PANCHAYAT ELECTIONS
'A CITIZEN'S INITIATIVE FOR AN EFFETIVE VILLAGE GOVERNANCE'
By
Floriano Lobo
Hon. General Secretary , Goa Environmental Action Group [GEAG]
Gen. Secretary, Goa Su-Raj Party [GSRP]
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.goasu-raj.org
Phone: (Res) 2470223 (M) 9890470896
Introduction:
It is generally observed that the Panchayat bodies ( Panches and the
Sarpanch) are at loggerheads with the Gram Sabha members and most Gram Sabha
meetings end up in a fiasco. The ideal situation would be that the Panchayat
bodies which are elected by the Gram Sabha members conduct themselves in
accordance with the wishes of the Gram Sabha passed resolutions. But very
seldom this is the case. Most often than not, the resolutions passed by Gram
Sabhas are fit for the waste paper basket.
In Goa we have 189 or so Panchayats. Do we have a single Panchayat whose
Sarpanch does not entertain any illegalities, and if so, has s/he survived
for more than 3 months in the chair without being knocked off through
no-confidence motions? And those Panchayat which are stable without a
whisper of opposition within, are most detrimental for the overall well
being of the concerned villages because opposition [constructive criticism]
is the essence of good governance. In these cases [where the Moira Panchayat
is one very special example] the entire Panchayat bodies function without
any iota of opposition. In a democratic set-up this is an absolute
impossible.
Preamble:
Panchayat elections are very very important elections, contrary to what is
believed. In the 73rd. Amendment to the Constitution of India, there are
approximately 28 items for transfer of powers from the State Government to
the Panchayats, relating to the governance and/or the development of the
Panchayat held areas. So far only a handful few (just 2 or 3) of those items
are transferred to the Panchayats by the State Government mainly because of
two reasons:- (1) The State Government does not want to relinquish its
powers believing that its Ministers and/or the MLAs will be powerless, and,
(2) [which is rightly so] The Panchayats are not capable and/or equipped
enough to hold such powers. Furthermore, the implementation of the 73rd.
Amendment as of now, with the Panchayat Raj Act presently in force, will
see more full-fledged corruption at the Panchayats level. If at all the
government is serious in implementing the 73rd. Amendment in Goa, the
Panchayat Raj Act must be amended to hold the Sarpanch and the Secretary
accountable, fully and completely with suspension and/or jail terms when
required.
A good look as to what would happen if the 73rd. Amendment was implemented
as of today with the existing Panchayat Raj Act. All 28 powers would be
transferred to the Panchayats. The Panchayats which are already corrupted,
would have a field day, with the legislators (read MLAs and Cabinet
Ministers) losing their punch at collecting their percentages for contracts
allocated. With no money to be made at the Assembly level, there would be a
rush to get into the Panchayats directly or through proxies at the next
elections. Eventually who would contest Assembly Elections would be persons
who do not want to be in the rat-race. This breed being the legislators and
Cabinet Ministers who do not enjoy the warmth of the money pot and who
cannot make money by virtue of money not being there, would sit down and
frame stricter laws, rules and regulations, so that no money could be made
at the Panchayat level either, a veritable 'Dog in the Manger' situation
where the sentiment on display would be: 'if we cannot make money, you too
shall not make it' there being a rare chance that legislators and Panchayat
members working together to loot the exchequer. If money is not there to be
made at Panchayat level also, no one would be interested in occupying these
posts and we would be back to square one, where in the early days of
Panchayats, people had to be coaxed and cajoled to contest Panchayat
elections. The rats would rather look at other ways of sustaining
themselves, invariably by shedding some sweat over their brows, looking
for work to sustain themselves. In this situation the winners would be the
tax-paying general gullible public.
Having said so, today, as against a couple of decades ago, Panchayat posts
are looked upon as money-spinners and as such every Tom Dick and Harry wants
to contest these elections. Besides, these posts have stopped being honorary
post. Gone are the days when the people of the village had to literally
drag knowledgeable persons or village smarts to contest these elections or
to become Sarpanches. This is because the Panchayat hierarchy has been
reduced to a bundle of corruption where any and all development plans in the
villages are considered on 'percentages' basis. When such percentages are
distributed amongst the members of the hierarchy, there is not much left to
go into the actual development projects and these are naturally reduced to
mere shams, scams and white elephants, sucking in the tax-payer's hard
earned money. This, in fact, is the way of life in the presently held
Panchayat Raj system in this State or in this country where people who would
want to go through the lawful formalities are advised not to do so by the
Panchayat members citing imaginary, inadvertent official delays due to
'red-tape'ism and laborious procedures etc. This, in fact, puts the innocent
people into a quandary, having taken this ill-advice at face value and
subsequently become the milching cows for the Panchayat members to extort
money from them because they are trapped into illegalities. Also, the
political masters are using the Panchayats for their own ends by
restricting the free decision making process. Ideally, self governing
institutions such as Panchayats and Municipalities must remain 'apolitical'
to the extent of keeping partisan politics at a clear distance. This must
be the primary resolve of ordinary citizens like us if Panchayats and
Municipalities are to function to the satisfaction of the tax-paying
citizenry.
