The gender and development concept looks at the socially constructed differences between women and men where the relations are the result of rules, traditions and culture, and has become an accepted perspective for all development work. The scope of this gender and development shall cover key stakeholders at community, CBO, PO, Networks and forum levels. The gender policy shall cover issues like composition, structure, participation in decision making, strategies for addressing strategic needs, positive discrimination etc. In this context, forum initiate with a specific focus on integrating women and related issues in the course i.e.

1.Gender mainstreaming

2.Gender justice

3.Gender violence

4.Gender equity

In the context of issues related to gender, it had all along been a most desired; but dreaded change that always faced a stiff resistance in all process.

Panchayati Raj Institution:

Panchayati raj institution, the ultimate unit of democratic decentralisation in the process of development. The forum has experienced that the PRI’s are the most efficient tools for change; to avail this opportunities the forum has initiated a state level dialogue with the government, supported by 5000 women panchayats representatives to advocate critical issues prevailing in the state. The issues taken up for strengthening Gram Panchayats at various level in general and empowering Gram Sabha in particular in the future are: -

1. Strengthening gram Sabha

2. Empowerment of women panchayat representatives.

3. Lobbing and advocacy.

4. Strategic intervention for policy change.

Disaster management:

Disaster has been an integral part of evolutionary human history and ancient communities have learned to live with them in a symbiotic relationship. However the state has been continiously facing a natural perilous. Jan Kendrit Vikas Manch, realizing this, has delved in disaster mitigation and relief since its inception. It has made immutable efforts in copping traditional knowledge base with modern concepts and skills. JKVM has been ignite in generating awareness about disasters, creating a pool of manpower to deal with such episodes, expanding and strengthening the role of local self government bodies and respective policy level changes. The forum has identified their focused issues are: -

1. Community based disaster management

2. Develop an effective communication and documentation center.

3. Disaster preparedness and mitigation.

4. Legislative and educative measures.

5. Policy level measures.

Through these core areas, JKVM has made a future plan to share its diverse activities related to disasters, with its stake holders.

Networking and alliance building:

Jan Kendrit Vikas Manch, in the state of Uttar Pradesh has been principally active towards strengthening their network through its partners and stakeholders, context, takes on the role of a development promotion organisation that enables and assists groups of NGOs in their efforts towards a just, participatory and sustainable development. Voluntary development organizations (NGOs) in a collective mode in a contiguous geographical area around certain common issues. The voluntary development organizations shall work with CBOs, POs and promote and facilitate their networks and integrate these in a collective forum/platform.

It is thus important to emphasize that the partnership between CASA,JKVM and agencies in general and this cooperation in particular has been based on a process of continuous review and reflection and has incorporated changes in its structure and functioning on the basis of experiences gained and learning generated during the course.