Almora:
In a press conference held recently, social activist Vinay Kiraula announced the launch of “Gaon Chalo Abhiyan 2.0”, a renewed grassroots initiative aimed at addressing rural challenges, promoting rights awareness, and fostering self-reliance among villagers in the remote areas of Almora district.
Kiraula explained that the first phase of the campaign, “Gaon Chalo Abhiyan”, had involved visiting over 200 villages across the district. During these visits, the campaign team held meetings with local residents to understand their concerns, raise awareness about their rights, and escalate critical issues such as road connectivity, drinking water supply, and the threat posed by wild animals to the attention of authorities through protests and demonstrations.
Highlighting key findings from the field, Kiraula noted that many villages are still deprived of basic infrastructure like roads, irrigation, and drinking water. He expressed concern over the lack of active engagement from the agriculture and horticulture departments, which has led to delays and gaps in the delivery of improved seeds, farming inputs, and marketing facilities. “Despite having abundant natural resources, villagers remain disconnected from the development process, often resulting in forced migration,” he said.
“Gaon Chalo Abhiyan 2.0” seeks to address these gaps with a focused mission to leverage local human and natural resources for employment generation and economic self-sufficiency. The campaign aims to ensure that government schemes reach the grassroots, and that villagers are better informed and empowered to claim their rightful benefits.
Accompanying Kiraula at the press conference were fellow social workers Sujeet Tamta, Jeevan Singh Bisht, Rohit Mehta, Niranjan Pandey, and Vijay Khampa. All present reaffirmed their commitment to working collectively for the holistic development of villages and raising awareness among rural populations.
The new phase of the campaign promises to intensify engagement with rural communities and press for long-overdue systemic changes necessary to improve the lives of those living on the margins.
