Empowering Communities

A Journey of Empowerment

Naya Sawera Vikas Kendra (NSVK) has been working towards the empowerment of the poor and the marginalized since 1999. It has been effectively working to uplift the conditions of the denied and the deprived. NSVK has initiated several interventions to meet the changing socio-economic and political context and be relevant and working directly with the communities through the CBOs and their networks.
NSVK is a people based organization committed to the Gandhian approach of non-violent action for justice and people’s control over livelihood resources. The intervention is also referred as Collective Forms of Cooperation, one such initiative to bring about development by supporting grassroots level communities in a collective framework. The overall purpose was to facilitate processes against constant denial of human rights, dignity, participation, justice and space and opportunity for the poor and the marginalized. The understanding is based on the principles of democracy, democratic functioning and decentralization and transfer of power, functions and decision making (for self-reliance).
NSVK has worked on numerous programmes at the State, district, block and Panchayat level, emphasizing the issues of land and livelihood rights of the poor and the marginalized. It has been addressing the problems and issues expressed by the deprived communities in rural areas. The primary focus was on rights and development of the Adivasis, Dalits and Women. The development of Manch, (Van Adhikar & Ajivika Shuraksha Samity) and the main policy behind this was to organize rural communities through a campaign on right to land and livelihood based awareness building, advocacy and community mobilization. It has been raising other issues of social significance, such as empowerment of women and livelihood security for the poor through various opportunities at State, National and International levels. NSVK is highly knowledgeable in capacity and perspective, building institutional strengthening, network and alliance building, research and documentation, through livelihood security and income generation programmes.
Thus, it promoted a spirit of co-operation and coordination. It brought about collective understanding and action on issues affecting the life of the poor and the marginalized. The resources have to reach out to the most poor and the marginalized, who are powerless, downtrodden, unprivileged and deprived of their rights and exploited. It sincerely recognizes a just, participatory and sustainable society as the basis of development through building and strengthening organizations of the poor and marginalized. The concept has a very specific focus in dealing with specific issues concerning the Tribals, Dalits, Women and the Marginalized. Apart from supporting individual field interventions around commonly identified issues, the cutting edge of the initiative is the emergence of Gram Ekai, ASK (Ajivika Sahayta Kendra) and SESK (Sahayta Evan Sansadhan Kendra) at the grassroots.
NSVK, with the support of PACs, has strengthened CBOs, SHGs, Mahila Mandals, PRIs and federation to encourage people-centered and people owned process of development. It developed leadership by promoting their institutions, on various issues. It provides training and strengthens them on conservation of resources and its restoration through their cultural and traditional knowledge. The process has facilitated them to raise their voices in a more organized manner. It initiated actions at the grassroots level, having rigorous interaction with the local communities and groups by raising the issues at the apex level. It was guided by the democracy and collective decision making process through effective planning, evaluation and ensure discussion for continuous experience of sharing.