Community Swaraj :- Of the people ! By the people !

The Centre for Development Communication (CDC) of DHAN Foundation invites filmmakers to take part in the Short Film Competition, organized as part of the 13th Development Film Festival to be commenced at Madurai from October 25, 2021.

Theme

The contributions of the communities individually and collectively have been monumental in sustaining the development and there are been many anonymous and unsung illuminating icons of communities who gave direction to the course of development since independence. Swaraj is a powerful word that is an expression of solidarity and sustainability.

Indeed, the community at the grassroots is capable of making wonders when they join together and start working in a collective way. Their collective energy results in exponential outcomes which also establishes new social order for the next generation. The collective strength of the community brings the stakeholders together and capitalizes the resources to its utmost extent in achieving Swaraj.

Swaraj is envisioned as a state of holistic development assured with self-sufficiency across a variety of arenas in the given living context. Poverty eradication would be a top priority embedded with greater cooperation and equity. Swaraj establishes thematic leadership to ensure the sector's long-term viability.

The Centre for Development Communication (CDC) is pleased to invite filmmakers to showcase their short films either success stories on the community Swaraj or capturing present trends related to any of the themes listed below.

1. Water Swaraj: Water conservation for future generations is a top priority for each of us, and it can only be accomplished via concerted efforts. There are communities that have demonstrated their uttermost ownership in the conservation of water sources in the given area so that rainwater can be harvested to its maximum potential. Water Swaraj has blossomed here in the form of the highest ownership and governance over water bodies in terms of conservation, consumption, and long-term upkeep.
2. Women Swaraj: Empowerment of women educationally, socially, economically, politically, and legally is a continuous and systematic process to get a required transformation of society at all levels. Women’s equal participation and making decisions in the important areas of development in society make the development genuine and meaningful. Economic transformation, grooming women as leaders in politics, business, science, and important fields in society are an absolute necessity.
3. Health Swaraj: The health and well-being of the individuals and communities are influenced by a range of factors both within and outside the individual’s control such as socio-economic status, physical and social environment, and access to affordable and quality healthcare services, formal and informal social security arrangements to cope-up with the shocks and so on. Therefore, addressing the consequences and underlying causes of poor health requires a multi-pronged approach to work with individuals as well as at the community levels. The theme on Health Swaraj in film festival would showcase successful community health models which have rooted self-health governance at the community level.
4. Farm Swaraj: The agricultural community is capable of governing the conservation, production, consumption, and commercialization of the crops they produce when they approach it collectively. The collective models like Famers Producer Organizations are coming out with utmost vibrancy in establishing farm swaraj in the locality from seed to seed. The theme on Farm Swaraj in the film festival would showcase/emphasize the unique governance of the farming practices by the local communities.