Bringing Government Schemes to Rural Communities, Empowering Rural Citizens

An initiative guiding rural citizens on social welfare schemes of the government

Rutika Chaugule ( BAJMC Third Year)

Pune : Project-Jagruti, a communication extension project was implemented between September to December 2023. It was an initiative by Vishwakarma
University Centre of Communication for Development ( VUCCD), a centre for training students in development communication and reporting.

The project was aimed to inform and create awareness among villagers about various government welfare schemes through two minute videos. As many as 21 videos were shared with three Gampanchyats in the Pune district. Students got an opportunity to work on real real issues as part of their curriculum.
Access to information is the key in the process of development. Timely information has the potential to impact decision making and empower an individual for desired effect or results. It has been observed through various
studies that villagers are not aware of various programmes and schemes meant for their welfare and development. There are multifold reasons associated for information deficit running from lack of information and nexus of influential persons with government officials. Thus many schemes and facilities ramin far away from the village dellwers. Mobile has played a major role to bridge the digital divide in the past few years. Considering the need of villagers, The department had produced two minute videos for the villagers. These videos carry brief information about schemes and programmes. As a final output these videos have been shared with Gram Panchayat office bearers.

The set of these videos have been distributed to Whats app groups in three Gram Panchayats ( Rural local
body).The third students of Bachelor of Journalism and Mass Communication ( BAJMC)with faculty mentors and Gram Panchayat office bearers selected schemes and prepared scripts and shot the videos. This community engagement project created an opportunity for students to identify real issues, develop a communication plan for social change, organise a development campaign and its execution and networking.