Raka is a village in Dongargarh block of Rajnandgaon district, Chhattisgarh. The 2011 Census recorded a population of 1,875; current local records suggest it is now nearing 3,000. Livelihoods centre on cultivation, agriculture and livestock-allied activities. The village has a primary school, a middle school, two Anganwadi centres and one sub-health centre.
My first impression: a community is more complex than it appears from the outside. It would be easy to notice gaps in education, health, infrastructure or opportunity; but understanding why those gaps exist required listening to people and observing their everyday realities. Raka had its own strengths and potential, and I wanted to explore whether change could emerge from within, with young people as an important part of it.
Questions I arrived with
- How can I understand Raka beyond my existing assumptions?
- What are the real challenges facing the community, and what lies beneath them?
- How can I contribute to change without making the community dependent on me?
What I expected
I entered Raka with a completely blank slate. I had no real idea what life in a village in Chhattisgarh would look like, how people lived, what challenges they faced, or what their everyday realities were. Rather than carrying fixed assumptions, I wanted to experience the village for myself, listen to people, understand their perspectives, and let my understanding develop naturally through the time I spent living there.
The immersion, week by week
21 Sep
Arrival, introductions in Raka & Accommodation in Panchayat Office
Week 1–2
Conversations with the Sarpanch, Sachiv, teachers and villagers
Week 2
School and community observations
Week 3
Connecting observations; designing Yuva Manch
Week 4 – 19 Oct
Sessions with students; identifying student leaders; reflection