AROEHAN is creating public awareness about the silk industry and get government subsidies for farmers. In collaboration with the Silk Development Officer, a study tour was conducted for farmers at Pimpurna village in Dabhosa Gram Panchayat, Mokhada.
In honour of Savitribai Phule on her 127th death anniversary, AROEHAN organised a show of “Vhay, Mee Savitribai”, a one-act play written and directed by renowned theatre personality Sushama Deshpande. “Vhay, Mee Savitri…” presents the story of life and work of the 19th century social reformers Savitribai Phule and Jotirao Phule. Sushama Deshpande wrote this script 25 years ago. She has presented over 2500 shows as a solo-performance at several places in Maharashtra and elsewhere in India. The play is translated in 5-6 other Indian languages. Very recently its English version is also staged.
The show was organised on 10th March 2024 at Mokhada Ashram school.
The play was performed by the brilliant actresses Shilpa Sane and Shubhangi Bhujbal, who are famous popular actors on Marathi television channels. Savitribai Phule and Jotiba Phule are simultaneously played by the actors alongside other significant people in their journey of revolution. The play presents different phases of Savitribai’s life through monologues, actions, and descriptions. While the acting left the audience spellbound, the struggles of Savitri and Jotiba Phule depicted in the play left one speechless. From young Savitri enjoying her childhood to her marriage with Jotiba, the journey towards becoming the student herself and then becoming a pivotal part of women’s education, each act was gracefully carried by actors. Other people such as Sagunabai, Tatya Saheb Fatima Shaikh, Yashwantrao, Dnyanoba Sasane and many others who played a pivotal role in Savitri and Jotirao’s journey were also depicted in the play.
Jotiba Phule and Savitribai were among the first social reformers in pre-independent India who pioneered new paths and opportunities for the socially disadvantaged, including women, Dalit communities, widows and strived to abolish discrimination and unfair treatment of people based on caste and gender.
Ms. Sushma Deshpande accompanied the two young actors to Mokhada for this performance. Nandita Patkar, who performs the English version of the play was also present. After the performance, Sushama Deshpande interacted with the audience. She said that she has tried to make this play as accessible as possible to all and anyone can present this play without her prior permission as Savitribai belongs to all. She told the young girls of the Mokhada Ashram School that one 11 year old school girl from Nandurbar district presents the Pawari version. She asked the Mokhada audience to try and stage the play in the local Adivasi languages.
AROEHAN conducted a ‘Capacity Building of Frontline Health Workers’ workshop for Anganwadi workers across 6 Gram Panchayats across Dahanu. The two-day workshop was facilitated by Mr. Shailesh Dhekale and Mr. Swapnil Vyavahare from SATHI Organisation, Pune. The first day of training was kickstarted by asking participants to introduce themselves by their first name and their mother’s name, to symbolise the bond between mother and child. This was followed by a slew of innovative activities to learn about human anatomy and roles of internal organs.
The facilitators talked about the body growth and associated structures of multiple organs that form the entire body system. AROEHAN Team sang and enacted the song ‘Me Aye Jaduwala’, written by Dr.Mohan Des, with Anganwadi workers which is a whimsical way to remember the crucial information about body parts and also to teach others.
On day 2, facilitators covered various types of germs (bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites), the diseases they cause, and the antibodies and medicines available to treat Anganwadi workers. They spoke of the indicators of identifying malnutrition and how as frontline health workers it can be combated.
During the course of two days, the participants were encouraged to talk about the challenges in their line of work. They raised serious concerns like the epidemic of child marriages, reluctance of the community to take medical help, superstitions, underage pregnancies, systematic challenges to avail necessary schemes to ensure safe motherhood, apathy of some public representatives and government officials, among other concerns.
AROEHAN activists along with Anganwadi workers, performed a play to raise awareness about Nutrition Rehabilitation Centers (NRC) and its importance to combat malnutrition among children. The purpose of such training is to ensure optimal growth of pregnant and lactating mothers and holistic development of young children as well as to expand the capacities of frontline health workers. 36 Angwandi workers were present from Agwan, Ashagad, Asave, Chari Kotbi, Raitali Chandwad and Ranshet Vadhana Gram Panchayats in Dahanu.
