be fully owned by the people themselves to engage meaningfully and make it sustainable in the future.

Livelihood aspect that looks forward to impacting on the income growth of the community so that livelihood choices are strengthened. The women especially will make remarkable contribution individually as well as collectively for enhancing their income level toward sustainability. Apart from it, the agriculture process strengthening will focus on a package of practices that community adopts to be resilient in the times of anomalies be it drought, Erratic rainfall, crop failure, or declining forest resources access and government support.

The two days Orientation workshop of Gram Nirman concluded with higher aspirations of getting the acts together and ensure impact outcomes are well documented through the next year-round and so there is much more to showcase form the programme that has been vigorously implemented in 130 villages for two years but in the third year there will be 11 partners and 137 villages being supported by Caritas Australia.