CREATING MODEL VILLAGES

Gujarat, January 2014: DEEP Don Bosco organized a one day seminar on 16th January’2014 for Sarpanchs (village leaders) in collaboration with the Thasra Taluka Panchayat. The purpose of this programme was to carry out a systematic development plan for all the villages of Thasra Taluka through Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA). This seminar was attended by all the Sarpanchs of Thasra Taluka, Talatis including the staff of Mission Mangalam and leaders of the Self Help Groups.

The programme also benefitted from the presence of Mr. Bipin Sadhu Taluka Development Officer (TDO) and other dignitaries like Fr. Mayank Parmar, Director of DRISTI, Sr. Rita, Director of Pushpanjali, Sr. Vandana, Sr. Ann Rose, Superior of St. Ann of Luzern and Mr. Melvin Pangya, Development Coordinator, Bosco Samajik Vikas Sanstha, Walvanda. The programme was inaugurated with the lighting of the lamp by guest of the honour and the dignitaries. Fr. Issac Arackaparambil, Rector and Director of Don Bosco Dakor heartily welcomed the guest and the participants.  He also thanked everyone for their precious time and encouraged the participants to take forward the initiatives of DEEP Don Bosco.

Fr. Mayank spoke about the Model Village (Adarsh Gaam) and concluded his speech by motivating the participants to contribute to the development of their own village. After that Sarpanch of Vajewal and Shimlaj shared their experiences of the exposure visit organized by DEEP Don Bosco in the villages of Ahmedanagar, Maharashtra especially the visit to the model villages Hivre Bazar and Ralegaon Siddi. The chief guest Mr. Bipin Sadhu addressed the participants and appreciated the initiative taken by DEEP Don Bosco to conduct PRA and help the Sarpanchs to do the best for the development of their own village.  He said that he and his staff would be there to support this initiative.

To work towards creating model villages, Mr. Melvin Pangya gave an introduction about PRA as an important method, tool and technique which helps to assess condition, various aspects of the village. He also shared his experience of the PRA undertaken in the Walvanda village and how it has helped the villagers to know about various resources available and the problems of the village. The programme concluded with the vote of thanks by DEEP Coordinator, Vijay Parmar and the National Anthem.