Mendha Lekha

• Active member of Jayaprakash Narayanji's Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Wahini
• Believer in Gandhiji-Vinobaji's thesis of people's power
• Established Vrikshamitra in 1984 in Gadchiroli District, Maharashtra
  • Objective: Promote environment, forest livelihood, and self-rule

• Selfless Sahyogi Mitra (Collaborator Friend) and activist
• Propagates Gram Swaraj effectively
• Conducted study on 'People and Forest' and village decision-making
• Guided Mendha (Lekha), a tribal village in Gadchiroli
• Focus areas:
  • Forest conservation
  • Sustainability
  • Equity and security
  • Women's participation
  • Alcohol prohibition
  • Fight against corruption
  • Cultural rights
  • Youth empowerment

• Made Gram Sabha inclusive, participatory, and active
• Facilitated study circles for issue discussion
• Helped villagers understand and claim Nistar (forest produce rights)
• Addressed women's participation and alcohol ban
• Fostered full participation of women in decision-making
• Launched movement for self-rule and village development

• Raised awareness about legal forest rights
• Enabled conferment of Community Forest Rights in 2009 under Forest Rights Act
• Managed and protected forests, generated income
• Wrested bamboo rights from Forest Department
• Handed transit passes to Gram Sabha for bamboo trade
• Drafted manual for resource management and village planning

• Involved educated youth in biodiversity and forest resource management
• Created Village Bio-diversity Register
• Linked forest data with GPS and digital systems
• Set up data management systems for governance
• Organized vocational training in bamboo processing and crafts
• Formed Self Help Groups for micro-activities (ration shop, kerosene, tractor rental)

• Carried out anti-corruption work
• Village motto: "In Delhi and Mumbai we have our Government, but in village we ourselves are Government"
• Achieved 100% village consensus on decisions
• Contributed 10% of income to Village Fund (Gram Kosh)
• Promoted community work, labor, and resource sharing
• Ensured bio-gas units and sanitation in every house
• Set up Grain Bank for crises

• Achieved Gramdan status in 2013 under Maharashtra Gramdan Act
• First village in the country to become Gramdan after 35 years
• Utilized laws effectively for self-rule and village development

• Emphasized constructive work, non-violence, and Gandhian ideals
• Developed study groups and consensus-based decision-making
• Believes in village potential and community empowerment
• Inspired by Gandhiji's concept of 'Poorna Swaraj' (Complete Self-Rule)

VRIKSHAMITRA Organization
Shende Plot, Ram Nagar, Chandrapur-442401, Maharashtra
M: 09422835234
E: mohanhh@gmail.com