TalK: Participatory Sustainable Development by Dr. Praksh Bhat
Poornachandra Satyampet
Title of the talk: Participatory Sustainable Development
Speaker: Dr. Prakash Bhat
Time: 10:30 am 15th Sept, Saturday.
Abstract: It will be an experience sharing session about the insights that are gained by the action research done by the speaker in the sectors of agriculture, water, natural resources, livelihood and water & sanitation in the villages of North Karnataka over the last two decades.
The talk will highlight the necessity of community participation in understanding the problems and designing interventions to solve them. The disentangling of problems that are interrelated will be discussed with examples. What makes the community own/disown development interventions will be discussed. The approaches for and strategies needed to sustaining development will be talked about too.Short Bio of the Speaker:
Dr. Prakash Bhat is a sustainable development expert involved in rural development, sustainable agriculture, and water & sanitation sector. He is also a Yakshagaana artist, writer and an environmentalist. Karnataka Government recognized him for his exemplary contributions in the area of agriculture and environment and honored him with the prestigious Karnataka Rajyotsava Award in 2015.
Dr. Bhat did Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Post-Graduation in bovine reproduction. Later he attended International Program on Development Evaluation Training (IPDET) conducted by World Bank and Carlton University Ottawa, Canada. Currently, he is serving as the Director of Jnanavikasa Training Institute, SKDRDP, Dharwad which works for the rural development.
Dr. Bhat worked with BAIF Development Research Foundation for 30 years in different capacities like Chief Programme Coordinator of BAIF in Karnataka. State Coordinator for 9 years from 1997 to 2005 for holistic development project funded by European Union. He was also CEO and Secretary of Society for Community Participation and Empowerment (SCOPE) 2010-2017.
Under his leadership and activities for community participation, 7000 families in more than 75 villages were mobilized and the community’s efforts resulted in planting of more than 2 million trees, harvesting more than 50 crore litres of water and change in agricultural practices in drought –affected 4000 families. Some of his innovative initiatives are “Hasiru (Green Festival)/Agi Habba(Festival of Saplings)”, “Snehada Jatre (Friendship Carnival)” as get together of the community ,ensuring participation of thousands of people in each event, built a training center, “Grama Chetana” on rural rejuvenation, motivating more than 2000 families to contribute in it. He also started “Jala Vichara Balaga (JVB), Simple Lifestyle Group (SLG) and Samagra Krishi Balaga (SKB) in Dharwad. He has given lectures in different parts of the country and the world on participatory development. He has published papers in national and international publications, on development. He has penned books on Sustainable Agricultural Practices and Indigenous Breeds of Cattle.