DBDS #006 ON THE NREGS TRAIL

Mayank Parmar sdb NARUKOT, APRIL 3, 2009: After having successfully commenced work on the NREGS in two villages – Hirapur and Dipapura – DB Narukot decided to take up the same in yet another two villages. Accordingly, on April 1, meetings were held in Duma and Thalki to explain the NREGS to the people. Fr. Stanny Ferreira, together with his team, explained in great detail to the villagers the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) along with its corresponding Scheme (NREGS). They pointed out that the Act guarantees 100 days of work to every rural household. Furthermore, the works to be taken up in the village should be decided by the Gram Sabha. The people who attended the meetings were very pleased with the information they received and expressed their opinion that this scheme would indeed be highly beneficial to them. In both the villages, it was very heartening that immediately after the meeting people came forward stating their interest to get into the scheme. Accordingly, the application forms for the Job Cards were filled in at once. While in Duma about 65 persons requested Job Cards, in Thalki over 100 people asked for the same. These forms were then submitted to the NREGS Programme Officer at the Taluka Panchayat and the process for obtaining Job Cards has begun. The experience in both the villages was very satisfying. If the NREGS is effectively implemented it will reduce distress migration from the villages and simultaneously build up the assets in the village.

DBDS #005 NARUKOT GETS INTO SANGATHAN MODE

Mayank Parmar sdb NARUKOT, APRIL 2, 2009: Don Bosco Narukot organized a series of village meetings on March 30 and 31, with the aim of motivating women to join together and form Sangathans. This is a different model from the Self Help Groups. While in the SHG model small groups are formed, the Sangathan model brings together all the women of the village onto a single platform. Again, unlike the SHG model which tends to focus on savings, loans and income generation projects, the Sangathan works on issues that are relevant and important to the village community. The first meeting on March 30 was held in Zalaria, while in the afternoon a meeting was held in Hirapur. The following day, March 31, meetings were held in Chalwad and Gandhra. Ms. Nimiben Parmar, a Sangathan expert, was the chief resource person for all the meetings. She explained to the women the need to come together to resolve the various issues they are facing in their villages. Quoting several examples and success stories, she pointed out to the women that often what seems impossible in the beginning can ultimately be achieved through unity, creative thinking and persistence. Mr. Subhash Shirsath, DB Narukot Development staff, discussed several practical issues with the women, such as the actual difficulties that they are facing and what could be possible solutions. He assured the women that Don Bosco would guide them through the entire process. All the women who attended the meetings were highly enthusiastic about the Sangathan concept. Slowly but surely, this people’s movement is bound to usher in the much needed development in these tribal villages.