The Kavalu Samiti (KS) is a decentralized vigilance committee established by the Government of Karnataka in 2019 to safeguard the rights of women and children at the Gram Panchayat level. Early reviews indicated limited role clarity, weak gender perspectives, and poor intersectoral coordination among members. This study assessed the impact of a structured capacity-building intervention on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of KS members, with a focus on strengthening their engagement in protection activities and promoting gender-equitable norms through SBCC.
The intervention was implemented across 12 Gram Panchayats in Koppal and Yadgir districts. It included a two-day participatory training followed by six months of field support. Modules covered gender sensitization, legal literacy, facilitation, documentation, and planning of SBCC activities such as awareness programmes and departmental convergence. A baseline and endline KAP survey of all 204 members was conducted using structured questionnaires in October 2024 and March 2025.
Post-intervention analysis showed substantial improvements. Awareness of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act rose from 64.3-85.4%(p<0.001), and support for shared household responsibilities increased from 15.1-45.1%(p<0.001). Reporting of child marriage cases nearly doubled from 38.1-64.4%(p<0.001), and participation in awareness campaigns increased from 7.1-33.6%(p<0.001). Members became more confident and visible, and communities increasingly recognized KS as a legitimate platform for protection issues.
The findings highlight the effectiveness of SBCC-driven capacity-building in activating local governance platforms and shifting social norms. The State Government later scaled the model to train 1,200 KS members across 224 Gram Panchayats in Chikkamagaluru.
The Kavalu Samiti (KS) is a decentralized vigilance committee established by the Government of Karnataka in 2019 to safeguard the rights of women and children at the Gram Panchayat level. Early reviews indicated limited role clarity, weak gender perspectives, and poor intersectoral coordination among members. This study assessed the impact of a structured capacity-building intervention on the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) of KS members, with a focus on strengthening their engagement in protection activities and promoting gender-equitable norms through SBCC.
The intervention was implemented across 12 Gram Panchayats in Koppal and Yadgir districts. It included a two-day participatory training followed by six months of field support. Modules covered gender sensitization, legal literacy, facilitation, documentation, and planning of SBCC activities such as awareness programmes and departmental convergence. A baseline and endline KAP survey of all 204 members was conducted using structured questionnaires in October 2024 and March 2025.
Post-intervention analysis showed substantial improvements. Awareness of the Prohibition of Child Marriage Act rose from 64.3-85.4%(p<0.001), and support for shared household responsibilities increased from 15.1-45.1%(p<0.001). Reporting of child marriage cases nearly doubled from 38.1-64.4%(p<0.001), and participation in awareness campaigns increased from 7.1-33.6%(p<0.001). Members became more confident and visible, and communities increasingly recognized KS as a legitimate platform for protection issues.
The findings highlight the effectiveness of SBCC-driven capacity-building in act ...
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