Pune District Report | Covid-free Village Program | Aug-Dec'21

3. COVID FREE VILLAGE PROGRAM
PUNE DISTRICT - REPORT
(AUGUST TO DECEMBER 2021)

4. 2
SNo. Content
Page
No.
1 Covid Free Village - Concept Note 03
2 BJS’ Preparation for Covid Free Village 10
3 Program Management Platform – KMS and PMS 11
4
Study Tour on Covid Situation of Rural areas - Shri Shantilal
Muttha
13
5
Pilot of Covid Free Village program in Hotspot Villages of
Pune District in collaboration with Zilla Parishad, Pune
20
6 Training of Master Trainers & Taluka Coordinators 21
7
Initiation of Covid Free Village Program in Pune District by
BJS and Zilla Parishad, Pune
23
8
Implementation of Covid Free Village program in 421
villages of Pune Disitrict
58
9
Preliminary Assessment of Covid Free Village Program
(Executive Summary)
59
10 Response from villagers and Government officials 66
INDEX

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INTRODUCTION
The Covid-19 pandemic has largely been an urban phenomenon until recently. However, the
country is now witnessing an increase in new infections in peri-urban, rural and tribal areas.
This is a challenge as public health infrastructure and services would require major bolstering
in rural areas to adequately respond to the pandemic. Recent guidelines by the Ministry of
Health & Family Welfare, Government of India call upon Gram Panchayats and other village
stakeholders to help strengthen the primary healthcare system to effectively address this
emerging challenge.
COVID-FREE VILLAGE
The Covid-free Village (CFV) is a community-led program that takes responsibility for
protecting villages from the impact of the pandemic. The objective is to empower villagers
to take ownership and create a people’s movement for containing the pandemic through
collective action by creating Village Task Forces.
The model demonstrates success in “one village” that can be taken to scale across the
country. Its frameworks, processes, stakeholder roles and responsibilities, and support material
such as training modules, BCC/IEC creatives, technology interventions etc. have all been
developed to support implementation at scale. The program is informed by BJS’ 35 years of
grassroots experience in health, disaster response, education, water, and social development.
EMPOWERING VILLAGES THROUGH COLLECTIVE ACTION
BJS strongly believes in the inherent capacity of communities to find solutions to their
own problems. Every village has self-motivated people ready to contribute their time and
efforts for the well-being of their communities. However, what they often lack are a platform,
COVID-FREE VILLAGE - Concept Note
A people’s movement for Covid containment in rural India

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guidance, training, and the tools to facilitate leadership for collective community action. The
CFV program empowers the village through a people’s movement to protect them from the
impact of the pandemic.
The program focuses on creation of Village Task Forces that take responsibility for specific
Covid-containment measures. Social mobilization facilitates preparation of the village for
collective action led by the Sarpanch and village leaders like Gram Sevak, Talati and village
seniors. The Village Task Force provides a strong community platform for Covid containment
by:
• Mobilizing village communities to create an enabling environment for Covid-appropriate
behaviours and risk reduction through awareness drives and BCC/IEC interventions
• Supporting the district/taluka administrations to strengthen tracing, tracking, testing and
treatment of Covid cases in the village
• Assisting with setting-up of quarantine centres and Covid care centres, including for children if
needed
• Facilitating coordination with district/taluka administrations for utilization of government
schemes
• Supporting the vaccination program of the administration to ensure 100% vaccine coverage of
eligible people in the village
The increased awareness on Covid-appropriate behaviour, enabling environment for risk-
reduction, Covid containment measures implemented by the Village Task Forces, and linkages
established with the district/taluka administrations are expected to empower the village to
protect themselves from the pandemic.
PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT
BJS has designed and developed the CFV program with clear frameworks, strategies
and processes. Resources have also been developed for training and handholding of Village
Task Force members and other stakeholders. The interplay of roles and responsibilities of
stakeholders have been articulated in the program design to ensure clarity at all levels. The
following preparations have been completed by BJS to have the program ready for scaled
implementation:
• Development of conceptual, operational, monitoring and evaluation frameworks
• Defining the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders and their interplay in key processes
• Implementation guidelines and standard operating procedures
• BCC/IEC creatives on all aspects of Covid containment implemented by Village Task Forces
• Implementation guidebooks for all stakeholders, including Sarpanch and VTF members
• Self-learning audio-visual training modules to facilitate online training and capacity building

