Avengers...

[Shahrukh Atpade]

Gram Panchayat is the local government in villages of India.Gram Panchayat Election which could not be held in Vashi village in 2021 was finally held in Nov 2023.

I met the Sarpanch (head) of the panchayat and had a SALT conversation with him. My colleague at Avani connected me with him. SALT creates a beautiful relationship in which everyone benefits. The connection that is build makes the work easier.   Through the exchange, we got to know each other. He shared a story from his life.

Some years ago, every evening, he would  go out to eat ice cream with his friends. It was a lot of fun, they all laughed and talked. One day they found a 5 to 6 year old boy who was standing to buy ice-cram with  a 500 rupee note. He bought himself an ice cream and walked away. Everyone was surprised to find a child at night coming alone to buy an ic-cream. All the friends approached and the boy and asked him why he was alone. He said, “ At home there is a land related dispute, I don't want to go back”. We explained to him how unsafe it is for him and convinced him to return home. He told where his home was and we took him back to his home and explained to the parents what the boy had done. He added that whenever all the friends met, they remember this story and feel very fortunate that that were able to help the boy.

His reflection As a gram panchayat member, he said that he  feel that the young people of the village should speak. He has been doing social work with 100 -150 village youth.

Learning as a facilitator

• There is strength in every human being which teaches humanity to every human being.
  I learned that, in difficult times, we think more with our heart than with our head. As seen in this incident.
• I learned that if you want to understand people's minds, you have to develop a close relationship with them. As a facilitator I pride myself on being able to understand people's emotions and that too only because of SALT.

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[Sneha Farzana]

The gram panchayet head done such a wonderful work and as a faciliaator you too

[Sadia Jafrin]

 Thank you for sharing. I found it so innocent and heartwarming.

[Rituu B. Nanda]

Thanks Shahrukh. This is a great example of an adult in the village taking responsibility of safeguarding a child.