Empowering Villages in Rural India

Dear Friends,

Hope you are well and have enjoyed a great Easter this year. I am writing to share with you the half yearly progress report for the project you are supporting – Building Self Reliant Rural Communities in India.

 he project aims to foster democratic village institutions through the creation and management of a village development body, formed from people’s voluntary contributions. In order to do so, a common fund is placed at the disposal of the village institution. These funds are not only a valuable financial resource but they also provide a reason for communities to come together, deliberate and make decisions. This further improves the project management skills of those involved and cultivates financial literacy.

With your support to this project, we were able to make the village group self-reliant and build their capacities to plan and implement development programmes with democratic, participatory and egalitarian values. Please find enclosed a mid-year progress report for the year 2011-12. A brief summary of the activities done during the reporting period is also given below:-

• 669 village groups were formed and the total membership across the seven blocks had reached 55,076.
• There were 622 villages out of which 533 villages have bank account and in total they have occupied Rs. 38,493,144 (USD 819,003). 
• Rs. 150992 was used out of the corpus fund for 48 times by 41 Village Development Committees for different purposes of purchase and payment of various stuffs and bills which will ultimately help the village in various activities.
• 58 capacity building trainings and 92 Group strengthening meetings were organized in which total 3837 people participated actively.

Through these trainings and meetings we were able to increase the participation of women in village meetings and helped in solving various issues at individual and family level. Also, it helped in proper functioning and monitoring of Government programs running in the villages covered by Seva Mandir.

A very big thank you from all of us here. Your continuing support and faith in our work means a lot to us. Please do share your thoughts and feedback on the report.

With warm regards,

 Deepti

Links:

• Do you know what communities do in village meetings?

• Mid year update report 2011-12 (DOC)

Dear Friend,

I very much hope that you are enjoying the holiday season. From all of us here at Seva Mandir, a very Happy and Prosperous New Year to you. May 2012 brings peace and success to you and to your family. We thank you for your kindness that you gift us always. With this letter, we love to share some key highlights of year 2011.

For Seva Mandir, the year 2011 has been a year of changes and success. Ms. Neelima Khetan stepped down after 12 years of her excellent leadership (total 25 years of association with Seva Mandir) in March. Ms. Priyanka Singh became our new Chief Executive in April 2011. Seva Mandir is ready to see many more years of its successful engagement with rural communities in Southern Rajasthan in her leadership.

In October, Seva Mandir became the implementing agency for the MNREGA projects for 32 sites in rural Udaipur. It is a significant achievement as well as an indicator of the faith of the 74 Panchayats in Seva Mandir’s work. These Panchayats have endorsed us to be their implementing agency for MNREGA. Of these 32 sites that were sanctioned, the work has begun on the 22 sites. Most of these sites of pastureland development and currently the building of boundary wall is going on.

In 2011, Seva Mandir has been included in two working (sub) groups –  {i) Child Survival & Development and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) and ii) Girl Child} constituted by the Ministry of Women and Child Development to review the existing priorities, policies, strategies, programs and their implementation for fulfilling the rights of children to survival, development (including early childhood care, early learning, elementary education). Also, to highlight emerging issues and recommendations, resources allocation and utilization for Twelfth Five Year Plan of Government of India.

Several of Seva Mandir's programs have seen a maturing in the last years. For example, in the villages where Seva Mandir organized regular immunization camps, the complete immunization of children is 60%, while in comparison villages it is only 35%.

Similarly, the work on Natural Resources is yielding a lot of benefits to the poor. Every year grass worth Rs. 52 lacs (5.2 million rupees) is being harvested from the common lands developed under this program.

In April 2011, Champa Devi from Vassela village was awarded the "Woman Exemplar Award 2011". It is another reason to look back and feel joyous to see that a community member of Seva Mandir was being recognized by rest of the society for her selfless services.

We are privileged to experience exciting stories of women like Champa Devi. A big credit goes to friends like you for this. Your support has always been the source of our emotional strength. It helps us keep going with our work. It is gratifying that with your support we have been able to create spaces where ordinary people can exercise truth force to bring about social and political transformation.

We hope you will continue to be with us in future too. Your faith and untiring support is very critical to us at the moment. Especially, when national and international scenario is changing rapidly for civil societies and the definitions of ‘development’ are being re-explored.

We believe that the full and deep impact of Seva Mandir's work lies not so much in the tangible development activities that it promotes, but more in bringing the poor and rich together and enabling them to  work for the commons of building more just  and oppression free communities.

We look forward to your continuing contribution in the year 2012 too. Wish you a very bright and successful New Year.

With warm regards,

Deepti