From Discussion to the Documentation of the Gram Sabha

In Ludru village of Jharkhand, every gram sabha meeting is now recorded in writing. The discussions are documented, acknowledged and acted upon. 

In 2023, Janardan attended training with We, The People Abhiyan in collaboration with PHIA, opening new dimensions for him. Having been involved in community work since 1998 and organizing Self-Help Groups in the Karra Block, he was already a familiar and trusted presence among the women, youth, and children in his area. 

For him, the training didn’t just build on what he already knew, it offered structure and a clear framework rooted in constitutional values. He particularly recalls the Tapu activity, where participants collectively envisioned an ideal island and wrote their own Constitution. With this activity, he realized the importance of documentation and active discussion in Gram Panchayats. 

But the process of documentation was not easy. “गांव के बुज़ुर्ग लिखना नहीं जानते, और जो युवा लिखना जानते हैं, वो आते नहीं।”

“The elders in the village don’t know how to write, and the youth who do know, don’t show up."

Slowly, but with consistent efforts, Janardan began including youth and women in gram sabha meetings. They were identified and oriented to understand their rights and demand them. As a result, today's gram sabhas - where youth and women were once absent - are now spaces where they come together, share concerns and propose solutions. This also ensured that every meeting is documented. 

“अब लगता है जैसे संविधान के रूप में एक जरिया मिल गया है, पहले लोगों को अपने अधिकारों की जानकारी नहीं थी, अब वे खुद अपने मुद्दे लेकर पंचायत पहुँचते हैं।"

"Now it feels like the Constitution has become a medium for us. Earlier, people were unaware of their rights; now they take their issues to the panchayat themselves."

As a citizen champion, Janardan’s efforts have led to visible and meaningful change. He has trained 1,400 to 1,500 individuals on constitutional values, rights, and the importance of civic participation. He organises door-to-door awareness campaigns, distributes informative pamphlets, holds training, and conducts public discussions. He also now uses formal mechanisms more confidently, whether it’s writing petitions or escalating issues from the Panchayat to the district administration.

Even after years of dedicated work, challenges still persist. Janardan shares that his village still faces several challenges - lack of network connectivity, poor road infrastructure, increasing school dropout rates, and growing substance abuse among the youth. Amidst all these difficulties, Janardan chose not to stand by.

Looking ahead, he’s hopeful. He says, “अगर हमें और ऐसे कार्यक्रम मिलते रहें तो हम और अच्छा काम कर पाएंगे।

"If we continue to get such programs, we will be able to do even better work."

In Janardan’s world, change is not abstract.

It walks to the panchayat office, sits through the gram sabha, argues for adolescent health, records meeting minutes, and brings youth to the frontlines.

And perhaps, that’s what makes him not just a citizen champion, but a builder of democracy - one written line at a time.

At the heart of his work lies a commitment to strengthening local governance. 

"हम उन लोगों को चुनते हैं जो वंचित समुदाय से आते हैं और उन्हें पंचायतों में उनकी बात रखने का हक़ नहीं मिलता। हमारा काम यही है कि उनकी आवाज़ ग्राम सभा तक पहुंचे," he says. 

"We choose those who come from marginalized communities and are not given a chance to speak in the panchayat. Our work is to ensure that their voices reach the gram sabha."

The above story has been written and published with the explicit consent of the individual involved. All facts presented are based on WTPA's direct interaction with the individual, ensuring accuracy and integrity in our reporting.