Concept of Mobilization; refers to the process of organizing people to achieve a common goal by using local resources and developing awareness.

Empowerment Skills; is the process of increasing the capacity of individuals or groups to make choices and to transform those choices into actions.

🔹 Types of Empowerment:

Conscientization / Concretisation; Term popularized by Paulo Freire (Brazilian educator and philosopher).

🔹 Meaning:

• A process of developing a critical awareness of one’s social reality through reflection and action (praxis).
• Involves identifying social, political, and economic contradictions and taking action against oppressive elements.

🔹 Goal:

To empower people to understand, question, and transform their reality through collective action.

4. Strategies for Mobilization and Empowerment

🔸 Community Organization:

• Formation of SHGs, Farmer Producer Groups, Women Groups
• Mobilizing for rights, entitlements, and schemes

🔸 Capacity Building & Training:

• Skill development programs
• Exposure visits
• Awareness campaigns

🔸 Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA):

• Village mapping, timelines, seasonal calendars to engage community

🔸 Leadership Development:

• Identification and nurturing of local leaders
• Empowering through knowledge and training

🔸 Legal and Institutional Support:

• Access to legal rights (PDS, MGNREGA, land rights)
• Strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions

🔸 Behavioral Change Communication (BCC):

• Using media, folk methods, ICTs to create awareness

5. Role of Extension Worker in Mobilization