ECONET has been closely working with the Gram Sabhas constituted under the PESA legislation in the Scheduled Areas of Amaravati, Nandurbar, Nasik, Palghar, Nanded and Gadchiroli. After having worked with the tribal and the gram sabha members for 10 years, ECONET decided to identify 8 tribal men and women with a prior experience of working on the forest rights and PESA implementation, and to build their capacities as Gram Sabha Buddy. Gram Sabha buddy individually works with 5 gram sabhas in the close vicinity of their village/block. They mobilize women in the villages for women sabhas and builds capacities of the gram sabha members including various PESA & FRA committee members on the PESA implementation. Gram Sabha buddy enables the community to understand how the PESA fund and 5% untied fund received by the panchayat are utilized. With the close rapport with the tribal development and forest department Gram Sabha Buddy ensures that the spirit of the two legislations of – hamara gao hamari sarkar is realized for the tribal population.