On 19-20 July, a two-day workshop was organized with the core members of community-based organisations (CBOs) in Purnea district, in Bihar, under Caritas India prgramme Roshni. This was facilitated by Mr. Ignatius Besra, Block Project Manager- Bihar Gram Swaraj Society, Panchayat Raj department. The sessions covered topics on Right to Education and Panchayat Raj Institution. The rights and duties of the voters and the importance of participating in the Gram Sabha were emphasized, taking them through the affirmative action and policy for weaker sections, and Scheduled caste and Tribes of India.

While discussing the Right To Education (RTE) Act, Mr. Besra stressed on the participation of the community in monitoring the implementation of the RTE Act in schools, by tracking how the educational schemes are faring in the schools, where their children study. “The School Management Committees are effective platforms for developing school development plans to improve the quality of education, in which the parents should participate,” he stressed.

The sessions were conducted with the help of videos to enable better understanding among the members; in total 117 CBO members and 30 adolescent boys and girls participated. Fr. Francis Tirkey, Director- Purnea Social Service Society, and programme partner encouraged the parents and children to participate in the Village Level Child Protection Committees too, and utilize the available decision-making spaces.

These trainings are part of the series of hamlet level trainings being conducted for the CBO members, under Caritas India ROSHNI programme, being implemented in Purnea, Munger, Madhubani, and Rohtas districts, since 2013, in hamlets with high Mahadalit population. The initiative aims to achieve good governance through rights awareness, people’s empowerment and dialogue with the duty bearers; thereby enabling access to education, health and other development measures by the communities.