Padopadi Swaraj

Pada means a small hamlet and our constitution says that each village shall have a Gram-Sabha; a self-governing assembly. ‘Padopadi Swaraj’ is our endeavour to take the constitutional provisions to every small village i.e. padopadi. Vayam has helped many villages across four tribal blocks to build strong community institutions; i.e. Gram-Sabha. These Gram-Sabhas are legally recognized local governing bodies with direct participation of citizens. The empowered Gram Sabhas have brought openness in government schemes, transparency in funds, and have framed rules for judicious extraction from forest and water sources.

PESA Jagran Abhiyan

Through this initiative we aim to bring new villages in the realm of effective and just self-governance as envisaged in PESA (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas) law. The law requires that a majority of voters in a small hamlet or Pada sit together and pass a resolution for notifying a separate Gramsabha. Vayam volunteers fan out to far-off villages, to alert and motivate people to become self-reliant through their own Gram Sabhas. Many villages have responded positively and received separate Gram-Sabha status as well as funds to run it efficiently.