EFFORTS BY KUNARIYA GRAM PANCHAYAT IN ENABLING SOCIAL CHANGE.

The panchayat can engage in two types of work –infrastructure and service related .while the former can be solved by handing out the required contracts, the latter can be possible only with practical solutions. We felt like the voice of the youth was unheard earlier and provided provisions to include their participation within our public discussions ‘’

Suresh bhai chhanga, sarpanch –kunariya group panchayat.

When Mr. Suresh chhanga was elected in 2017 as the sarpanch, Bhuj block there were many challenges before him. Problems such as lack of public participation at every level and decision-making by limited people in the panchayat were the first things to seriously tackle, A lack of co- ordination among local government officials problems with malnutrition,    irregular local services by    panchayat unemployment , and high drop –out rate of girls from schools were some of the other glaring issues coming  from a   background of studying social work and law academically ,he chose to bring the best of his knowledge and experience and be the change agent in the village Suresh Bhai leveraged social media to ensure information reached the citizens to increase their participation in various programmes. these included mediums such as use of loud speakers at religious places voice messages using own voice sms texts in Gujrati, whatsapp groups public notice boards and facebook .the meetings usually have an open discussion about the topics & intentions any complaints and questions from the citizens are welcomed and discussed the issues raised by the citizens are taken in writing with their signature and recorded by the panchayat office. These issues are later discussed and prioritized within the execution of solutions is carried out. These solutions carried out. These maybe in the form of low and no-cost programs or informs utilizing the panchayat funds. The regular meetings ensure that the issues are brought up again and its status discussed, holding the panchayat accountable. The budget is also discussions to make the vision and intention clear to the citizens. ‘’Earlier, the panchayat decisions were heavily influenced by what the perspectives of the village opined. The perspectives of the youth were not brought out earlier now efforts to include their representation is being done the tech-savvy youth are involved through online survey forms and social media groups. Sports events& competitions are used as mediums to understand their inclinations. Their involvement has certainly brought speed to the out-reach and surveying ‘’ says chhanga as part of a participatory rural Approach exercise ; 30m radius was drawn and  320 people representing focus groups were asked to draw their wards  with the landmarks, kucha –pakka roads and identify problem areas. The scale and interaction of the process was very engaging to the co-ordination process to encourage women bonding and self-confidence; events  hosting games such as tug of-war kabaddi; lagori  etc along with competitions for rotla making singing local wedding songs and embroidery are safe space to discuss women rights legal provisions  schemes and raise awareness within the gathering such issues and concerns of today’ s youth are now getting integrated in the holistic planning of the panchayat .The sarpanch is held accountable for any decision taken as the process is transparent and open to critique in the sabhas. The responsibility and role of each of the citizens as role of each of the citizens as stakeholders in the sabha is visible. 

“Ever since the panchayat initiatives to include women actively began, we have started to trust them and our own voices to create change in the village Earlier we had no interest  to participate in anything related to the panchayat, neither were we asked  to’’

Bhartiben, community facilitator, kunariya.