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• Universal access to program resources by stakeholders to assist with program monitoring, data
collection and dashboard processes
• Development of a program management platform with technology connect to support scale and
replication
• Guidelines and process maps for mobilizing local student interns to impart training and build
capacity of Village Task Forces
• Framework for Covid-free Village competitions, including indicators to motivate villages
OWNERSHIP BY THE STATE GOVERNMENT
The CFV program is implemented in the state as a government initiative. The State
Government issues suitable orders and declares Covid-free Village competitions with prizes
in different categories awarded to winning Gram Panchayats. Participation in the program is
demand-driven; and Gram Panchayats desirous of joining the program and competition submit
applications to Taluka Administration. The State Government supports implementation by
establishing Program Management Units at State, District and Taluka levels, nominating
Nodal Officers for coordination with stakeholders.
Figure-1: Support Structure of the CFV Program

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ANTICIPATED CHALLENGES
Although the CFV program has been designed with flexibility to support state-specific
contexts, the following challenges are anticipated in its scaled implementation:
• Social mobilization in thousands of villages. Village communities across the state need to be
mobilizedtoignitetheirpassionandpreparethemforastrongcollectiveresponsetothepandemic
• Building grassroots extension capacities for training and handholding of Village Task Forces by
engaging local student interns in a structured manner
• Ownership of the program management platform by a premier management institution as
envisaged in the program
• Use of tech-enabled processes in low-literacy village settings
STRATEGY FOR SCALE
Toprogramadoptsfollowingapproachestoaddresstheaboveimplementationchallenges:
• Decentralised Program Management Platform: Managing the program in thousands of villages
can be a complex task. To successfully accomplish this at scale, BJS has developed a decentralized
program management platform, which is offered as a public good to the state government as
part of BJS’ strategic partnership. The state government is supported by a galvanized impact
sector by harnessing their strengths through strategic, capacity building and implementing NGO
partnerships with technology enabling scale and quality in program management.
Figure-2 Decentralized Program Management Platform:
• Involvement of NSS Program Officers and Student Volunteers: The State Government mobilizes
the state NSS organization, including NSS Coordinators in Universities, Program Officers and
Student Volunteers in Colleges to support on-site grassroots capacity building and handholding of
Sarpanchs and Village Task Forces. The State Government also supports participating NSS Student
Volunteers by providing them academic credits as per UGC norms. Online training of NSS Program
Officers and Student Volunteers will enable them to in turn train and handhold Sarpanchs and

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members of Village Task Forces. NSS Student Volunteers will be deployed in their home/nearby
preferred villages to support Village Task Forces. Mobilization of the NSS organization in the state
ensures a win-win situation for all – Student Volunteers in terms of the learning opportunities and
academic credits, villages for the assistance they receive for Covid containment, and government
in terms of effective Covid risk-reduction in thousands of villages. Apart from award of academic
credits for their contributions, NSS Student Volunteers will be given certificates co-signed by the
State Government, University/College and BJS. In addition, the State Government may declare
special awards to NSS teams that supported winning Gram Panchayats in CFV competitions.
• Program Management Units: To channelize government’s support for the program, Program
Management Units (PMU) will be established by the government at state, district and taluka levels.
The State Government will nominate Nodal Officers at PMUs for effective coordination with all
program stakeholders.
• Technology Platform: The program uses tech-enabled solutions for universal access and
utilization of resources by stakeholders at all levels. A user-friendly technology platform has been
developed to facilitate monitoring, data collection, reporting and dashboard processes, especially
keeping in mind the low-literacy village setting. The platform has been designed with flexibility to
allow contextual changes and the requirements of scale.
• CFV Competitions: To incentivise participation of Gram Panchayats in the program, the State
Government will declare CFV competitions with prizes for winning Gram Panchayats in different
categories. Prizes will be aligned with demonstrated success in key result areas of the CFV program.
The categories of prizes to be awarded, the prize money, and guidelines for utilization of the prize
money will be announced by the State Government while declaring the competitions. The State
Government will also finalize the assessment process for selection of winners.
Figure-3: Strategy for Scaled Implementation

