Who We Are?
Debate Lok Nyas is a dedicated trust committed to empowering communities, fostering participatory governance, and driving sustainable development. With a belief in the power of informed debate and dialogue, we aim to create platforms that amplify voices, inspire action, and bring transformative change to society.
Our Journey
Founded in the year 2000 as an informal collective of like-minded individuals, Debate Lok Nyas was formally registered as a public trust in 2002. The organization was born out of the need to address critical gaps in grassroots governance, community development, and capacity building.
From its early days of mobilizing local bodies and facilitating participatory planning in rural Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh, Debate Lok Nyas has expanded its scope to include policy advocacy, health initiatives, livelihood enhancement, and education programs. Over the years, we have partnered with numerous organizations, including UNDP, UNICEF, Action Aid, and state governments, to design and implement impactful projects that uplift marginalized communities.
What We Do?
Guided by the philosophy of empowerment through participation, Debate Lok Nyas focuses on:
Strengthening local self-governance systems like Panchayats.
Advocating for policies that promote equity and inclusion.
Building capacity through training, research, and community mobilization.
Creating sustainable models of development in health, education, and livelihoods.
Through our efforts, we envision a society where every individual has the knowledge, opportunity, and voice to shape their own future.
Focus Area
Participatory Governance
Empowerment of Marginalized Communities
Sustainable Development
Advocacy and Research
Our Partners & Colleborators
Community Level Initiatives
Community Participation in Governance and Decision Making
The Constitution identified 29 subjects as an area of work for Panchayats. These include health, education, rural industries, water management and irrigation, agriculture development, development of fisheries, animal husbandry, dairying and poultry. Debate realised that unless successful models of effective local self-government are not developed the powers and authority of self-determination, on subjects and issues of local importance, will not come to the local communities.
Food Security
Debate worked in the tribal areas of Betul and found that people faced scarcity of food grains during rainy season. Based on the situation Debate started a programme to address this issue. After community consultation it was decided to develop grain banks in a cluster of 21 villages. The grain banks were established with community contribution of 5 kg of maize and 5 kg of wheat from each household. Later government also contributed 4 quintal of wheat per grain bank. Grain banks were established year 2001 and are working very successfully.
Water management and Agricultural Development
Water is a major challenge in almost all the villages where we have worked. Water for household uses, water for animals and water for irrigational requirements are three major areas of concern in the villages of Madhya Pradesh. In all the villages Debate had to face this issue and demand of support from the community. Major focus of work was to create water harvesting structures with the use of low cost and sustainable technologies. Debate has helped communities in Rajgarh and Sahdol districts to construct structure for water conservation.