Youth Participation is the Key to Stronger & Self-Reliant Villages
MODULE – VI : Participation and Accountability
PLACE : LODI MSSS,Fathimanagar, Hanumakonda, Telangana State
DATES : 14th, 15th & 16th October 2025
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS : Lodi Multipurpose Social Service Society (LMSSS),Franciscan Missionaries of Mary Social Service Society (FMMSSS), Raghava Environmental Educational Cultural Rural Development Service Society (RECARDSS), and SHIRI NGO, Telangana State.
RESOURCE PERSON (S) NAME
Dr. A. Madhu, Dr. Gopika Rani, Mr. Veera Babu & Dr. Sudhakar
The three-day Participation and Accountability training conducted by the Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru, had a strong impact on 35 young participants. The training encouraged active involvement of youth, women, and marginalized communities in decision-making.
Pravalika from FFM SSS NGO said, in Panchayath reservation for SCs, and STs is there to voice their opinion if we want the Governance to be inclusive and fair.
Kalyani another participant from SHIRI NGO said, I realized that communities themselves can lead development: building schools, maintaining water tanks, supporting farmers. Even small, collective efforts bring big changes. When villages cooperate with government schemes, they grow stronger and self-reliant.
An MSW Student, Rejoice said, I learned how to access information on government schemes through Panchayat offices using documents like caste, income, and Aadhaar cards. We can approach the Village Secretary or Sarpanch for help. Grievance redressal systems like Public Hearings, empower villagers to raise issues.
Participants were guided by resource persons Dr. A. Madhu, Dr. Gopika Rani, Mr. Veera Babu, and Dr. Sudhakar. The youth gained valuable insights into community participation and women’s leadership in local governance. Through field observations, they witnessed Panchayat meetings, staff efforts in water, sanitation, and development activities, and the impactful work of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in empowering women to save, start small businesses, and support their families.
Local governance belongs to everyone, and participation is the key to stronger, self-reliant villages.
Adv. Karuna Rao
Facilitator, Andhra Pradesh & Telangana
Social Inclusion and Democracy