Empowering Communities for Social Justice and Sustainability

Starting in 1993, Lokpanchayat works with rural poor on social justice, sustainable livelihood and environment in Sangamner and Akole blocks of Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. Marginal farmers, landless laborers, tribal communities, women in distress and youth are the major constituencies of Lokpanchayat spread in 95 villages of these two blocks. Today Lokpanchayat has reach with more than 250000 men women and children with its five programmatic verticals. 

Lokpanchayat has a team of 16 women 27 men social development activists, 105 village volunteers and networking with like-minded NGOs across Maharashtra. 

Lokpanchayat operates in 95  villages of the Sagamner and Akole blocks within Ahmednagar district, Maharashtra. These areas face significant challenges associated with underdevelopment. 

Sangamner with  an average annual rainfall of only 450 mm and being situated in the rain shadow area of the Sahyadri ranges is a drought prone area with the issues of water scarcity, ecological degradation and livelihoods. 

Akole is predominantly tribal area with the issues of tribal rights,  livelihoods and forest degradation. 

Gender discrimination, is a prevalent issue in both talukas. 

Lokpanchayat’s work with women started formation of women’s self-help groups, which further led to formation of a cooperative for income generation and “Jagrut Mahila Manch” women’s organisation for voicing issues in governance and against discrimination in 60 villages providing platform for voicing issues of women in distressed. 

Lokpanchayat provides service of “Short Stay Home” to women in distress since 2012. Lokpanchayat is known for its work in women’s empowerment reaching out to more than 50000 women. 

Starting with Watershed development in 1993, today Lokpanchayat’s programme of environmental regeneration has taken a leap in terms of securing community forest rights for tribal communities and being part of Maharashtra Gene Bank working towards restoration of biodiversity in Western Ghats including protection of forests, sacred grooves and local variety of cattle Dangi cow. The biodiversity conservation through community forest rights has also provided ample opportunities for tribal to strengthen means of livelihood.

 Lokpanchayat has established Rural Technical Training Institute in 2011, with aim of providing employable skills development to rural youth. This institute educates 250 youth per annum on subsidized fees. Institute provides hostel facilities to youth from remote tribal villages. With a seven acre campus and government recognised six technical courses, Lokpanchayat’sRural Technical Training Institute provides a full facility of 10 classrooms, 6 workshops, a computer lab and a boys hostel. Rural Technical Training Institute has 20 qualified teachers.