Gandhi Darshan, New Delhi 22nd Aug 2016
RMP had launched its Gram Chetna initiative in the year 2015 to train the voluntary sector workers working for rural development & to keep them updated of the latest government schemes. The first and second editions of Gram Chetna were organized in Nov 2015 at GSDS, New Delhi & Feb 2016 at NIRD, Guwahati respectively.
On 22nd Aug 2016, RMP held its third edition in the form of a ‘National Consultative Meeting on Rural Development’ in Gandhi Darshan in New Delhi. 42 delegates from 40 selected organizations from 12 states participated in this one day meet. The inauguration session had presence of Shri Ravindra Sathe, Executive Director RMP, Shri Dipankar Shri Gyan, Director Gandhi Smriti Darshan Samiti, Shri Santosh Gupta, ISRN. In the morning sessions, participants brainstormed various issues in Rural Development in an attempt to prepare a note sheet which can be presented to the Hon Minister. The deliberation sessions were chaired by Shri Sanjay Ganjoo and Shri Neelesh Kulkarni. The afternoon session saw presence of Hon Minister Rural Development, Panchayati Raj & Drinking Water & sanitation Shri Narendra Singh Tomar and Dr Vinay Sahasrabuddhe. After a brief introduction of all the participants, the key issues were presented to the Minister. The session was moderated by Shri Sathe.
Release of Study report ‘Making Villages Open Defecation Free – Issues in institutionalization of success’ was done in the evening programme. RMP had partnered with Public Policy Research Centre and Global Sanitation Fund to come out with this report. Shri Anand Shekhar, GSF gave a background of the study. A presentation on the research study was made by Shri Ravi Pokharna, RMP followed by speech from Hon Minister Shri Tomar Ji. Other important guests present were Shri Ranjit Dutta, Cabinet Minister Government of Assam, Shri Parameswaran Iyer, Secretary Drinking Water and Sanitation, GOI.