How AI helped community-led development in Rajasthan, PgII

Key Highlights:

• The AI4WaterPolicy pilot project in Rajasthan's Sirohi and Pali districts used AI to gather qualitative data from communities regarding water issues.
• The AI chatbot conducted 352 interviews via WhatsApp with Pani Mitras, Panchayat leaders, and frontline staff in Hindi and local dialects over six months.

Detailed Insights:

• The project used AI to "listen" to community feedback, addressing the gap between people and local institutions, considering complexities like caste, class, gender, and land ownership.
• The AI model facilitated active listening by providing a private space for community members to speak freely, identifying recurring themes, and enabling rapid synthesis of findings.
• Centre for Microfinance (CmF) played a crucial role in training Pani Mitras, facilitating access to technology, and ensuring genuine deliberations during feedback sessions.
• The approach complements existing government efforts like Jal Jeevan Mission and VB-GRAM by enhancing feedback loops and improving last-mile responsiveness.
• The success of the pilot depended on budgeting time, funds, and people to return findings to respondents and co-develop follow-up actions, emphasizing human relationships.
• The project highlights the importance of empowering human intermediaries rather than replacing them with technology, addressing the digital divide based on gender, class, and caste.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Jal Jeevan Mission: A government initiative to provide safe and adequate drinking water to all rural households by 2024.
• Pani Mitras: Community-level leaders and a skill-based initiative aimed at water management and infrastructure maintenance.