दिनांक १५ आणि १६ फेब्रुवारी रोजी पंचायत समिती डहाणू आणि आरोहन संस्था यांच्या समन्वयाने “आमचा गाव आमचा विकास” या विषयावर ग्राम पंचायत सरपंच, उपसरपंच, सदस्य, पेसा ग्रामकोष समिती, ग्रामसेवक आणि ग्राम विकास अधिकारी यांची दोन दिवसीय कार्यशाळा के.एल.पोंदा हायस्कूल, डहाणू येथे आयोजित करण्यात आली.सदर प्रशिक्षणासाठी रिसोर्स ट्रेनिंग अँड डेव्हलपमेंट सेंटर येथून दत्ता गुरव यांना आमंत्रित करण्यात आले होते. ह्या प्रशिक्षणासाठी डहाणू तालुक्यातील एकूण ४३ ग्रामपंचायतीमधील सरपंच, उपसरपंच, सदस्य तसेच पेसा ग्रामकोष समिती सदस्य आणि ग्राम विकास अधिकारी असे एकूण १२८ लोकांची उपस्थिती होती.
प्रशिक्षणासाठी पंचायत समिती डहाणूच्या गट विकास अधिकारी पल्लवी सस्ते, सहाय्यक गट विकास अधिकारी प्रशांत जाधव, सभापती प्रवीण गवळी, उपसभापती पिंटू गहला, ग्रामपंचायत विस्तार अधिकारी संदीप जाधव व संतोष बेलखडे आणि पेसा समन्वयक पंकज धांगडा आदी उपस्थित होते.
प्रशिक्षणाच्या पहिल्या दिवशी दत्ता गुरव सरांनी ग्रामपंचायत पातळीवरील व्यवस्था, कार्य, निधी, यंत्रणा याबाबत माहिती दिली. त्यानंतर गाव गरजांचा शोध कसा पहावा, गाव विकासासाठी कोणता निधी उपलब्ध होतो, गाव विकास योजना निधी, या विषयावर मार्गदर्शन केले.
दुसऱ्या दिवशीच्या कार्यशाळेची सुरुवात आदल्या दिवसाची उजळणी उपस्थित असलेल्या सहभागी यांनी केली. दुसऱ्या दिवशी, गाव विकासाचे विविध आराखडे समजून घेण्यासाठी सहभागी यांचे गट तयार करून त्यांना ग्राम पंचायत विकास आराखडा, समृध्दी आराखडा, स्वच्छ्ता आराखडा, आरोग्य आराखडा, पेसा गाव आरखडा, महिला व बाल कल्याण व ग्रामनिधी आरखडा तयार करायला सांगितले तसेच आपण त्या त्या आराखड्यात कोणती विकास कामे घेतली, निधी कसा वापरला या बद्दल प्रत्येक गटाने सादरीकरण केले.आरखडे सादर केल्या नंतर ह्यावर इतर योजनांचा समन्वय कसा घडवून आणू शकतो याबाबत सोप्या पद्धतीने दत्ता सरांनी समजावून सांगितले.
प्रशिक्षणाच्या शेवटी उपस्थित राहिलेल्या सहभागी यांनी आपले मनोगत व्यक्त केले. काही सहभागी यांनी आराखडा तयार करण्याची पद्धत खूप सोप्या पद्धतीने समजली आणि त्यांचा आत्मविश्वास वाढला असे म्हणाले, आरखडा तयार करताना येणाऱ्या अडचणी सांगितल्या, काहींनी सीएसआर फंड चे नियोजन व त्यांचे अनुभव सांगितले. घोलवड हे महाराष्ट्रातील तिसरे मधाचे गाव म्हणून घोषित केले गेेले त्याबद्दल घोलवड चे सरपंच यांनी आपले अनुभव सांगितले आणि आपण ही नैसर्गिक संसाधनांचा शाश्वत वापर करून आपल्या गावाचा विकास करू शकतो असे इतरांना आवाहन केले. उपस्थितांनी आजचे मुख्य प्रशिक्षक, आरोहन आणि पंचायत समितीचे आभार व्यक्त केले.
On the 15th and 16th of February, AROEHAN conducted a two-day workshop on the theme of “Our Village Our Development”, facilitated by Mr. Datta Gurav from Resource Training and Development Centre at KL Ponda High School. This programme was attended by 128 individuals, including Sarpanch, Sub-Sarpanch, and members of the PESA Gramme Kosh Committee, as well as Village Development Officers from 43 Gram Panchayats in Dahanu Taluka.