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PARTNERSHIPS
BJS will harness the power of partnerships to implement the Covid-free Village program. In
Karnataka, BJS has entered into a strategic partnership with the Government of Karnataka. The
following actions have been initiated in Karnataka by BJS and the State Government to develop
additional partnerships for implementation, knowledge, funding etc.
• Sattva Consulting on-boarded as a lead partner
• State NSS organization mobilized to provide NSS Program Officers and Student Volunteers for
training of VTFs
• Partnerships with two reputed universities/educational institutions for capacity building support
• Partnershipwithagroupof22NGOsexperiencedinruraldevelopmentforprogramimplementation
• Partnership with United Way Bangalore and different donors to channelize resources
THEORY OF CHANGE
The program seeks to empower villages for Covid containment through a people’s
movement. It envisages villages taking responsibility for community-led collective action to
protect them from impact of the pandemic. The State Government, BJS, implementing NGO
partners, universities and colleges play critical roles in program implementation and capacity
building.
Figure-4: Theory of Change
FLEXIBLE, CONTEXT-SPECIFIC, MULTI-LEVEL IMPLEMENTATION
APPROACH
Responding to the dynamic pandemic situation calls for a flexible, context-specific
program implementation approach. At present, achieving Covid vaccination targets is on high

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priority of several State Governments, along with awareness on Covid-appropriate behaviours
and increased utilization of Covid-specific government schemes. The CFV program is flexible
enough to tailor its implementation priorities based on such context-specific needs. Given the
focus on Covid vaccinations and Covid-appropriate behaviours, those levels of interventions
will be implemented by Village Task Forces on priority. If and when there is a spike in new
Covid infections in a particular geography, Village Task Forces there will immediately respond
to the situation by activating the required level of interventions such as tracing, tracking,
testing and treatment of Covid cases, as well as supporting quarantine centres and Covid care
centres. Thus, ongoing needs assessment at the village level becomes integral to this flexible
approach. Training of all Village Task Forces will however be undertaken right from the start of
the program to ensure readiness of villages to face all emerging scenarios.
Table-1: Flexible, Context-specific Implementation Approach
PILOT IMPLEMENTATION IN PUNE DISTRICT
TheCFVprogramwaspilotedin144villagesidentifiedbytheDistrictAdministrationacross
11 Talukas of Pune district. During initial visits to villages, field teams established contacts
with Gram Panchayats and key village stakeholders in all pilot villages. A team of Taluka
Coordinators were trained and deployed in the first week of August 2021 to implement the
pilot. Village profiles of all villages were developed and Sarpanchs in all villages were trained.
Program resources like BCC/IEC material, guidebooks, audio-visual training modules etc. were
used in the pilot to test their effectiveness and user-acceptance. A structured training program
was implemented for village level stakeholders through Taluka Coordinators and student
interns. A preliminary assessment was conducted to learn from the pilot experience to inform
implementation and scale.

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BJS’ Preparation for Covid Free Village Program
• Program design and development
• Conceptual, operational and monitoring frameworks
• Roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders
• Process Finalization
• Standard Operating Procedures
• Training modules for all stakeholders
• Development of strategies for village and the Sarpanch
• Everyday online training of Village Task Forces
• Preparation of audio-visuals for all stakeholders
• Preparation of implementation guidebooks (pictorial)
• Development of KMS and PMS Technology platform
A) Technology to access, share and download information of all kind of program material,
training manuals, Guidebooks, Audio / Visuals etc. from home (KMS)
B) While implementing the Covid Free Village, to monitor the developments in each village and
to carry out the necessary monitoring. As well as compiling the progress from time to time to
create the Dashboards through Technology (PMS).
• Integration of NSS students and program officers
• Finalization of the process to support the administration

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Management Platform – KMS and PMS
Knowledge Management System
https://kms.covidfreevillage.in/

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Program Management System
https://covidfreevillage.in/#/

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STUDY TOUR ON COVID SITUATION OF RURAL AREAS
- Shri Shantilal Muttha
To study the current situation of Covid-19 in the rural areas and their
problems to contain it, a visit of Shri Shantilal Muttha to Mandki, Valhe and
Adachivadi villages!
Village - Mandki
Covid-Free Village program, conceptualized by the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana. The objective of this
program is to create a people’s movement to control the Covid Pandemic by setting up competent,
self-reliant villagers by forming Village Task Forces. In this context. On 22nd June 2021, founder of BJS
Shri. Shantilal Muththa visited Mandki village.

