In Amdiha village, under Mangara Panchayat, Barwadih Block of Latehar district, the spirit of local governance was once fading. Gram Sabha meetings were rare and held only when the block office issued directives. Many villagers had no idea when discussions would happen, leaving decisions to a few individuals. This gap meant that people’s voices were missing from village planning.
Under the Gram Swaraj Program, the VEDIC Society started organizing tola-level meetings across Amdiha. Villagers were educated about the importance of the Gram Sabha—how it serves as the foundation of village development and collective decision-making. With support from village Pradhan Shri Sohrai Singh, dates for Gram Sabha meetings were fixed and announced in all hamlets.
Initially, only a handful of villagers attended. But persistent efforts by the society, Pradhan, Mukhiya, and Ward Members reignited interest. The next meeting saw 37 participants, and soon this number rose to 87, showing a remarkable change in community engagement.
Today, Gram Sabha meetings in Amdiha are held every month, with active participation from men and women alike. Discussions now cover monitoring of schools and Anganwadi centers, issuance of job cards, and planning for better development schemes. The villagers have also decided to form eight Gram Sabha committees to ensure all-round growth of their community.
Amdiha’s journey reflects how awareness and collective commitment can turn silent villages into voices of empowerment and action.