Samruddha Jana Parishad (SJP) is an apolitical process initiated to facilitate sustainable development through collective decision making in rural parts of the Indian state of Maharashtra. SJP is an alternative to “usual funding based, external driven and led” development work.

SJP is governed by a group comprising experienced social development activists and professionals working in corporate sector.

Milestones

A committed team of 6 facilitators has been working full time at the village level.

Active committees comprising of cross-section of citizens have been formed in all the villages, where SJP is presently working. These committees act as the mechanisms for governance of the ongoing initiatives as well as planning for future development.

Rajura village

Summer 2008: People of Rajura village in Parbhani district freed themselves of drinking water scarcity by evolving a community driven water management system. Rajura village has been water self-sufficient while 90 percent of villages in Parbhani district faced acute water shortages in summer 2009.

Winter 2008: Rajura village accessed Bharat Nirman Yojana and leveraged its more than INR 3,500,000 grant for developing civic amenities including cement reinforced well, a 20,000 L water tank, internal roads and drainage system.

Wahad village

Summer 2009: After 10 years of acute water scarcity, people from Wahad village in Nanded district  collectively approached the district collector and Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad (ZP) to resolve this issue on a permanent basis. This resulted in a micro-plan being developed with people’s participation for water conservation and harvesting in the village.

Phularwadi village

2008: People in Phularwadi village in Parbhani district initiated a cleanliness and sanitation campaign to make their village open-defecation free. In January 2009, Phularwadi was awarded the first prize by President of India under the Sant Gadge Baba Swachatha Abhiyan for the cleanest village in the district.