Women’s Gram Sabhas were facilitated across villages in Maharashtra on August 15 and 16 under the WELEAD initiative, creating spaces for women to discuss community concerns and participate in village-level decision-making.

The initiative, implemented by Bosco Gramin Vikas Kendra (BGVK) with the support of Don Bosco Mondo and BMZ, works with grassroots Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to strengthen women’s participation in local governance.

During the two-day initiative, partner CSOs facilitated women’s Gram Sabhas in their respective villages. The meetings brought women together to discuss issues affecting their communities, share concerns and identify priorities that require attention at the village level.

The Gram Sabhas were facilitated by St. Luke’s, Shrirampur; Nirmala Institute, Vaijapur; Ahsaankur, Bhokar; Ekta Foundation, Nandurbar; Maria Bhavan, Bableshwar; and Santulit Samikaran, Ahilyanagar.

Discussions covered a range of community concerns, including water, roads, sanitation, prohibition of alcohol and other village-level issues. The meetings provided women with an opportunity to raise these concerns collectively and understand how they could be taken forward through the Gram Panchayat and local governance processes.

The initiative also provided an opportunity for women to engage more directly with the Gram Sabha as a platform for community participation. Through facilitated discussions, participants were encouraged to express their views, listen to others and collectively reflect on issues affecting their villages.

The involvement of grassroots CSOs played an important role in bringing these discussions closer to the communities. Each partner organisation facilitated the process within its respective villages, helping create spaces where women could participate in discussions on matters that directly influence everyday life.

Women’s participation in local governance is significant because decisions taken at the village level have a direct bearing on essential services, infrastructure, public health and community wellbeing. Creating opportunities for women to participate in these discussions can bring a wider range of community perspectives into local decision-making.

The August 15–16 Gram Sabhas mark another step in the WELEAD initiative’s work to strengthen women’s participation and leadership at the grassroots. Through its partnerships with local CSOs, BGVK continues to support spaces where women can raise their voices, engage with governance processes and contribute to decisions concerning their communities.