Ministry of Panchayati Raj(MoPR) has identified 9 goals for development of villages across the country. To successfully achieve these goals, MoPR has involved Gram Panchayats ( local governing body of a village) to work on these goals with the involvement of local people and other local governance agencies/ officers. The biggest challenge in making these goals a success is lack of awareness among the villagers and also the members of Gram Panchayats, about various welfare schemes/ programs that have been initiated by the Central/ State Governments and local governing agencies for villagers/ various communities based on local needs and customs. Further, these goals need to be translated into policies for implementation at local level for the benefit of the communities targeted to be served. The goals identified by MoPR are:

• Poverty Free Village with Enhanced Livelihood
• Healthy Village
• Clean and Green Village
• Water Sufficient Village
• Village with Self Sufficient Infrastructure
• Child Friendly Village
• Socially Secured Village
• Village promoting Gender Equality
• Village with Good Governance

For implementing the above goals, people and agencies at the grassroot level have to be involved. The most important and crucial task is to create awareness among the villagers and communities about various welfare programs/ schemes meant for them by conducting continuous and regular capacity building programs for the villagers/ communities/beneficiaries. Next is the active role of Gram Panchayats who would work as a bridge and coordinator between villagers/ communities and other agencies viz local government bodies, Committees, District Administration, Farmers’ Organizations, Self Help Groups, Hospitals/ Nursing Homes, ASHAs, health workers, doctors, Aganwadi workers, agriculture related functionaries, literacy workers and teachers, bankers, Rozgarsevaks, school management committees, private sector organizations, NGOs, social activists and JanMitr.

JanMitr is any person- student, entrepreneur, employed/ unemployed, housewife, senior citizen and social worker, based and willing to work in rural areas. He/she is trained to connect with the persons in need of services in the field of school education, higher education, skill development, career guidance, mentoring and support, healthcare, agriculture, technology and veteran care and provide support by connecting the needy to avail the required services and products and facilitating their last mile delivery. In addition, JanMitr also provides Capacity Building and training to Gram Panchayat members and villagers to make them aware of various welfare schemes/ programs sponsored by Central/ State/ Local Governments for the welfare of the people. Thus, JanMitr also contributes to creation of employment and additional income opportunities for self and others on a long term self-sustainable model, which is one of the goals of village development.