The Organization: – Gandhi Manav Kalyan Society (Referred GMKS) is a Non-Profit making, Non-Government, Voluntary Organization, working with 21000 vulnerable and deprived Tribal families of 350 villages in Tribal dominated area Jhadol, Kotra and Gogunda blocks of Udaipur district and Aspur, Sagwara block of Dungarpur district of Rajasthan.

GMKS is actively focused on five “J” Programme to enhance the livelihood of people and Natural resources of the region. These five “J” covers: Jal (Water), Jangal (Forests), Jameen (Land), Jan(People), Janwar (Animal).

Mission of GMKS is to organize and empower the tribal and marginalized section of the society through self-help initiatives. They can develop their own capabilities and manage resources to cater larger needs of the sustainable development process.

GMKS aims to empower poorest and venerable community to deal with their own resources and practices for seeking sustainable livelihood, quality education, improved health and hygiene and nutrition to all.

GMKS has experienced that no developmental program could be sustain without peoples participation. Therefore, for increasing participation / partnership GMKS has been engaging itself in mass contact, built village institutions such as SHGs, Kisan clubs, water user groups, Gram Vikas committees, FPCs, Farmers producers organizations and Bhomat Vikas Parishad etc.

In the process of GMKS’s development work, Organization mobilized the tribal communities to come jointly and form forum, where they can raise their voices for their own rights and local developmental issues. As the result of this, the people of Bhomat region formed called Bhomat Vikas Manch with the support by GMKS in the year 1998. Bhomat is traditional name of this region and thus the collective action of the tribes called Bhomat Vikas Manch (Bhomat Development Forum). The forum has total 2100 family members from 120 villages of Jhadol and Gogunda blocks. Most of the members of the group are tribal and few of them belong to Schedule caste/Dalit.

Main objectives of the BVM

• Make efforts for women Empowerment and women Rights among tribal communities.
• Identify local leaders from community itself.
• Strengthen Panchayati Raj Institution through people’s participation and ensure active participation of women.
• Raise the issues of village/community development and women health
• Promotion and Marketing of village products, organic products and cash crops to strengthen and sustain village economy
• Make efforts for individual identity and sustainability of the forum
• Awareness generation and Advocacy for village developmental issues

Jhadol is one of the most populated blocks in udaipur district, but rather than being crowded, most of the population is scattered across the Arawali hills in smaller villages and majority of the population belongs to ST/SC. This means most of the population lives in areas where development and infrastructure, like paved roads and telecommunications, is either a recent introduction or is still planned for upcoming projects.

In furthering the GMKS Community development works the Organization mobilize the vulnerable communities to come together and form a Munch ( Forum) where they can raise jointly their voice for their rights and village and area related developmental issues. As the result of this in the year 1998 Bhomat Vikas Manch was established. One of the area where GMKS works called Bhomat , Bhomat is the historical name of this particular region .

Before stepping forward GMKS would love to give a flavour of Munch called Bhomat Vikas Manch. This represents grassroots participation. It is the combination of three tiers. First one is called Village development Committee (VDC). VDC is at village level in which every member of females belongs to village are member. Here the issues directly related to village like drinking water, education, Primary health, encroachments and Governance etc. This is Panchayat level federation. Here they raise issues and find solutions with Panchayat and local officials. Second one is at Zone level (Zone is the cluster of adjoining 8 to 10 Panchayats).At zone level Federation 7 members are nominated by each panchayat level federation. This Committee raise the issues related to area including social issues like Forests, Watershed, Agriculture, Motana ,Child labour Child Migration and Liquor related problems and move towards solution with Panchayat samiti representative for better governance. Third and final is at area /Block level where 5 Members are member from each Zone federation and raise the issues and find solution in consultation with Panchayat Samitti (Block) Members. This called Bhomat Vikas Manch which is primarily play a suggestive, Supportive and an important role in better self-governance.

Village Panchayats are the key institution for overall development of the village. Since1990, GMKS is working for strengthening Panchayat Raj System. After 73rd constitutional amendment the organization fully involved in the process of strengthening PRIs at Village Panchayat level (Gram Panchayat ), Block level (Panchayat Samiti)and at district level(Zila Parishad). This amendment provides 33% membership to women and reservation to weaker section/caste and tribal in all three levels. This amendment also provide an opportunity to promote bottom up planning and an Indicative list of 29 items has been given in eleventh schedule of the constitution and panchayats are expected to play an effective role in planning ,Monitoring and implementation.

So it was high time and challenge for GMKS to aware community and villagers towards this futuristic opportunity and make them efficient for the development of the village and region.

Strengthening of Panchayati raj institutions:

It is essential to have strong Gram Sabhas in order to empower and strengthen Panchayati raj system. Such strength comes from peoples’ participation and partnership. Gandhi Manav Kalyan Society has been giving great emphasis on peoples’ participation in the PRIs system. In the course of meetings with Ward Panchs and Sarpanchs and also during their training programme, discussions are held on their rights and responsibilities in detail and besides this, the issues concerning development of the area and various developmental schemes and programmes are also discussed with them. The importance of peoples’ participation has been in the discussion constantly which has helped in raising issues and problems quite strongly in various meetings. Moreover, the institution has also organized training programmes on the subject for Ward Panchs and Sarpanchs.

The initiatives necessary to take for community organization are:

• Building awareness among the community
• Gender sensitization
• To develop Vision
• Trainings to upgrade skills
• To develop Leadership among group
• To strengthen Gram Sabha
• Identify the issues related to development
• To develop sense of responsibility

Role of GMKS in strengthening Governance.-

• Community Organization
• Monthly Meetings at Village, Cluster and area level
• Awareness Camps on different governance related issues
• Leadership Training
• Panch Trainings
• Sarpanch trainings
• Women ward panch and Sarpanch Trainings
• Strengthening Gram Sabha
• Technical trainings
• Gender sensitization at all levels
• Strengthening Gram Sabha
• Drive for Balika Shiksha
• Celebrations of International Women day, Environment day
• Publication of material related to governance and development
• Creating healthy atmosphere for healthy coordination between community, Peoples Organization and PRIs for live governance.
• Regular follow-up.
• Social Security schemes

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