Strengthening Community Voices through “Fellow Workshops”: ACV Consortium Engages Five Gram Panchayats in Vision-Building Dialogues

As part of the Amplifying Community Voices (ACV) Consortium, community representatives trained under the initiative from five Gram Panchayats have come forward to chart a new course for grassroots development. From each of these Panchayats, one representative was selected, forming a 27-member fellowship committed to promoting awareness and dialogue at the village level.

These fellows have been conducting awareness workshops across various Panchayats, helping generate community consciousness while encouraging alternative development pathways. Their activities focus not just on information dissemination, but also on empowering local voices and sparking action-oriented discussions on pressing social and environmental issues.

One such fellow workshop was recently held at the Kuemuri Flood Centre under the Herambagopalpur Gram Panchayat. The theme of the session was “Violence”. The discussion addressed the causes, types, and socio-psychological impacts of violence. Fellows shared real-life experiences from their communities, adding a powerful, personal dimension to the collective understanding of the issue.

In another workshop held in a Gram Panchayat under Patharpratima Block, the theme centered on “Panchayat Infrastructure”. Participants learned about how citizens can directly engage in the planning and development processes of the Panchayat, ensuring transparency and efficiency in governance.

A key thematic workshop focused on “Climate-Resilient Sustainable Agricultural Practices”. The sessions included discussions on salt-tolerant farming, choosing alternative crops, and maximizing productivity in limited land areas — all vital for building resilience in the face of climate change.

In yet another Panchayat, a workshop on “Organic Farming Practices” explored the making of organic fertilizers and pesticides, the benefits of chemical-free agriculture, and the importance of safe food systems. A notable takeaway from this session was the proposal to establish dedicated markets for organic produce with Panchayat support and connect farmers directly with buyers, thus ensuring better incomes for local cultivators.

The ACV Fellowship is more than a training program — it is evolving into a platform for grassroots-led transformation.