Commonwealth Scholar's Work with MP Tribal Village Wins British Council Recognition

New Delhi- What happens when traditional knowledge meets modern conservation techniques? When women's empowerment drives village governance? When migration gives way to sustainable livelihoods? The answers lie in Dhamanpani, a small tribal village in Madhya Pradesh's Mandla district, whose transformative journey has now earned recognition from the British Council of India.

On the occasion of the 65th anniversary of the Commonwealth Scholarship, the British Council of India invited posters showcasing the work of Commonwealth Scholars in India.

Out of the submissions, 11 exceptional posters were selected by the jury and displayed at the Council’s Delhi office.  Work done by the Scholar Vaibhav Sonone, along with the Indigenous community members of a small MP village called Dhamanpani, was among those selected, earning widespread praise.

What’s in the Poster?

Dhamanpani is a small village in the tribal-dominated Mandla district of Madhya Pradesh. The village, which once lacked roads, saw 90% of its families migrate to other states in search of work. Additionally, over 95% of women were anaemic, and more than 50% of children were malnourished. In such a challenging scenario, along with the community and PRADAN team Vaibhav implemented natural resource management techniques, ensured strict execution of the MGNREGA scheme, strengthened local governance, and raised awareness among villagers.

His efforts transformed the village. Over the past five years, migration has reduced to 10-15%, and malnutrition has decreased by 30-40%. A village that once required its residents to walk 3-4 kilometres to fetch drinking water now has access to water throughout the year. Furthermore, farming has expanded to the Rabi season as well. Women’s participation in Gram Sabha and local governance has increased by 100%, and government schemes like MGNREGA are now corruption-free. Despite facing two attacks in Dhamanpani village, Vaibhav continued his development work with the local men and women, and now this work has been recognised by the British Council of India.

About Vaibhav

In June 2023, Vaibhav Sonone, who received two prestigious scholarships from the British government, brought international recognition to his work with the Indigenous communities in Madhya Pradesh. Hailing from the small village of Pedgaon in Risod Taluka, Washim district, Vaibhav is the son of Ganesh and Vimal Sonone.

In June 2023, he secured the Chevening and Commonwealth scholarships and went to the UK for higher studies. Despite severe hardships, he completed his education and earned accolades from various sectors. While studying in the UK, Vaibhav participated in numerous international conferences and seminars. He was honoured to represent the University of Leeds in Britain’s National Union of Students (NUS) and had the opportunity to meet former British Prime Minister and then FCDO Secretary David Cameron, as well as present his thoughts in the British Parliament. Focusing on the topic of "Environment and Development," Vaibhav completed his postgraduate degree at the University of Leeds with Merit. In October, Vaibhav returned to India and resumed his work in tribal areas of Madhya Pradesh.

This recognition by the British Council is a proud moment for the residents of Dhamanpani village. After working on water conservation, Vaibhav is now focusing on integrating traditional and modern farming techniques, reducing the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides, and increasing farmers’ incomes. Vaibhav credits his success to the women of Dhamanpani, his colleagues Surendra Sonwani and Nanhe Netam.

The poster has been on display at the British Council of India’s Delhi office since December 16 and is being visited by many students and interested citizens. The exhibition will remain open to the public until January 24, 2025. Students and citizens in Delhi are encouraged to visit the exhibition and the British Council of India office.