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For this special meeting in Mandki village, a large number of villagers gathered by following covid
appropriate behaviour. The villagers spontaneously responded and supported Shri. Shantilal
Muththa’s appeal.
Interacting at Mandki Gram Panchayat office, Shri. Shantilal Muththa, Sarpanch Priyanka Shinde,
Deputy Sarpanch Vishwas Jagtap, All Gram Panchayat members and Gramsevak Prabhakar Pawar
were present on this occasion.

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Village - Valhe
Covid-Free Village program, conceptualized by the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana. The objective of this
program is to create a people’s movement to control the Covid Pandemic by setting up competent,
self-reliant villagers by forming Village Task Forces. In this context. On 22nd June 2021, founder of BJS
Shri. Shantilal Muththa visited Valhe village.
A large number of villagers from Valhe village attended the meeting of this innovative
program - Covid Free Village.

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For this special meeting in Mandki village, a large number of villagers gathered by following covid
appropriate behaviour. The villagers spontaneously responded and supported Shri. Shantilal
Muththa’s appeal. The presence of women in a large group was a notable event.
Villagers’ Participation

19. 17
Villagers’ Participation
Village - Aadachiwadi
Covid-Free Village program, conceptualized by the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana. The objective of this
program is to create a people’s movement to control the Covid Pandemic by setting up competent,
self-reliant villagers by forming Village Task Forces. In this context. On 22nd June 2021, founder of BJS
Shri. Shantilal Muththa visited Aadachiwadi village

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A large number of villagers from Adachiwadi village had attended the meeting for this innovative
program - Covid Free Village.
A large number of women participated in this meeting and gave spontaneous response and support.

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For this special meeting in Aadachivadi village, a large number of villagers gathered by following
covid appropriate behaviour.
Villagers’ Participation

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Pilot of Covid Free Village program in Hotspot
Villages of Pune District in collaboration with
Zilla Parishad, Pune
Chief Executive Officer, Zilla Parishad, Pune and Shri. Shantilal Muttha, discussions with Sarpanchs of
Hotspot Villages identified in July 2021
Talukawise coverage of hotspot villages (n=107)

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Training of Master Trainers &
Taluka Coordinators
Training of Master Trainers & Taluka Coordinators 31 July 21
Dr. Subhash Salukhe, Member Covid Task Force, Maharashtra guiding
Taluka Coordinators in the training session on 31st July 21

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Training of Master Trainers & Taluka Coordinators 31 July 21
Refresher Training of Master Trainers & Taluka Coordinators 12 August 21

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Initiation of Covid Free Village Program in Pune
District by BJS and Zilla Parishad, Pune
Government Order from Chief Executive Officer Zilla Parishad Pune to
administrative officers for implementing Covid Free Village Program

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Implementation of Covid Free Village Program
Kari, Tal. Bhor, Meeting with Sarpanch dt. 19 August 2021
A] Meeting with Sarpanch and Gramsevaks

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Tulapur, Tal. HAveli, meeting with Gramsevak dt. 19 August 2021
Margasani, Tal. Velhe, Meeting with Sarpanch dt. 19 Aug 2021

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GP Shindewadi, Tal. Haveli, meeting with Sarpanch and GP members dt. 16 September 2021
GP Ravangaon, Tal. Daund, meeting with Sarpanch, Gramsevak, Dy Sarpanch and GP members on
Village Task Force dt. 20 August 2021

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Kalamb, Tal. Ambegaon, meeting with Sarpanch dt. 20 November 2021
Visit to Aldare, Tal. Ambegaon dt. 23 November 2021

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B] Support from Administration
Appeal to Gram Sevaks at Panchayat Samiti, Tal. Haveli Date-20 Aug 2021
Taluka Coordinator Shri Mayur Solaskar and Shri Ashok Vanve discussing Covid Free Village program
with BDO Shri. Ajinkya Yele 23rd August 2021

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Discussions on Covid Free Village with BDO, Baramati dt. 08 August 2021
Discussions on Covid Free Village with BDO Bhor dt. 06 August 2021

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Discussions on Covid Free Village with Ext. Officer, Village Maan,
Tal. Mulashi, 04 August 2021
Discussions on Covid Free Village with Ext. Officer, Bhor, 06 August 2021

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Block Development Officer guiding to Panchayat Samiti Ambegaon dt. 05 October 2021
C] Covid Control Centre
Bakori, Tal. HAveli, dt. 13 September 2021

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Covid control centre at Dongargaon, Tal. Haveli dt. 22 September 2021
Inauguration of Covid Control Centre at Undavadi, Tal. Daund dt. 02 September 2021

