Video Volunteers Fixing the Gap between Community and Government

00:12:10
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Im-_RWcB9L8

Summary

TLDRVideo Volunteers is an organization focused on addressing the unresolved issues faced by marginalized communities through citizen journalism. They have been active for 18 years, working alongside community correspondents who report on problems such as access to ration cards, teacher shortages, and infrastructure delays. By collaborating with government officials, they facilitate solutions for the challenges reported by local citizens. Their interventions have led to significant improvements in access to essential services, equitable treatment for marginalized groups, and community empowerment through awareness and advocacy.

Takeaways

  • 🌍 Video Volunteers promotes community-led change.
  • 📰 Citizen correspondents report on local issues.
  • 🤝 Collaboration with officials leads to solutions.
  • 🎓 Educational access issues addressed.
  • 🚧 Infrastructure improvements recognized.
  • 📦 Ration card access enhanced for families.
  • 🚰 Water supply issues resolved after reporting.
  • 👥 Advocacy for marginalized communities continues.
  • 💡 Significant community empowerment through journalism.
  • 🙌 Video reports lead to timely governmental action.

Timeline

  • 00:00:00 - 00:05:00

    Video Volunteers is an organization dedicated to addressing overlooked issues in marginalized communities through citizen journalism. They collaborate with community correspondents to create video reports that highlight these issues, which are then shared with government officials to facilitate resolutions. Examples include helping families obtain ration cards, addressing teacher shortages in schools, and constructing essential infrastructure like roads and water towers, demonstrating the impact of community engagement and administrative support.

  • 00:05:00 - 00:12:10

    The organization emphasizes the importance of citizen journalism in raising awareness and prompting action on local issues. Instances include resolving compensation delays for toilet construction, providing electricity to unelectrified villages, and advocating for fair wages for ASHA workers during the COVID-19 pandemic. The success of these initiatives showcases the power of community involvement and collaboration with officials to bring about meaningful change for marginalized populations.

Mind Map

Video Q&A

  • What is Video Volunteers?

    Video Volunteers is an organization that highlights and resolves issues faced by marginalized communities through citizen journalism.

  • How long has Video Volunteers been operating?

    Video Volunteers has been active for 18 years.

  • What kind of issues do they address?

    They address issues like ration card access, teacher shortages, road construction delays, water supply problems, and discrimination against lower caste families.

  • How does Video Volunteers collaborate with government officials?

    They work with government officials to share video reports on community issues, prompting action and solutions.

  • What role do community correspondents play?

    Community correspondents act as citizen journalists, reporting on local issues through video.

  • How effective has their reporting been?

    Their reporting has led to timely actions and resolution of various community issues.

  • What was the impact of ASHA workers' protest?

    The protest led to fair wages for ASHA workers, supported by video reports highlighting their contributions during COVID.

  • What is the Swachha Bharat scheme?

    It is an initiative aimed at constructing toilets and promoting sanitation in rural areas.

  • How has citizen journalism impacted these communities?

    Citizen journalism has been crucial in raising awareness and prompting governmental action to address community concerns.

  • What is the aim of Video Volunteers in the future?

    They aim to continue working with officials to bring change to marginalized communities.

