A 3 days review-cum-planning meeting was organized from September 6-8, 2018 at Khandwa for all the Sabal partners to provide a platform where all the partners get an opportunity to come together and present their result achievements, challenges and also strategies to overcome the challenges for the duration from May – Aug 2018. It helped in inter-learning and mutual sharing to strengthen knowledge and experience following with drafting 6 monthly activities including the corresponding result achievement plan.

Review cum planning meeting commenced with a prayer by Fr. Benjamin Horo, Director Jeevan Vikas Sanstha. Followed by the prayer, Mr. Robin George – Program Manager SABAL welcomed all the participants and conducted a round of introduction. He further explained the purpose of this meeting and how this adds values to each partners effort by enhancing knowledge and experience through mutual learning and sharing. He also introduced Dr. Gerlind Melsbach Agricultural Consultant for Caritas Germany who has come to extend her support for strengthening and enhancing Sabal initiatives.

Thereafter, Dr. Saju MK, West Zone Manager Caritas India conducted the objective setting with the help of the participants by encouraging them to present their views about the significance and need of such review meets and how it helps them to build their capacities and strengthen their knowledge and skills. Few of the points for a fruitful programme set were –

• How far we lived up to the promises of the donor?
• What are the activities achieved and what are the gaps for improvement?
• Participatory decisions and changes by each partner contributing to the commonality of Sabal achievement.
• Constructive criticism with suggestions.

All the four partners starting from Khandwa Diocesan Social Services (KDSS), Jeevan Vikas Sanstha (JVS), Spandan & Dayasagar Social Center (DSC) presented their result achievements along with challenges & learnings during the first day of the review which was accompanied by suggestions, recommendations and experience sharing simultaneously by all the other partner staff which included directors, coordinators, field supervisors and the grassroots workers. The partners also exhibited stall on forest base produce collected by Korkus, produce from the backyard nutrition garden, indigenous variety of millets and photographs of interventions. JVS team also presented some folk songs during the tea break for all the participants.

The second and third day of the programme was devoted for more concrete planning in the area of agriculture development & natural resource management which was facilitated by Dr. Gerlind Melbach & Dr. Saju MK. Dr. Gerlind during the course of her stay in Khandwa for supporting the Sabal programme has got an opportunity to visit two partners project areas which will be instrumental to develop some appropriate plans and activities for the agri-based interventions for Khandwa partners which includes (KDSS & Spandan). Same will also be practised for the Amravati partners (JVS & DSC)

The review meeting concluded on the third day with a word of gratitude by Mr. Mukund Deshmukh, Sabal APM to all the participants for active participation and cooperation throughout the 3 days programme. He also personally expressed thanks to Dr. Gerlind and Dr. Saju for facilitating the pith of the programme and helping to develop some concrete plan for Sabal.