India: Empowering the People

This brief article describes the experience of a NGO in India in establishing village development workers in Begunia region. Since the VDWs were Christian, they initially met with resistance. Mapping by low caste tribals was found to be an empowering technique, in which they drew their village as it is now and as they would like it to be. This led to villagers demanding a road be built to their village. Other activities included cleaning the areas round their houses, forming a credit association and securing pensions for the elderly.