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  • 00:00:04
    A society progresses when the administration and the community move forward together.
  • 00:00:10
    Video Volunteers is an organization that believes in change and governance.
  • 00:00:15
    We, not only highlight the issues but we also work towards resolving them.
  • 00:00:20
    Video Volunteers has been working with communities for the past 18 years on issues that often go unnoticed.
  • 00:00:29
    Such issues become a big problem for the marginalised communities.
  • 00:00:35
    Our community correspondents work like a citizen journalist in their own community
  • 00:00:41
    and bring forth the issues in the form of video reports.
  • 00:00:46
    And VV does this work together with the communities
  • 00:00:50
    as well as government officials who help us in solving the most difficult issues.
  • 00:00:56
    Let us introduce you to some of the officers who helped us in solving the issues.
  • 00:01:06
    They did not have ration card.
  • 00:01:09
    Due to which the family of 9 was in trouble.
  • 00:01:18
    I met the Block Development Officer Kapil Kumar and shared my video report with him.
  • 00:01:24
    I also followed up with him regarding the issue thrice.
  • 00:01:27
    Called him twice to remind him to take action.
  • 00:01:31
    I learnt from Video Volunteers correspondent
  • 00:01:33
    that 2 families in Gomia were getting ration because they didn't have ration card.
  • 00:01:40
    Their application was filed online
  • 00:01:43
    and it was approved immediately and now the families have the ration cards.
  • 00:01:52
    I am in Patro village of Kupawar, Kashmir adjoining LOC.
  • 00:01:57
    There is an issue with number of teachers in schools.
  • 00:02:01
    I raised this issue with Director of Education during his visit.
  • 00:02:08
    We are looking into the matter and are aware of the issue.
  • 00:02:15
    Orders have been issued to extend the deployments till 31st March
  • 00:02:20
    and deployment after that have been cancelled.
  • 00:02:24
    We are accessing the situation and are considering schools with student teacher ratio imbalance.
  • 00:02:30
    We will be allotting teachers to schools with less teachers.
  • 00:02:35
    We will be contacting Chief Officer soon and after that teachers will be appointed soon.
  • 00:02:45
    In Juganikalar village of Chhattisgarh, 15km road was not constructed since 2 years.
  • 00:02:50
    Around 6000 people from four panchayats use this road from commuting
  • 00:02:58
    I made a video report on this issue
  • 00:03:00
    and shared the report with officers in Gramin Sadak Yojana office.
  • 00:03:05
    We have got the approval and we will fix the road and bridge by 31st March
  • 00:03:14
    We are very thankful that this road was constructed.
  • 00:03:17
    We used to face a lot of trouble during monsoon while travelling on this road.
  • 00:03:23
    But now even big vehicles can travel on this road.
  • 00:03:30
    16 Mushar (lower caste) families were not receiving ration due to discrimination against them
  • 00:03:36
    Anil Kumar from Video Volunteers informed about the discrimination in Chandrapura.
  • 00:03:42
    That since 2 months nutritious ration was denied to 16 families.
  • 00:03:47
    I saw Anil's video report
  • 00:03:49
    from Chandrapura's Musahir community hamlet.
  • 00:03:55
    I was very shocked and heartbroken to see such conditions of people there
  • 00:03:57
    Personally I went to meet the community people.
  • 00:04:02
    I asked the community to share their concerns with me.
  • 00:04:06
    They told me they don't get the ration regularly.
  • 00:04:10
    I got in touch with the Anganwadi worker and distributed ration to the community.
  • 00:04:20
    I am thankful to Anil for raising such issues and incidents so we could take timely action.
  • 00:04:30
    For two years this village was deprived of water because of incompletion of the water tower.
  • 00:04:34
    Two years ago they had installed a water tower, but it was of no use.
  • 00:04:40
    We were forced to use dirty well water.
  • 00:04:44
    You brought the issue to our notice about the water tower not working in Bhuiyan tola.
  • 00:04:53
    I also saw the video report made by you.
  • 00:04:58
    We have fixed the water tower and now it's working after your intervention.
  • 00:05:05
    We are sometimes unaware of the ground reality.
  • 00:05:08
    When people like you notify us about these ground level issues,
  • 00:05:13
    we and the community thank you for raising such issues and informing us on time.
  • 00:05:26
    Ma'am I had applied to be a janitor for community toilets,
  • 00:05:30
    but the previous village head removed my name and instead gave the job to his daughter-in-law.
  • 00:05:35
    Earlier, the woman had applied for the job multiple times to the Block Development Office.
  • 00:05:44
    You guided her through the process of filling forms and reach different offices to get the job.
  • 00:05:50
    You helped her.
  • 00:05:53
    After that the matter came to me and we held a meeting to discuss the matter.
  • 00:05:59
    We all unanimously agreed and decided to appoint her for the job.
  • 00:06:02
    She has been working since December now.
  • 00:06:08
