In each phase, the marginalised are taught to participate in decision making and governance. Through these methods, they are empowered. Their learning is consistently organised around the constituency they belong to and the sector they represent. Each phase has strengthened the emerging relationship between local and global issues, between micro and macro actors and contributed to bridging the gap between learning and doing.

In the first phase (1981-1985), grassroots groups were encouraged to act on the knowledge they possessed. To help them on the way, voluntary development organisations were trained along with trainers on participatory methodologies.

In the second phase (1986-1988), VDOs were briefed on topics such as organisational management and participatory planning and monitoring while being assisted with institutional capacity building support. Women-oriented activities and literacy-based activities were supported.

In the third phase (1989-1993), a number of support organisations in different states of India were promoted to provide context-specific support to local groups. There were campaigns on dust-related lung diseases, and emergence of the Voluntary Action Network India (VANI) was supported.

In the Fourth Phase (1994- 1998), direct work was initiated on strengthening Panchayati Raj institutions; trade Unions, NGOs and doctors were sensitised on issues of occupational and environmental health, and network of collaborating regional support organisations (NCRSOs) was formalised as a vehicle for undertaking joint programmes.

In the fifth phase (1999-2000), as active members of global foras like International Forum on Capacity Building (IFCB), SAARC Forum of support organisations, NGO Working Group on the World Bank, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, Development Research Centre, etc., PRIA got a unique opportunity to bring the voices and perspectives of the grassroots to influence global policies.

From the sixth phase (2000-2007) onwards, a series of events has been generating opportunities for evaluation of PRIA’s interventions. A convention in Bhopal on ‘Citizenship, Participation and Democracy’ in November 1999 enabled the sharing of experiences from all over the country. This built up to a series of workshops during the 20th anniversary of PRIA on the theme, ‘Governance where people matter,’ which provided an occasion to take stock of the past and envision the future. An external evaluation of PRI programmes in May 2002 highlighted many achievements and some recommendations for the future. Five key strategic considerations have emerged in 2007 that hold relevance for the future: promotion of accountable and transparent governance; assurance of greater voice and influence of ordinary citizens on governance issues; reform of governance institutions; seeking of sensitive and strategic interventions that build civil society platforms, coalitions and partnerships that promote democratic governance; and reform interventions of all public institutions.

Go to Top