Community-Driven Village Development

Say "community-driven village development" and what immediately comes to mind is Anna Hazare's hugely successful initiative in Ralegaon Siddhi.

Now, in what is considered to be a first in Goa, villagers from Chandor (my native place) have put together a "Five Year People’s Plan for the Sustainable Development of Chandor (2007-2012)."

The development plan is a comprehensive document (titled Chandor ganv vhodd zaum) that lays down a proposal on how the village of Chandor should develop over the next few years. The plan was put together "with the active participation of all the people for whom it is intended."

Being the first such substantive community-driven initiative in Goa, it has got a fair amount of media coverage in Goa:

• Chandor villagers present development plan to panchayat
• Chandor sets new precedent in Goa
• Chandor's way
• Amcho ganv, amcho jiv, salvar koria

After going through the plan, it is obvious that a lot of thought and effort has gone into putting together the plan (unfortunately, the plan is not yet available online).

The Chandor team that led the development plan movement deserve unqualified kudos!

Keep it up folks! I feel proud to be a Chandorkar!