CRUSADE
(Centre for Rural Systems And Development)
CRUSADE
(Centre for Rural Systems And Development)
|
Strengthening Local
Self Governance
State Level Networking for Advocacy
State Level Conference of Elected Representatives
Case Study: G.Mohana |
CRUSADE
operates both at Grassroots level and at state level for strengthening
Panchayat Raj Institutions in Tamil Nadu. In Minjur and Sholavaram elected
members are given training on their roles and responsibilities which
will help discharge their functions effectively. In few Panchayats,
Ward / Village level planning is done involving Women groups and elected
members to assess the village needs and to plan for economic developement
& social justice. SHG members are motivated to attend Grama Sabha and
to lobby for felt needs of the community. 
CRUSADE
promote a network at state level for advocating needed changes in
the TN Panchayat Act, 1994. Idntified NGOs in the districts are provided
small financial help to train elected members. CRUSADE organized exposure
visits to a team of panchayat leaders and NGO leaders to states such
as Kerala, West Bengal & Karnataka, where Panchayat system is working
relatively well. 
CRUSADE,
in collobration with Network Theni, organized a state level conference
of elected Panchayat leaders on the theme "Planning for Economic
Development and Social Justice". The two day conference organized
at Chennai in March 2007 was attended by about 200 elected Panchayat
leaders and NGO representatives. George Mathew, Institute of Social
Studies, New Delhi delivered the key note address. Eminent speakers
and representatives from Kerala, addressed the gathering(see news-
Panchayats need a better deal).