Community Mobilisation
Mobilising the community is a critical aspect of achieving “sustainability” of development works initiated. As different development programs are initiated and run in Education, Health, Agriculture and Vocational Training – there are obvious changes in the way of living of the villagers.
The community’s response to development programs reflect a stepped and staggered acceptance-
Community Mobilisation helps in all stages of the Integrated Village development program from the initial stages of general skepticism and reluctance – to gaining initial acceptance – to participating in the programs to taking the onus for continuing the new way of improved living.
In fact at each step, community mobilisation helps in fuelling demand for the services, which in turn helps in increasing the level of services.
It is with this in mind that the main objectives of the community mobilisation on integrated villagedevelopment were to:
1. To familiarize villagers on the development projects undertaken.
2. To support the villagers with the project activities.
3. Mutually work together with the villagers.
Community is mobilized by formation of SHGs (Self Help Groups) and Village Development Committees.
Self Help Groups
Formation of Self Help groups of women and village development committee is aimed togenerate demand from community on the services provided through the Integrated village development program.
The women are encouraged to collectively gather at a place and discuss on theaccessibility ofservices extended by the Shamayita Math and to increase the effectiveness of services through positive response from villagers for whom the services are meant.
Prior to formation of group, the women never collectively sat to discuss and share information on the develop aspects.Initial work of motivating thesewomen was an uphill task. Lack of knowledge of Gondi, the locallanguage and absence of habit of sitting onsuch issues as development posedthe initial hurdles that was eventually,broken through regular visits andcontacts. These continuous meetings have created forwomen a space to discuss the healthservices through Hospital on wheels,children’s education and householdsanitation to combat occurrence of diseases common to the area.
There are 11 SHGs formed across eight villages with about 10-15 members in each group. SHGs once formed are to meet at least once a month. These meetings are ensured by the field coordinators of the Math.
At these meetings various issues are discussed-
- Family health Awareness-Husbands, wives and children’s health, Cleanliness of house,
- Food and diet.
- Meaning and need of SHG
- Encouraging and tracking for Hospital on Wheels (HOW) service
- Maintaining Information of DAY, Time, PLACE, ARRIVAL & DEPARTURE of mobile hospital
- Publicizing and messaging for HOW service-Explain the existing facility in HOW
- Contacting to patients house by VHW/SHG
- Evaluation of last meeting-courtyard
- Immunization
- Meaning of Immunization
- Risk and safety from concerned diseases
- Developing better Hygiene practice
- Bathing with clean water and wiping immediately
- Separate cloths for works and other things
- Drinking water
Village Development Committees
Village Development Committees have been formed in the eight model villages. Thecommittees are formed with the aim to strengthen community initiatives in the collaborativeinterventions of Shamayita Math and the sponsoring organization.
VDCs meetings are done once in a month. These are coordinated by the field coordinators of the Math. Purpose of conducting the VDC meeting is firstly to apprise the villagers of theproject work undertaken in their villages and incorporate their suggestions and decisionsthat is indispensable for implementation.
The discussions in these meetings are recorded as minutes. Corrective actions where necessary based on suggestions are incorporated.
Several specific developmental requests come from the community in these meetings. These are evaluated and presented to the sponsor organization for approval. After approval these are implemented.