    I am grateful to all the village officials
  • 00:06:13
    who helped me and the affected woman to get a job and live life with dignity.
  • 00:06:24
    Toilets were constructed under Lohiyan Swachch Abhiyan
  • 00:06:31
    but the said amount of Rs 12000 was not compensated by the government.
  • 00:06:34
    They kept going to the block office for the issue but all was in vain.
  • 00:06:37
    It's been a year since my ward became open defecation free
  • 00:06:42
    but we have not received any compensation as we should have.
  • 00:06:46
    You notified us about the problem and it was resolved with in 15 days.
  • 00:06:50
    How did you come to know about the issue?
  • 00:06:52
    You has filed a complaint and when we investigated, it was true that compensation had not been given to these people.
  • 00:06:58
    Their names were not entered in the database that's why their compensation got delayed.
  • 00:07:03
    We immediately added them to the list and gave them their compensation.
  • 00:07:11
    It's been 70 years since Independence and these villagers still don't have electricity.
  • 00:07:16
    Even today kids here study using a lantern.
  • 00:07:19
    Here 500 people were living without electricity for years.
  • 00:07:26
    We looked at all unelectrified colonies or villages,
  • 00:07:31
    and we provided electricity to all houses.
  • 00:07:36
    We have resolved this issue.
  • 00:07:43
    In Shopian the shopkeepers have encroached the footpaths and roads.
  • 00:07:48
    We have been notifying the administration for last 2 years regularly.
  • 00:07:55
    I have made a video report on this issue a year back.
  • 00:08:07
    We know about this issue and it is part of our deliverables.
  • 00:08:10
    This issue should be resolved on priority. As you can see traffic is a big problem here.
  • 00:08:14
    People have no space to walk.
  • 00:08:16
    Sir this is part of our deliverable and we will be resolving this issue soon.
  • 00:08:19
    I would like to assure you about the problem raised by you. It has been raised earlier too.
  • 00:08:27
    We will be deciding a strategy to fix the problem and also ensure to enforce it continuously.
  • 00:08:40
    During the Covid wave in India, ASHA workers conducted a huge protest.
  • 00:08:44
    Their demand was to get fair wages for the work they had done during covid emergency.
  • 00:08:49
    We have received the money that we demanded for our work.
  • 00:08:54
    My video journalism, community support were very crucial for ASHA protest being a success.
  • 00:09:01
    I made a video report on ASHA agitation and shared it with ASHA union, network
  • 00:09:07
    and also mailed the Maharashtra government.
  • 00:09:11
    And raised problems faced by ASHA and demanded compensation for them.
  • 00:09:16
    When ASHA's met the government officials, they mentioned that they have received video report and complaint, this was my videos impact.
  • 00:09:25
    They realised that how ASHA's were going out of their way during covid and it was acknowledged by the government officials.
  • 00:09:31
    I believe in future this kind of reporting and journalism will be very helpful,
  • 00:09:41
    in raising problems faced by communities.
  • 00:09:50
    Maya has shown us how citizen journalism plays crucial roles in bringing impacts.
  • 00:09:58
    Since 2 years permission was given to build toilets under the Swachha Bharat scheme.
  • 00:10:05
    But due to lack of attention from the Panchayat, the construction got delayed.
  • 00:10:11
    The community raised the issue in every village meeting.
  • 00:10:16
    This led to construction of the toilets.
  • 00:10:20
    Saroj Paraste informed us about the issue and we took cognizance of it.
  • 00:10:28
    I saw the video report made by her.
  • 00:10:32
    Toilets were not built that time, but now we have resolved the issue.
  • 00:10:40
    In Jamod, Usra and Sungaon villages of Maharashtra were getting water in the farms only at night.
  • 00:10:47
    Farmers have sowed onions and it was getting difficult to plough, water the land at night.
  • 00:10:55
    I made a video report on this issue in January and it became viral.
  • 00:11:02
    Government officials also saw the video and immediately took action.
  • 00:11:10
    They changed the water and electricity timings to day and now farmers can do the work in daylight.
  • 00:11:16
    Vinod Wankhede informed me about the issue faced by the farmers.
  • 00:11:20
    I informed by supervisors about this and requested to resolve the issue.
  • 00:11:30
    Farmers were facing issues due to loadshedding.
  • 00:11:32
    We sent an application to our seniors and put in a request to change the timings.
  • 00:11:44
    We sincerely thank all those government officials
  • 00:11:47
    who have given their time in our effort to change and bring impacts in the lives of communities.
  • 00:11:53
    We hope that in future together with the help of officials
  • 00:11:57
    bring a change in the lives of the marginalised communities.
  • 00:12:02
    Thank You.
Tags
  • Video Volunteers
  • citizen journalism
  • community engagement
  • government collaboration
  • marginalized communities
  • social issues
  • ration cards
  • Swachha Bharat
  • education
  • infrastructure