Methodology
The pilot GGKs are to be set up in Atlapur (Phase 1) and Nirgudi (Phase 2) at the earliest. The process of setting up GGK starts with identification of individuals who are considered to be resourceful in areas like crop and animal husbandry, medicinal and local healing practices, soil and water conservation, germ-plasm and biodiversity preservation, home management etc. The suggested methodology for identifying resource persons could be:

Sociometry: Asking people in the village to name people whom they seek for assistance in certain areas or to solve certain problems. The individuals sought by most of the people could be the resource persons.

Key Informants Rating: The key informants in the village like sarpanch, school teachers etc. can be contacted to name the resource persons.

Self-Rating methods: This method involves talking to few villagers and asking whether they consider themselves as resource persons in the village.

Experience sharing workshops, which are already being held for a long time, could also become a forum for selecting resource persons.

All of these methods, a combination of these or even new methodology may be adopted to select resource persons keeping in view the time and other constraints.

After selecting the resource persons, a meeting may be convened under the auspices of VDS and is to be facilitated by PRAWARDA and AME representatives. During this meeting, the following issues need to be addressed:

• Discuss what the VDS and resource persons feel about the GGK
• Explore the areas in which counselling may be started
• How and when to meet at the VDS so as to start attracting the attention of villagers
• Consider issues to concretise the idea of GGK

Based on the feedback from this meeting, further strategies may be developed. Simultaneously, methodologies for documenting and validating ITKs are to be initiated. The AME team may start this process by developing appropriate documentation tools. The process of identifying training needs of GGK team should be initiated. Ways and means to make the village community patronise GGK should be explored.

Role of partners

PSMU:
Explores and extends training opportunities for the GGK
Makes space for GGK representatives in the SAT
Supports GGK with seed money starting from the financial year 2002

PRAWARDA:
Assists capacity building of GGK team through its SAT
Strives to popularise the GGK concept among the local community
Provides logistical support to the AME team during their field visits including sparing the services of one or two members of their field staff
Monitors the institution and helps in database management

AME:
Initiates identification of the GGK team
Explores training needs of the GGK team
Develops appropriate training modules and imparts skill training to GGK members and SAT
Develops methodologies and tools for documenting and validating ITKs
Initiates the process of documenting and validation of ITKs along with PRAWARDA staff so that it becomes a self sustaining process soon
Assists PRAWARDA in developing linkages
Prepares periodical process reports (preferably, semester wise) and other useful documents.

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