Kudumbashree NRO has been using various process oriented tools in partner states with the objective of making women from the community network realize the importance of their participation in the development agenda of their Panchayat. Gram Panchayat Poverty Reduction Plan (GP2RP) is one such tool through which the SHG federations prepare consolidated demands in four different areas namely entitlement plan, livelihood plan, individual infrastructure plan and public goods and services plan. The consolidated plan, which represents the demands from the community, is later submitted to the Panchayat. The idea is to complement Panchayat’s work which is also responsible for making Gram Panchayat Development Plans (GPDP), containing various components for addressing the vulnerabilities of poor, marginalized.

The Ministries of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development recently issued separate directives to the departments of Panchayati Raj and Rural Development citing the importance of Self Help Groups (SHG) in the preparation of GPDP. It advised to ensure the integration of SHG demand plan in the GPDPs. In this context, Kudumbashree NRO facilitated the preparation of Gram Panchayat Poverty Reduction Plans (GP2RP) in its partner State Rural Livelihood Missions (SRLMs). SHGs convened special meetings to collect the demands of each of the members and consolidate at the Gram Panchayat level. They use the tools of PRA, dream mapping and other participative tools to visualise on the plans.   The consolidated plans were then presented in Gram Sabhas for approval. To make these Gram Sabha meetings a huge success, SHG women conducted mobilization rallies, campaigns and other activities.The preparation of these plans gave a legitimate role for the SHGs to be active participants in preparation of the local plans of their Gram Panchayats.

In Assam, Kudumbashree NRO facilitated the preparation of a total of 87 GP2RP plans which was then submitted to the Gram Panchayats for the integrating with the GPDP. Similarly, 50 Gram Panchayats/Village Councils in Tripura and 12 Gram Panchayats in Manipur also prepared plans and submitted. In UP, a total of 73 poverty reduction (out of 100) plans have been prepared and submitted to the respective Gram Panchayats.

Now these women collectives are looking forward to the implementation of these plans through its integration with GPDP. The experience of preparation of the Poverty reduction was shared by Kudumbashree NRO in the regional workshops on GPDP organised by Ministry of Panchayati Raj at Hyderabad, Shimla and Guwahati.