Page 21 - TRIF Annual Report 2021

Reflections from Our Action Pilots

in the Year 2020-21

As we move into our next
five-year plan, learnings
from the ‘neighbourhood
response’ will continue
to inspire our Action
Pilots and reaffirm our
belief that change led by
empowered and involved
communities provides
effective pathways for
enhancing quality of life

in the villages.

Through regular capacity building
workshops, and linkages with
Community Institutions, support is
Amidst the unprecedented times of this pandemic, there was working closely with constitutionally
disproportionate impact on the rural communities. From mandated spaces such as Panchayati Raj provided to elected representatives
livelihood insecurity, to health care deprivations, to the dismal Institutions and hence were able to ensure of the Panchayati Raj Institution for
situation of the returning migrants; the already existing integration with existing systems while strengthening their functioning and
challenges were amplified. When all systems were upended leading the pandemic response. This enhancing their effectiveness in
with the crisis, the local communities stood up to the crisis and collectively fostered an environment of trust,
took charge in several ways. TRIF, with the help of its inspired "agency", and built confidence to be delivering their roles and
Health & Prosperity implementation partners, activated a neighbourhood response at the forefront of the response in the responsibilities, thereby promoting
in the sites of its Community Action Pilots. Our design got villages. Through door to door engagements ‘GRAM SWARAJ’ or self-governance.
tested and was validated with the affirmation that a and neighbourhood camps, the communities
community-driven model is pivotal to building resilience. The shouldered wide-ranging responsibilities
social capital in the villages in form of community cadre, also from building awareness, delivering rations
called change vectors, nurtured by TRIF and its partners, was and safety kits, to mobilizing access to public Neha Gupta
empowered with the knowledge and resources to respond to services and entitlements to ensuring health State Lead Madhya Pradesh, TRIF
the crisis. The existing social mobilization in form of care and learning outcomes.
Self-Help-Groups and their federations were accustomed to

20 TRANSFORMING RURAL INDIA FOUNDATION ANNUAL REPORT 2020-2021 21