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Poster of Covid Control Centre at Dakhane village, Tal. Mulashi dt. 06 August 2021
MLA Shri Atul Benake at the inauguration of Covid Control Centre at Surale,
Tal. Junnar, dt. 12 October 2021

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Panchayat Samiti Group Leader Dilip Raoji Ganjale guiding the dignitaries present on the occasion of
inauguration of Junnar Covid Control Centre
Surale, Tal. Junnar, Covid Control Centre

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Tal. Junnar, Zilla Parishad Member Mrs. Ashatai Buchke inaugurated the Covid Control Centre dt. 17
October 2021
D] Capacity Building of Village Task Force Members
Village Task Force, dongargaon, Tal. Haveli

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Training of Village Task Force, Vadhu, Tal. HAveli dt. 26 August 2021
Village Task Force Training, Shindewadi, Tal. Haveli

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Village Task Force training at Dingore, Tal. Junnar. dt. 06 October 2021
Village Task Force training at Belsar, Tal. Purandar

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Village Task Force training Dive, Tal. Purandar dt. 21 August 2021
Village Task Force training at Gulunche, Tal. Purandar, dt. 23 August 2021

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Village Task Force training at Veer, Tal. Purandar dt. 30 August 2021
Village Task Force training at Ganegaon Khalsa Tal. Shirur

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Village Task Force training at Kendur, Tal. Shirur
E] Village Task Force # 1 - Covid Appropriate Behaviour
Mandki, Tal. Purandar, dt. 20 August 2021

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Covid awareness through posters at Undavadi Village, Tal. Daund dt. 30 November 2021
Mandki, Tal. Purandar, covid awareness through posters dt. 20 August 2021

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Value, Tal. Purandar, covid awareness posters in shops dt. 26 August 2021
Dapodi, Tal. Daund, covid awareness at Milk Union through posters

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Dive, Tal. Purandar, Covid awareness through Kirtan dt. 01 August 2021
Natave, Tal. Junnar, covid awareness at village

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Malthan, Tal. Shirur, covid awareness in temple
Shingave village, Sarpanch conducting covid awareness session at School

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F] Village Task Force # 2 - Tracing, Tracking, Testing & Treatment
Dongargaon, Tal. Haveli, antigen testing camp
Dongargaon, Tal. Haveli, antigen testing camp

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Dongargaon, Tal. Haveli, antigen testing camp
VTF#1 - Padavi, Tal. Daund, village sanitization in progress

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GP Khamundi, Tal. Junnar Antigen Testing
Camp dt. 09 November 2021
Girvali, Tal. Ambegaon, Task Force
conducting awareness session

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Kendur, Tal. Shirur, RT/PCR testing at CCC.
Holewadi, Tal. Ambegaon, Covid-19 testing in progress

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G] Village Task Force # 3 Quarantine Centre & Covid Care Centre
Isolation Centre & Covid Care Centre at Valhe, Tal. Purandar 25 June 2021
GP Shvali, Tal. Mawal, Discussions on Covid-19 related Govt. Schemes dt. 09 December 2021
H] Village Task Force # 4 - Convergence of Government scheme

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Officers of Panchayat Samiti Purandar inspecting the application for the Govt. grant of Rs. 50,000 to
the heirs of the person who died due to Covid. Dt. 18 December 2021
Officers of Panchayat Samiti Purandar, examining the applications and documents received from the
relatives of the deceased due to Covid-19. dt. 09 December 2021

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VTF#4 members providing information on Covid related Govt. Schemes at GP Harani,
19 December 2021
Vadgaon Anand, Tal. Junnar. Beneficiary online registration for the grant of
Covid relief scheme 25 December 2021
GP HARANI

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I] Village Task Force # 5 Covid Vaccination
Value, Tal. Purandar, Vaccination Drive dt. 16 August 2021
Dive, Tal. Purandar, Vaccination Drive dt. 07 September 2021

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Bahuli, Tal. Haveli, Vaccination Drive, dt. 24 November 2021
Dalimb, Tal. Daund, Vaccination Drive dt. 24 November 2021

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Vaccination Drive at Mandki, Tal. Purandar dt. 15 August 2021
Vaccination Drive at Mandki, Tal. Purandar dt. 16 August 2021

