This was a session on identifying potential community leaders who were or would be the most reliable and dedicated persons to the community cause. This was done through using participatory rural appraisal (PRA) tools. On the basis of the participants' preferences, the villagers would form a committee called Para (village) Development Committee (PDC). This PDC is considered as the main vehicle of village development planning and implementation of community actions.
In the end of the session, the community facilitators were presenting the findings of the participants' discussion. Participants had identified the most reliable and dedicated persons for village development. This exercise was done more transparently and decisions were taken democratically with active participation of males and females in the village.
It’s very nice to select community leaders through PRA method for own development. Though community people are selecting their leaders through PRA and more democratically, it is very much concern issue that most of the time, almost all the community people who are participating in the process do not know why they are selecting their own leader. On the other hand it is a matter of facilitation skill, and some time, I think, most of the time it has a possibility to be selected the influential parson who are not interested for own community development.
ReplyDeleteDear Kishor
ReplyDeleteThanks for your feedback on the issue of selecting the right people in the right positions in a community-based organisation. Yes, facilitation skill is very much essential. Considering the complexities in the real practice of community engagement, community development workers always have to reflect on the activities and strategies. They have to work with community people to bring about changes in their strategies and activities, if necessary, to achieve the development outcomes.
Thanks for your participation.
With best
Ashok