On the first day of training, Mr. Gurav explained the arrangements, work, funding, and systems at the Gram Panchayat level. Following that, guidance was given on how to identify village requirements, what finances are available for village development, and how to support village development plans.
On the second day, participants were divided into groups to learn about the various plans for village development. They were asked to prepare the Gram Panchayat Development Plan, Prosperity Plan, Cleanliness Plan, Health Plan, PESA Village Plan, Women and Child Welfare Plan, and Gram Nidhi Plan, as well as elaborate on the development they would like to see in those plans. Each group delivered a presentation regarding their work and how the funds were used. After presenting the drafts, Mr. Dutta described in simple terms how different schemes could potentially be interlinked.
Participants stated that they were able to visualise their aspirations for their villages which boosted their confidence. They also opened up about problems they have encountered while drafting plans for village development and also about their experience with CSR fund planning. Active participation was seen among participants and their queries were followed through in the sessions. The Sarpanch of Gholvad discussed his experience with Gholwad being named the third honey village in Maharashtra and urged others to strengthen their community via the sustainable use of natural resources.
Panchayat Samiti Dahanu’s Group Development Officer Pallavi Chet, Assistant Group Development Officer Prashant Jadhav, Chairman Praveen Gawli, Deputy Chairman Pintu Gahla, Gram Panchayat Extension Officers Sandeep Jadhav and Santosh Belkhade and Pesa Coordinator Pankaj Dhangda and many others were present for the training.
हा ब्लॉग मराठीत वाचण्यासाठी खालील लिंकवर क्लिक करा -> आमचा गाव, आमचा विकास – ग्रामपंचायत सदस्यांसाठी प्रशिक्षण
दिनांक २८ आणि २९ नोव्हेंबर २०२३ रोजी जिल्हा परिषद प्राथमिक शाळा सभागृह आवारपाडा, कोटबी( ग्राम पंचायत चरी- कोटबी) येथे ग्राम पंचायत सरपंच, उपसरपंच आणि सदस्य यांचे प्रशिक्षण आयोजित करण्यात आले होते. ह्या दोन दिवसीय प्रशिक्षणात आमचा गाव – आमचा विकास ह्या विषयावर मार्गदर्शन करण्यासाठी रिसोर्स ट्रेनिंग अँड डेव्हलपमेंट सेंटर (RSCD) येथील दत्ता गुरव यांना आमंत्रित करण्यात आले होते. सदर प्रशिक्षणातील काही सत्रे आरोहन चे कार्यकर्ते भालचंद्र साळवे आणि स्नेहा गमरे यांनी घेतले. ह्या प्रशिक्षणासाठी डहाणू आणि कासा विभागातील एकूण ७ ग्रामपंचायतीतील (रानशेत – वधना, चरी – कोटबि, रायतली- चांदवड, सारणी, मोडगाव, दाभाडी, किन्हवली) सरपंच आणि उपसरपंच, ग्राम पंचायत सदस्य, पेसा अध्यक्ष, ग्रामस्थ, पाडा समिती सदस्य यांचा सहभाग होता.
दत्ता गुरव यांनी ग्राम पंचायत पातळीवरील व्यवस्था, कार्य, निधी, यंत्रणा याबाबत माहिती दिली. त्यानंतर गाव गरजांचा शोध कसा घ्यावा, गाव विकासासाठी कोणता निधी उपलब्ध होतो, ग्राम पंचायत विकास आराखडे अधिक सोप्या पद्धतीने समजून घेण्यासाठी सहभागी लोकांचे गट तयार करून प्रत्येक गटाला ग्राम पंचायत विकास आराखडा, समृध्दी आराखडा, स्वच्छ्ता आराखडा तयार करायला सांगितले तसेच आपण प्रत्येक आराखड्यात कोणत्या समस्या घेतल्या आणि निधीचा वापर कसा केला याचे प्रत्येक गटाने सादरीकरण केले. आरोहन तर्फे स्वशासन या विषयवार काम करणारे कार्यकर्ते भालचंद्र साळवे आणि स्नेहा गमरे यांनी पेसा कायद्याचे महत्व, पेसा गावचा आरखडा, शाळा व्यवस्थापन समिती, गाव विकासाला उपलब्ध निधी, त्याचे स्त्रोत व त्याचा योग्य वापर यावर मार्गदर्शन केले.