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Tavasi, Tal. Indapur, Vaccination Camp dt. 18 November 2021
Umbraj No. 1, Tal. Junnar,, people were disciplined and lined up to complete the vaccination. BJS
representatives and VTF members assisted in the registration. dt. 06 September 2021

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Takrarwadi, Tal. Indapur, Vaccination Camp dt. 18 September 2021
Vaccination camp was arranged at Zilla Parishad Primary School at Sabarwadi Tal. Junnar Mandarane
village. - Dt. September 10, 2021

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Vaccination camp arranged by VTF#5 members at Umbraj no. 1, Tal. Junnar dt. 18 September 2021
VTF#5 members registering villagers for vaccination at Mandki Village, dt. 26 August 2021

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Implementation of Covid Free Village Program
in 421 villages of Pune District
Taluka-wise list
of Villages of
District Pune

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Covid -Free Village Program
Preliminary assessment of Covid Free Village Program
Preliminary assessment to understand stakeholder
acceptability, enablers and barriers in empowering
village communities for Covid-19 risk- reduction –
Pune District, Maharashtra
October 2021
Executive Summary

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Executive Summary
Covid-free Village (CFV) is a community-led initiative that takes responsibility for
protecting villages from the impact of the pandemic. The objective is to empower villagers
to take ownership and create a people’s movement for containing the pandemic through
collective action by forming village level Task Forces (VTFs). Social mobilization led by the
Sarpanch, and village leaders facilitates an enabling environment in the village for Covid risk-
reduction and resilience. The CFV program was first initiated on 1st August 2021 in rural areas
of Pune district.
The objective of the study was to assess the current situation of the CFV program
implementation in the intervention areas and understand:
• Stakeholder acceptability of the program model and key implementation approaches.
• Reach and coverage of activities implemented by Sarpanchs and VTFs.
• Enabling factors and barriers faced by villages during program implementation.
The study was conducted from 13th to 22nd September 2021 in 11 rural blocks of Pune
district covering a total of 144 villages where VTFs had been established. Since the study was
conducted within 45 days of the program launch, only the villages in which VTFs had been
formed were selected. A structured questionnaire was designed and pre-tested for the study
using CAPI. Information was collected from the Sarpanch and a randomly selected member
of each VTF. Field work for data collection was carried out by Taluka Coordinators who were
oriented on the methods of conducting interviews, data collection and quality assurance.
District and Taluka Administrations were mobilized through linkages with the CEO Zilla
Parishad, and other officials at the Taluka level.
Results
A total of 144 village Sarpanchs were interviewed. Out of the 144 villages surveyed, 8.3
percent were hamlets, 28.5 percent small villages, 43.7 percent medium-size villages, 13.9
percent large-size villages, and 5.6 percent very large-size villages.
Five VTFs were established in each of the study villages. It was found that all the VTFs
were established as per the program’s prescribed norms. BJS has created an audio-visual
tool to facilitate an enabling environment for implementation of the program as a people’s
movement. The study assessed the level of exposure to the people’s movement video and
found that a substantially high proportion (70%) of Sarpanchs had seen the video, and more
than 70 percent of them rated it as mostly useful (7 out of a 10-point scale) to implement the
program in their respective villages.

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Training of VTF Members
Training of VTF members was undertaken by BJS staff using an online platform.
The training duration was approximately two hours. Two audio-visual tools were used
during the training viz. 1) a video on creating people’s movement, and 2) videos on the
specific roles and responsibilities of each VTF, with a 3 minutes’ session for reflection
and summary in between. Implementation guidebooks for Sarpanch and each VTF were
used to reinforce learning of the roles and responsibilities of each target audience. This
was followed by a discussion on the use of BCC/IEC material developed by BJS to support
each VTF in their work.
It was found that, of the established VTFs, 32.6 percent of VTF-1s, 32.6 percent of
VTF-2s, 31.2 percent of VTF-3s, 26.4 percent of VTF-4s, and 24.3 percent of VTF-5s had
attended the online training during a little over one-month period, i.e. between inception
of the program and up to just prior to the commencement of the study. In most of the
study villages, VTFs had been established very recently and the process of training was
ongoing. During this short duration 23.6 percent villages reportedly completed training
of all five VTFs.
Activities Carried Out by Village Sarpanch
About 70 percent Sarpanchs attended the online training program of two hours’ duration
conducted by BJS. The training consisted of sharing the people’s movement video, followed by
a discussion; sharing of a video on CFV program, again followed by a discussion; and sharing of
implementation guidebooks describing the specific roles and responsibilities of the Sarpanch
and each VTF separately. The training included sessions on use of technology and digital
media for program implementation.
Among the village Sarpanchs who attended the training, 63.4 percent had reportedly
conducted meetings with village leaders, seniors and champions for CFV orientation and
for planning of people’s movement. Half of the Sarpanchs had undertaken follow-up action
on adherence of allocated responsibilities in the orientation meeting. About 24 .7 percent
villages had functioning Covid Madat Kendras (CMKs), and 26.7 percent villages spent their
own monetary resources for setting-up the CMK in their villages. A total amount of Rs.
1,49,750 was mobilized by village Sarpanchs to establish CMKs in their villages. About half
of the villages had conducted activities to create an enabling environment for Covid risk-
reduction, while about 70 percent village Sarpanchs had initiated at least one activity under
CFV in their respective villages.

