Mediation Inspires Villagers To Transcend Conflict
Conflicts, however small, can escalate creating an atmosphere of insecurity and uneasiness in a community. Regular courts are costly and time consuming. Our mediation program, now established in 118 towns covering 14 districts, helps transform adversarial tensions into cordial relationships based on values of equality, respect, and participation. Since 2004, we have trained more than 4,000 mediators, and of 14,000 registered cases, 85 percent were resolved with an exceptionally high rate of satisfaction. The introduction of community mediation has helped recast women, who sometimes have a limited role in public life, into trusted leaders. Now, social workers, police, and, most recently, the legal court systems, refer local disputes to the mediation office. In a sign of its increasing acceptance, local government authorities are setting aside funds in their development budgets to support mediation. In one instance, Santu and Upendra were cordial neighbors, often making small conversation and bartering. But when Upendra's daughter caught Santu's son stealing sugarcane from their property, she physically assaulted the boy. That evening, the children related their stories to their parents. A chill between the neighbors led Upendra to approach the Village Development Committee for help in mitigating the conflict. As the mediation began, however, it was clear the two weren't ready to participate. The mediators asked, "What is the outcome when adults fight? Who benefits? What if you need each other in the future?" Slowly, mediation helped them to come to an agreement. They have since let go of the incident and resumed a neighborly relationship, helping to strengthen the community.