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.