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Awareness & Covid Appropriate Behaviour
More than 91.5 percent of the trained VTF-1s implemented at least one activity in their
respective villages. It was seen that about 65.9 percent of the trained VTF-1s utilized the
BCC/IEC creatives in their village by locally printing them to create an enabling environment
for Covid risk-reduction. The VTF-1s that utilized BCC/IEC creatives spent an average of Rs.
3,000 generated from within the village for conducting such activities. A total amount of
Rs. 1,58,700 was mobilized by VTF-1s in 49 villages. About 78.8 percent of VTF-1s initiated
home visits to create awareness on Covid Appropriate Behaviours (CAB), and 72.3 percent
met key stakeholders from the village to sensitize them on CAB. While 68.1 percent of VTF-1s
undertook mass messaging via Dawandi, display of posters, wall paintings etc., about half of
them conducted monthly review meetings to monitor the progress of awareness activities
to improve CAB. Data reveals that, even in the villages where VTF-1s were not covered under
training, CFV activities were initiated on the basis of their exposure and engagement with the
people’s movement video.
Support for Tracing, Tracking, Testing
More than 85 percent of the trained VTF-2s implemented at least one activity in their
respective villages. It was seen that 80.8 percent of the trained VTF-2s monitored surveillance
of Covid symptoms conducted by ASHA volunteer in their village. While 57.5 percent of the
trained VTF-2s compiled available emergency contact numbers for helping patients in need,
29.8 percent referred the patients with Covid symptoms for testing. They have referred an
averageof7patientsamonthevenwhenruralareasofPunewerewitnessingendofthesecond
wave with substantially decreased incidence of cases. About 27.7 percent of the trained VTF-2s
helped in undertaking tracing, and 46.8 percent had review meetings to monitor progress of
tracing and testing for Covid-19 in their villages.
Facilitating Services at Quarantine Centres (QC)/
Covid Care Centres (CCC)
More than half of the trained VTF-3s created working mechanisms in their villages to
identify patients who needed admission in quarantine centres/Covid care centres - the
most documented practices being checking of Covid test reports, supporting ASHAs for ILI
surveillance, facilitating referrals for Covid testing, facilitating transportation for patients
etc. About 46 percent of the trained VTF-3s facilitated patients for admission in quarantine
centres/Covid care centres and helped the centres in logistics support. They have facilitated
an average of 20 patients per village even at a time when Covid cases in rural areas of Pune
were witnessing a declining trend towards end of the second wave. About 40 percent of the

