PEACEFUL SOCIETY

Peaceful Society which came into existence in 1983, registered in 1984, is a prominent Gandhian Organisation working in the field of rural development, protection of environment and propagation of Gandhian alternatives.

It's founder, Kumar Kalanand Mani, the then Organiser of Chhatra Yuva Sangharsha Vahini, arrived in Goa to organise a conference of young activists in 1978. A product of the Bhoodan movement in Bihar and having played a key role in the famous movement for Total Revolution under the leadership of Late Shri Jayprakash Narayan, he was deeply touched by the Goan Society and decided to settle in Goa to work for the good of common people.

Overcoming hurdles, Kalanand was able to bring like-minded people on a platform to render service to the Goan and Indian society. The result was the birth of Goa Lok Samithi and at a later stage Peaceful Society was formed in October 1983 with its registered office at Bandora, Ponda Goa.

After a long experience Peaceful Society realised a need for launching an all India program to bring like minded forces together and strengthen their grassroots activities. The program of Swaraj was born in 1996 with this realisation.

The 73^rd Constitutional Amendment created the need for working towards the realisation of Gandhiji's dreams of Gram Swaraj. The Western India Forum for Panchayati Raj came to be formed in 1994. After several years of interventions in the area of local self-governance gradually the need for more intense work in this area was felt. Thus the Centre For Panchayati Raj came into existence.

AIMS OF PEACEFUL SOCIETY

Since its establishment in 1984, Peaceful Society has been committed to work for :-

Promotion of a Gandhian model of living and development;

Effective participation by people in the development process;

Advancement of economic condition of the poorest;

Creation of a stable environment and promotion of sustainable development;

Eradication of social inequalities and barriers to sustainable development;

Fight against fundamentalism and for secularism

Unite masses for self reliance

Literacy and education promotion for a Peaceful Society