~ Aliza Dekka
Women Federation members in Assam have been proactively working towards improving the condition of malnutrition in their state under our comprehensive programme, “Realizing the Right to Adequate Food and Nutrition’. The untiring efforts by the Women Federation leaders were recognized by the key stakeholders, as a result of which, a few Federation Leaders were included in the 15 member Goan Panchayat Planning Facilitators Team (GPPFT) in different Gaon Panchayats.
Aliza Dekka, one of the Women Federation members said, “I am a member of the Gaon Panchayat Planning Facilitators Team (GPPFT) at Baghjap Panchayat. The issue of nutrition is now regularly highlighted during the Gram Sabhas. Goan Panchayats have also allocated funds in their Annual Budget to carry out specific activities for nutrition security in their areas.”
GPPFT is a team of 14-15 members representing the various influential individuals/ opinion leaders of the village. It includes retired teachers, Anganwadi Workers, Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs), Self Help Groups, etc. Aliza represents civil society in GPPFT. GPPFT is meant to decentralise the process of planning by involving people from the ground level. Recommendations of GPPFT lead to the formulation of the Gaon Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP). This journey of inclusion in Panchayat is nothing short of a highly significant achievement