In Dubiha village in Shankergarh Block of Prayagraj district of Uttar Pradesh, village elders namely, Shri Mohan Lal, Shri Ram Anoop Majhi, Shri Nand Bihari Majhi, Shri Shyamdhar Majhi and Kamlesh Majhi hold a genuine desire for change for their community. Their yearn for change is motivated solely by their empathy for their community than any material outcome. However, these village leaders were weary of raising their voices against the unlawful activities affecting the village. What they lacked was a platform and comprehensive guidance to express their collective strength and bargaining capacity. The youth in the village were unemployed with little to no education qualifications.

People of this village either work as marginal farmers or are engaged as daily wage laborers. Most people fall in the bracket of “economically vulnerable”. In addition to their destitute financial state of affairs, Desi Alcohol manufacturing is a common occupation of many families to improve their economic condition. Besides common people, many influential families were also engaged in the business of manufacturing Desi Alcohol. The ubiquity of alcohol in the village has led to a cascading effect on the community. The village has witnessed a significant surge of untoward incidents including violence. Cases of family feuds, fights, and debts have also been rising. The liquor has affected the peace and stability of the community including risking on women’s safety and division of families. Putting an end to this has been especially difficult given the income generated through its sale.

Caritas India’s Saksham program operates in this chaotic environment to restore good governance and livelihood security through the realization of government schemes and sustainable agriculture. In this regard, the Saksham program created a Village Development Committee (VDC) which ensures village safety and well-being. The committee also works to ensure the panchayat activities are implemented. Besides this, the committee also acts as a vigilante against the socially deviant elements in society.

Since the manufacturing and sale of desi liquor was rampant in society, the VDC formed under the Saksham program took cognizance of this activity and swung into action. It was the first operation carried out by the VDC of the village.

The VDC members first tried the method of dialogue with the alcohol manufacturing unit owner to amicably resolve the issue, but they did not heed to the advice and continued their sale of alcohol unabated. Left with no choice, the members decided to take the legal route to put an end to the alcohol menace. They went ahead to file an FIR (First Information Report) against the sellers and distributors of Desi Alcohol in the community. The police swung into action and stopped all the manufacturing units of alcohol in the village. The intervention by the VDC turned out to be a success story and received adulation from villagers. Peace was restored in families and women folk were greatly appreciative of the discernible change in their society.

Taking inspiration from their effective intervention, the VDC has now become active in mid-day meal monitoring in government schools of the village thus playing an invaluable part in the development of the community. Speaking on their role as changemakers, a member of the VDC, Shri Kamlesh Majhi said “Being individually good is no good unless this goodness is manifested for the community’s wellbeing.” Another member Shri Shyamdhar Majhi said, “I thought I was alone but when you take a stand for a cause people stand by your side.” “I thank the Saksham team for instilling in us the confidence and uniting us to fight for our own cause said Shri Ram Anoop Manjhi.