Objectives

• To strengthen vibrant women collectives in the form of Nari Sangh; develop women leadership; and gradually bring them at block level to strengthen their voices
• To improve access to rights and entitlements of vulnerable families by enhancing understanding on different government schemes, and regular facilitation support on women issues and claiming process
• To strengthen PRIs and local self-governance system and regularise open meetings of gram sabha for effective implementation of welfare schemes, participatory development of GPDP

Activities

• Induction/ rapport building meetings in 10 gram panchayats
• Formation of women collectives at hamlet, gram panchayat and block levels
• Staff training and training of 120 Nari Sangh leaders
• Regular monthly meeting of Mahila Mandal at village/hamlet level and that of Nari Sangh at gram panchayat level
• Quarterly meeting of Block Advisory Group
• Half yearly interface with government officials at block level
• Establishment and running of block resource centre
• Handholding support to citizens to access welfare schemes
• Quarterly audit and monitoring visit by Nari Sangh to existing PDS, anganwadi centres
• Cross exposure and learning visit of project staff and Nari Sangh leaders to other district partners to understand different aspect and approaches of local democracy projects
• Orientation of panchayat members on their roles and responsibilities and basics of Panchayat Raj Act
• Participation in open meetings of gram sabha

Expected Outcomes

• Women from marginalised families are collectivised and mobilised in the form of CBOs like Mahila Sangthan and Nari Sangh
• Ten to 12 women leaders are developed from each gram panchayat who are addressing women’s issues
• Women have easy access to government schemes and provisions
• Gram Panchayat Development Plan is formulated and is passed in the open meeting of gram sabha

Status: Ongoing

Funder: Azim Premji Foundation

Note: An earlier phase of the project was supported by Tata Trusts from 2007 to 2016.