प्रशिक्षणाच्या शेवटी, सहभागी कार्यकर्त्यांनी शाळेला मिळणारा निधी, अंगणवाडी ला मिळणारा निधी, समृद्धी आरखडा याबाबतचे आपले अनुभव आणि विचार मांडले. कार्यक्रमाचा समारोप आणि आभार प्रदर्शन चरी – कोटबी ग्राम पंचायत च्या सरपंच वसुंधरा कलांगडा यांनी केली. आपले मनोगत व्यक्त करताना त्यांनी उपस्थित असलेल्या सहभागींना ग्रामसभेचे महत्व, निधीच्या योग्य नियोजनाचे महत्व सांगितले आणि ग्राम विकास कार्यक्रमात तसेच गाव विकास आराखडे तयार करण्याच्या प्रक्रियेत जास्तीत जास्त लोकांनी सहभाग घ्यावा असे आव्हान केले.
1) निधीचे नियोजन सोप्या पद्धतीने समजले
2) ग्राम पंचायत मधील सर्व सदस्यांचा समन्वय असणे महत्वाचे जेणेंकरून गाव विकासाची कामे व्यवस्थित पार पाडता येतील
3) सर्वांनी ग्राम सभेला हजर असावे त्याने गावात कोणत्या गोष्टी सुरु आहेत ह्याची माहिती मिळेल, सरपंचावरील अविश्वास दुर होईल.
A training was organized for Gram Panchayat Sarpanch, Deputy Sarpanch and members at Zilla Parishad Primary School Auditorium, Awarpada, Kotbi (Gram Panchayat Chari- Kotbi). The two-day training was facilitated by Datta Gurav from Resource Training and Development Centre and the theme of the workshop was Our Village – Our Development. AROEHAN Governance activists Bhalchandra Salve and Sneha Gamre guided some of the training topics. The theme of the workshop was. A total of 7 Gram Panchayats (Ranshet – Wadhana, Chari – Kotbi, Raitli – Chandwad, Sarani, Modgaon, Dabhadi, Kinhwali) of Dahanu and Kasa Divisions, Sarpanch and Sub-Sarpanch, Gram Panchayat members, PESA President, Villagers, Pada Committee members were part for this training.
Datta Gurav provided information about the job, finances, and procedures at the Gram Panchayat level. A group activity was conducted where Datta Gurav asked them to prepare an estimated gram panchayat development plan, prosperity plan, and sanitation plan. We looked at how to identify the needs of the village, what funds are available for village development and gram panchayat development plans. Every group presented the problems they had chosen and their planning methods. On behalf of AROEHAN, Governance activists Bhalchandra Salve and Sneha Gamre gave guidance on the importance of PESA, PESA Village, facilitating School Management Committee (SMC), funds available for village development and how to avail them.
At the end of the training, the participants expressed their thoughts and experience with school funds, anganwadis, and Samrudhi budget. Vasundhra Kalangada, Sarpanch of Chari-Kotbu Gram Panchayat delivered a vote of thanks to AROEHAN and expressed her thoughts on the importance of Gram Sabha. She encouraged the locals to participate in village development programmes and spoke of the significance of proper segregation of funds.
Wild edible vegetables or plants play a significant role in the sustenance of tribal people residing in forested areas. Even in difficult conditions such as drought and famine, wild plants are known to be edible and readily available. Such wild species are recognized in the same way that cultivated species, and they play a vital role in resolving the world’s numerous food problems. The tribal areas of Palghar district are known for the vegetation of such wild species which serve as an important source of nutrition and livelihood for the local tribes. A Taluka Level Wild Vegetable Festival Competition was organised by AROEHAN in Jawhar. AROEHAN organises similar events under the programme ‘National Nutrition Month’ – POSHAN MAAH, with the main goal of reducing malnutrition in mind. The wild vegetable competition was organised to emphasise the importance of wild vegetables, to improve the usage of vegetables in everyday diet, and to promote livelihood options for the locals. As many as 20 self-help groups participated from the area. Anjali Daroge, dietitian of the NRC department, retired professor and social activist Dr. Pragya Kulkarni, Pandurang Pilane, a local vegetable connoisseur and teacher, Manoj Kamdi, a trainer and social activist of Yashada Sanstha, played a crucial role in selecting the winners.
