(Acknowledgements: Dhwani Lalai, Keertan Baghel, Ramkumar, Dheeresh, Umesh and Rajesh of Foundation for Ecological Security in 2019-20) For decades, “participation” has been one of the most overused—and least understood—words in development. From large donor programmes to grassroots NGOs, everyone claims to involve the community. But does participation really empower people? Or has it become a comfortable ritual that leaves deeper structures untouched? Mahatma Gandhi: Google images Paulo Friere: from shutterstock To answer this, it helps to return to two thinkers who shaped the idea long before it became a development buzzword. Mahatma Gandhi imagined the what of a true democracy—self-governed, self-reliant communities shaping their own futures. Paulo Freire offered the how —dialogue, critical awareness and the courage to question oppression. When put together, they point toward a participatory approach that is not just about including people in projects, but about enabling t...
जैसे इस वक्त मेरे देश में सुबह का समय है यह मेरे लिए सत्य है लेकिन ठीक उसी समय अमेरिका में रात है यह वहां का सत्य है, मनुष्य का सत्य जगह और परिस्थितयों में बदल जाता है,
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