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trained VTF-3s helped in setting-up quarantine centres and Covid care centres as required, and
46.7 percent of the VTF-3s had review meetings to monitor progress of tasks undertaken to
improve facilitation at quarantine centres and Covid care centres.
Increasing Utilization of Govt. Schemes
While about 47.4 percent of the trained VTF-4s compiled lists of all Covid-related
government schemes available in their respective areas, 42.1 percent made efforts to create
awareness on such schemes among the village population. About 34.2 percent of the trained
VTF-4s initiated activities to identify potential beneficiaries for the schemes, a similar
proportion of the VTF-4s provided support to needy beneficiaries for utilizing the schemes.
On an average, they supported 18 beneficiaries per month. About 28.9 percent of the VTF-4s
conducted review meetings to monitor progress of utilization of Covid-related government
schemes by eligible beneficiaries.
Improving Coverage of Covid-19 Vaccination
More than 70 percent of the trained VTF-5s had facilitated Covid vaccination camps in
the study villages in coordination with the Taluka Administration, while about 60 percent had
prepared separate due lists of people for Dose-1 and Dose-2 Covid vaccination in their villages.
About 51 percent of the trained VTF-5s helped senior citizens, comorbid, and other needy
people with transportation to reach vaccination centres, and 37.1 percent VTF-5s conducted
review meetings to monitor progress of Covid vaccination coverage in their villages.
Cumulative Performance of VTFs’ Work
An effort was made to assess the performance of VTFs in terms of initiating and reaching
out to the community. A composite score is derived by considering the work done by Sarpanchs
and the five VTFs in a village. Out of the villages with trained VTFs, about 40 percent performed
highly, 31.3 percent performed moderately, 25 percent had low performance and 4 percent had
poor performance. It was found that about 70 percent villages performed satisfactorily during
the short period of intervention.
Conclusion and Recommendations
The CFV program was launched by BJS in rural areas of Pune district effective 1st August
2021. The study was conducted from 13th to 22nd September 2021 in 144 villages of the
district where VTFs had been established. Out of the 144 study villages, 23.6 percent reported

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completion of online training of all VTFs. While a significant improvement in performance
of trained VTFs was seen, the overall performance was satisfactory considering the short
implementation period of just about 45 days prior to the study. Meetings with the District
and Taluka Administrations were held by BJS teams to share the nature of activities to be
undertaken in villages as a people’s movement. The program was initiated towards the end
of the second wave of Covid in rural areas of Pune, and the period was marked by relaxation
of Covid norms by authorities following a drop in number of daily new cases reported in the
district.
The study demonstrated significant increase in implementing activities and coverage by
Sarpanchs and VTFs after they received training. Among the trained VTFs it was seen that most
of the VTF-1s (90%) had initiated at least one activity to create awareness and improve CAB.
More than 80 percent of the trained VTF-2s monitored and motivated ASHAs to undertake
surveillance for Covid symptoms. Even after slowdown of the second wave of Covid in the study
area, about half of the trained VTF-3s proactively undertook activities to facilitate patients’
admissions at quarantine centres and Covid care centres, and also helped existing centres in
arranging the required logistics support. A substantial proportion of trained VTF-4s started
listing of potential beneficiaries in villages to avail Covid-related government schemes. They
helped beneficiaries in filling-up applications and in providing the requisite information. Most
of the trained VTF-5s made their significant contributions towards supporting vaccination
camps in their villages, with a large proportion of them also organizing transportation support
for needy persons to reach vaccination centres. Even in the villages where the VTFs were
not covered under training, a substantial number of them were found to have started CFV
activities in their respective villages as they were exposed to the video on people’s movement.
It is evident that, the people’s movement video made a positive impact to motivate the VTFs
for undertaking program activities even before they received formal training.
Establishment of VTFs, awareness activities for CAB, vaccination camps in villages, support
for setting-up of and logistics for quarantine centres and Covid care centres, awareness through
mass messaging, felicitation of Covid warriors, distribution of masks and sanitizers were
documented as best practices in the course of the 45 days of the program prior to the study.
On the other hand, the study listed the following key barriers faced by Sarpanchs and
VTFs: 1) time spent on mobilizing people for CFV activities, 2) hesitancy for Covid vaccination
among villagers, 3) accessibility and availability of Covid vaccines, and 4) non-adoption of CAB
by villagers.
More than 70 percent villages that had performed highly had their Sarpanchs along with
VTFs making positive contributions to strengthen Covid-resilience in their villages. The study
demonstrated that village Sarpanchs and VTFs accepted the CFV activities. Most VTFs had

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utilized the BCC/IEC creatives, the technology platform, guidebooks, and the audio-visual
learning material. All of the above program material were provided to Sarpanchs and VTFs
through an easily accessible online Knowledge Management Platform from where villagers
downloaded and printed them locally spending their own monetary resources, and utilized
them for Covid risk-reduction activities in their respective villages.
Considering the positive response in the study villages, the program needs to expeditiously
complete the training for the rest of the Sarpanchs and VTFs. There is also a need to improve
the coverage of monthly review meetings by all VTFs for planning, supervision and monitoring
of activities to sustain villages as Covid-resilient.
The study findings conclude that the training and support provided by BJS resulted in
empowerment of villages to take ownership and create a people’s movement for containing
the pandemic through activities undertaken by VTFs.

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Response from villagers and
Government officials

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