Behind stronger child protection efforts are social workers who help bring families, communities and local systems together around children’s needs. In Gadchiroli, Maharashtra, Mahesh Lade is helping make that connection work on the ground.
As a Block Coordinator with Amhi Amchya Arogyasathi, one of Miracle Foundation India’s Care Collective partners, Mahesh works across ten villages, strengthening Village Child Protection Committees (VCPCs) and helping communities understand how they can act to protect children and support families.
When Mahesh began working with communities in Korchi, he found that VCPCs had already been formed, but many members did not know they were part of the committee or did not understand their roles. He began working with members to build their understanding of child rights, child protection and the local systems they could approach and, importantly, helped them build the confidence to use them.
The change became visible in the way communities began responding to concerns themselves. In Temali village, VCPC members identified that 24 children were travelling 5-7 km to school every day, including through a forest area, without transport. Mahesh supported the members in taking the concern forward to the Gram Panchayat, which subsequently allocated funds through the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) for transportation.
When two people in another community died from malaria, VCPC members again knew where to turn. They approached the Taluka Health Office, leading to health check-ups and preventive measures. Mahesh’s role was not to solve these issues himself, but to help communities understand the systems available to them and take their concerns forward. His work has also helped connect families with existing government support. In Salhe and Zendepar villages, Mahesh supported Gram Sabha processes that helped identify families requiring government schemes and emergency assistance. Engagement with Gram Panchayat representatives then helped families obtain essential documents and access eligible services and entitlements.
For Mahesh, this has changed how he sees his role in child protection. “Through this work, I have realized that child protection is not the responsibility of one person or one department. When community members understand their role and know whom to approach, they can become part of the solution. Sometimes our role is not to solve a problem ourselves, but to connect the community with the right system and help them take the issue forward,” states Mahesh.
Mahesh’s experience shows that strengthening a community institution is not just about creating a committee. It is about giving members the knowledge and confidence to understand concerns, use the systems available to them and take action themselves.