Livelihoods
`Vazhvum, Valamum Engal Kaiyil’ (VVEK): “Life and prosperity, in our hands!!”
Community led Sustainable Development and Citizen-centred Governance of the Commons project – in
Veppur Block of Perambalur District and Annavasal Block of Pudukottai District in Tamil Nadu.
This long-term engagement with over 78 Village Panchayats to work towards sustainable agricultural development of 2 of the most backward Blocks in Tamil Nadu has been formally launched with 2 rounds of visits to the Blocks by BA members in June and July, 2013. In both districts the District Collectors were briefed in detail about the proposal to work with the local community for a self-reliant process of engagement in their own development. With the support and help of the Collectors, Block level meetings of all Village Panchayat Presidents in the 2 Blocks were arranged.
Visits were made about 10 Village Panchayats in both Blocks to interact with local children, youth, older people and working age women and men to understand the local context, aspirations of people, their sense of pride and involvement with the region and their vision for their own development. The data was collected keeping the 6 Capitals framework in mind.
Community-led Sustainable Development and Governance of the Commons project Govt. of Tamil Nadu (Vepur block, Annavasal block)
2013 – 23
Barefoot Academy was invited by the Tamil Nadu State Planning Commission to conduct a series of workshops and help guide the roll out and implementation of the unique SBGF programme in the state. SBGF aims to ameliorate backwardness in 100 of the Most Backward Blocks in Tamil Nadu and Rs. 500 crores have been allocated for this purpose. The main challenge for the SPC has been to evolve meaningful and practical guidelines for implementation of SBGF programme.
Barefoot Academy conducted 2 workshops and through focused group discussions, video-conferences with District Collectors and other activities has been helping formulation of guidelines for evolving proposals, action plans and strategic interventions addressing the social – cultural – ecological and economic aspects of backwardness.
Barefoot Academy’s continues regular engagement with the SPC and is currently preparing a `Manual for Implementation of SBGF’.
Reimagining Agriculture in Odisha Rebuilding Institutions of Caring and Sharing binding Farmers, Functionary, Land, Crop and Nature Convergence Programme with Agriculture and 4 allied departments in Odisha
Barefoot Academy of Governance was invited by the Director of Agriculture, Government of Odisha to conduct a one-day workshop for senior officials of 5 departments related to agriculture, viz., agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, veterinary and soil conservation. Following the workshop and positive response of the officials to the BA’s `koodam’ methodology for institutional governance reform programme, BA was invited to present a detailed proposal for a 3-year Convergence Programme of Agriculture and allied departments aiming at sustainable agriculture, water, food and nutrition and livelihood security. The detailed conceptual intervention design proposal for working with state level policy makers and cutting edge district level functionaries has been approved by the Director and the working plan is under consideration.
Mobilising District Administration for Effective Village Level Planning and Good Governance District Administration of Sundargarh, Govt. of Tamil Nadu
2010-12
The change management workshops for Karnataka Public Service Providers (Government Officials) premised on Gandhiji’s dictum, “Be the change that you want to see in the World.” The workshops designed to enable participants to re-examine the role of public officials vis-a-vis society, critically understand the challenges of personal and institutional change and in short to `reimagining’ the public official for the 21st century! The theme is on `democratising’ public services so that people are not only involved with the programmes but also participate in the programmes as equal `partners’ with official functionaries ensuring inclusion, equity and sustainable partnerships between citizens and governance institutions.