Training of Nighrani Samiti

The 73rd Constitution Amendment Act has given powers to PRIs in various ways but still people are not able to avail its benefits as the primary unit of democratic form of Government is still in its nascent stage. The provision of formation of community based committees like the Nighrani Samiti under the SGRY and NFFWP (National Food for Work Programme) provides opportunity for the community to ensure transparency and accountability in the local self governance institutions. However, this is possible only if these committees are themselves strong and understand the role that is envisaged of them.

In November 2005 Samarthan organised a training campaign to orient the members of Nighrani Samiti of all the Panchayats in the entire Sarguja District of Chattisgarh. Samarthan carried out this assignment in collaboration with the District Administration of Sarguja. The major focus of the assignment is to build capacity of the members of the Nighrani Samiti on the concept of the social audit and vigilance at the grassroots and the ways to conduct audit in the village. Samarthan also developed a simplified training module for the training.

Prior to the commencement of the training, 18 Master Trainers were oriented through 3 day training of the Trainers (ToT) on the provisions and mandates of the Nighrani Samiti in relation to the SGRY and FFWP programs. Within the TOT itself an action plan to train the more than 9180 Nighrani Samiti members within Sarguja District was drafted. Master trainers were divided into the group of two persons who were assigned to lead each training in the allotted venue. Altogether 9 groups of master trainers were formed to impart the training. On an average 3 training days were assigned for each developmental block. Thus 19 development blocks within Sarguja district were covered within 25 – 30 days. About 7633 people were trained in 186 batches.

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- Village Planning

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- Training on Visual Communication