It has been my privilege to work with Naandi Foundation on World Bank supported Project Bachpan in a tribal block in Ratlam district in MP, a unique and complex project focused on convergent, decentralized & participatory planning. Its uniqueness lies in breaking sectoral silos and planning for the ‘child’ at the village level, and not for health, nutrition or education! Project Bachpan successfully demonstrated over two years how convergent, decentralized & participatory planning is possible by involving the Community Youth (Jan Mitra) in mobilizing the community, tapping local talent (Sandesh Vahini) and language for awareness creation and bringing service providers and community together in the planning process in a supportive mode by constituting Village Resource Groups (VRG), which can gradually begin to interact with the local administration and ensure service quality. This process was conceptualized and demonstrated by Naandi Foundation very effectively.

- Venita Kaul, Senior Education Specialist (Retired), The World Bank.