The Saptshringi Self-Association Group of Jamsar got the second position, while the Mayuri Self-Association Group of Kashivali bagged the third position. All the participating women were felicitated by giving certificates of appreciation. The first prize went to Sonali Mahila Sahat Gat of Kalidhond who presented a massive total of 155 recipes made of various wild vegetables. More than 500 people visited the exhibition including students from schools and colleges to acquire knowledge about wild vegetables. J.S.W. representative Santosh Mahajan, head of the Millet Programme Foundation Ganpat Bheskar, and director of the Kharonda Farmers Producers Association were also present at the festival.
AROEHAN organised an exposure visit for the adolescent girls of Mokhada to the Zilla Parishad Collector’s Officer in Palghar. Visits such as this are instrumental for the growth of tribals as it gives them a chance to connect and learn about environments that are different from their own. 27 out of 37 girls visited Palghar City for the first time. They also built a platform for themselves to voice their concerns about their communities in front of Federal Government Employees and hope to remedy the overlooked issues.
We were greeted by Extension Officer Govind Dhanga who gave brief information about different departments in the building. We visited the Education Department where the education minister and deputy education minister of the department addressed the group. They informed about initiatives like Manav Vikas Mission through which girls can get free bicycles if they don’t have transportation means to schools, free bus services, etc. The girls raised a question that there aren’t Zilla Parishad schools beyond 7th grade in their areas. That has stopped education for most of the students and also increases the risk of child marriages in their hamlets. The minister retorted that they had been given the go-ahead to open high schools in a few tribal villages and that operations would begin gradually.
We visited the Mahila Vs. Bal Kalyan office, where the Extension Officer, Anganwadi Chief, and District Programme Officer Praveen Bhusare were present. The activists and attendees voiced their concerns which has been affecting their communities. Grievances about child marriages still occurring, Amrut Aahar not being given in all Anganwadis, lack of access to government programmes, and school closures were brought to light. They requested them to personally visit isolated hamlets and review the situation. We met with Zilla Adhyaksha Prakash Krushna Nikam and COO Bhanudas Palve who originate from tribal areas. Lastly, the group mobilised at AROEHAN’s Palghar Project Office for a session by Aakruti Kendra from Boisar. The girls were explained about the importance and scope of Self-Help Groups and different kind of organic products that have emerged from tribal areas to the city.
The Provisions of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, or PESA is a law enacted by the Government of India for ensuring self-governance through traditional Gram Sabhas for people living in the Scheduled Areas of India. Panchayati Raj is the system of local self-governance of villages in rural India. It consists of the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) tasked with, economic development, strengthening social justice, and implementation of Central and State Government Schemes, through which self-governance is realised. On April 24, 1993, the Constitutional (73rd Amendment) Act of 1992 came into force in India to provide constitutional status to the Panchayati Raj Institutions. AROEHAN is celebrating PESA and Panchayat Raj Awareness Month from March 15th to April 2023 in accordance with the 25th anniversary of the declaration of the PESA Act, and the 30th anniversary of the Panchayat Raj Act.
We conducted awareness programmes in 150 hamlets of Mokhada, Jawhar, and Dahanu. In order to raise social consciousness in society, awareness rallies were held by AROEHAN with the participation of students and locals. AROEHAN conducted an exhibition for locals of the IEC material including booklets and posters on the Forest Rights Act, Ration Dakkshata Samiti, Maharashtra Gramin Yojana, Gram Sabha Kosh Samiti, and MGNREGA.
On April 11th, a PESA awareness programme was held in Banachiwadi. AROEHAN’s Pada Samiti and the newly elected PESA Gram Kosh Committee facilitated the programme. Sarpanch, Deputy Chairman, Zilla Parishad members, Agriculture Assistants, Anganwadi workers, and Gram Panchayat members were present in the programme. A Shivar Pheri was conducted to assess the needs in the village for the preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). In the presence of 55 villagers, we raised awareness about the PESA Act and the rights and entitlements of the residents of tribal villages.