About Session

Can community be the unit for democracy? In this session, we will be learning from the deep work of Medha Lekha village with Mohan Bhai.

About Facilitator

Mohan Bhai, a believer of Gandhiji-Vinobaji’s thesis of people’s power, set up Vrikshamitra in 1984 in Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra.

He plays the role of selfless Sahyogi Mitra, an activist, and a knowledgeable worker who propagates the concept of Gram Swaraj, with effective and systematic adoptive management broadly emphasizing three major aspects, viz. forest conservation, sustainability, equity and security.

Mr. Mohan Hirabai Hiralal’s knowledge and direction helped the people of Mendha (Lekha) in making the Gram Sabha more inclusive, participatory and active. Revolutionary slogan of Mendha (Lekha) `In Delhi and Mumbai we have our Government but, in village we ourselves are Government’, exemplifies the spirit of the village and its people.

In 2013, after persistent efforts of Mr. Mohan Hirabai Hiralal and the villagers, the village was declared a Gramdan village under Maharashtra Gramdan Act 1964. It is the first village in the country to become a Gramdan Village after thirty five years.