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water scarcity. life below the
poverty line.
Climate change.
Low
agricultural productivity. Migration. Gender
discrimination. e list of issues plaguing
the region where Lokpanchayat works is
extensive. For this committed organization,
its core purpose lies in empowering local
people to determine their own futures and the
development of their communities through
social justice, sustainable livelihoods and
environmental regeneration.
Lokpanchayat (which means People’s
Collective for Governance) started work as a
group of 12 young people. Inspired by Anna
Hazare
’
s Adarsh Gaon Yojana, the group
formalized into an NGO and expanded its
reach. Over the years, it redefined its efforts,
mobilising farmers for organic agriculture and
natural resource management, consolidating
Self-Help Groups, organising women for active
participation in governance and advocacy
against gender-based violence. It also extended
its initiatives to the tribal belt, working with
communities on forest rights and biodiversity.
Aſter 2010, Lokpanchayat’s focus shiſted to
institutionalising its interventions. To this end,
it started a women’s cooperative, a short stay
home for women in distress, a farmers’ producer
company and a rural technical training institute.
Lokpanchayat
•
•
••
•
Founded by Sarangdhar Pande, Tulshiram
Jadhav, Sanjay Phallay, Adv. Jyoti Malpani
and Vijay Thorat (existing president), in 1993
Lokpanchayat has key initiatives
focusing on revival and promotion
of sustainable farming practices,
watershed development, bio-diversity
conservation, women’s empowerment,
enterprise development and liberal
school education in rural schools.
Till date, more than 20,000 farmers
have joined their KrishakPanchayat
initiative, improving food security,
strengthening local governance and
creating awareness on tribal rights. The
major constituencies of Lokpanchayat’s
initiatives are marginal farmers, landless
laborers, tribal communities, distressed
women, and youth residing across 95
villages in Sangamner and Akole blocks
in Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra.
We make our lands richer with organic and sustainable practices
Following pages (52–53):
Our future is sustained by efficient
water management in the present