It must be realized that a WARD in a Village is the nucleus, if the nation
is to become strong and powerful. Simply put, if a WARD is strong (well
maintained, sanitized, greened and meticulously planned i.e. sporting
facilities, leisure parks , jogging track etc.) , the Village becomes
strong in all respects. If the Village is strong, the Constituency becomes
strong. If the Constituency is strong, the State becomes strong. And
needless to say that if the State is strong, the Nation becomes strong.
Therefore, it is vital to put every and all efforts into making a 'ward' of
a village strong and well planned. When we say 'strong', it means strong
morally, ethically, economically, aesthetically, socially, etc. Therefore
the type and extent of development projects planned for a ward in a village
becomes ever so important.
The institution, which has replaced the age-old indigenous institutions of
Goa , originally known as GAOKARIES, later called COMUNIDADES , which
doubled-up as the caretakers of wards in a village, is now the Panchayat.
Sadly, the Panchayats have become the epicenters of political upheavals
most detrimental to the very survival of these indigenous institutions (the
Comunidades). Therefore, it is time to put pointed focus on these vital
self-governing institutions (Panchayats) and wean them back to health by
snatching them from the clutches of the political masters who are hell bent
in squeezing them to the utmost extent for their own vested interests and
aggrandizement through playing vote-bank politics.
In an effort to start a revolution of sorts, vital to the very existence of
the Panchayat Raj System, we, the citizens of GOA, must come forward to do
something about it, rather than leave it to the wolves, as it were.
Therefore, we the people of each ward of GOA must look at these coming
Panchayat general elections (2011??) with highest of concern and take the
opportunity to do ourselves the favour of doing more good than harm, keeping
in mind that it is we, as custodians of our children, who will be
responsible to hand-down to them a life which is secure , healthy and
enjoyable, for them to grow into adulthood and prosper. We must admit that
we cannot be experts in anything and everything. But we must remain
concerned citizens who want to be guided by the very many experts amongst us
so that we all may benefit in the long run. We must look at these
experienced persons as our very own extensions so that we may do things for
ourselves through their sane advices. Needless to say that this experience
will be most gratifying to us, more than it would be for the advisers.
Therefore, let us all hold hands with confidence and move forward to make
these Self-Governing Panchayat institutions of GOA, the institutions of
GOODWILL and real touchable PROGRESS.
The most central to the Panchayati Raj Act is the Gram Sabha. If there has
to be a participatory ingredient in any planning, the Gram Sabha is the
nucleus. But unfortunately what we see is that hardly any of Goa's Panchayat
bodies inspire confidence in the Gram Sabha members and Gram Sabhas are seen
as disruptive, non-productive and trouble makers for the Panchayat bodies
and totally irrelevant and unnecessary. The root cause of this is that we
elect individual persons to the Panchayat with individual 'notions' of
governance. Unfortunately, the Panchayat members have good reason to
discredit the Gram Sabha members the day they get elected to office, their
job (Gram Sabha members') having been done of casting their precious vote,
so that these elected Panch members can do things selectively, on their
own. If this is not to happen, we must elect a Gram Sabha savvy Panchayat.
And this can only be done if the Panchayat elections are actively fought by
the Gram Sabha members on a 'PANEL SYSTEM' basis, where the Gram Sabha
members short list and select persons from every ward who would constitute
the panel. The final candidates can be selected by the Gram Sabha forum in a
public debate. A fool proof procedure to this effect can be designed where
there is no scope for bad blood and cross working by those who are not
ultimately selected to be the constituents of the 'panel'. Simply said, no
hurt feelings can be harboured since a purely democratic system has been
followed in short-listing and finally selecting the respective candidates.
A Panel floated by the Gram Sabha forum will afford the entire village to
campaign for the 'panel' on door-to-door basis, the panel being bound by
the MANIFESTO prepared by the Gram Sabha forum. In addition to generating
collective interest and incentives, the added appeal will be that all panel
members can contest on one common election symbol. So far just one Panchayat
has been able to execute this 'panel' contest and be successful and that is
the Taleigao Panchayat. However, the difference is that this is not the Gram
Sabha floated panel, but a panel having allegiance to vested interests.
A SAMPLE COLLECTIVE CITIZEN'S MANIFESTO
The panel contestants agree that the governance of the village shall be on
consensus basis and through dialogue and co-ordination with the Gram Sabha.
Panel members not to indulge in 'NO CONFIDENCE MOTIONS' throughout the
term of office of the elected body of the Panchayat.
The post of the Sarpanch to be rotated every two or two and half years
through internal understanding.
The post of the Deputy Sarpanch to be in rotation, like-wise.
All members of the panel who shall be elected to the office shall
mandatorily attend GRAM SABHAS.
If the Panel fails to get clear majority, the elected panel members shall
join other non-panel supported members to form a coalition ruling body only
to the extent of the required numbers falling short for the formation of the
coalition, the other members of the panel l working as effective
opposition.
In case the panel elected members fall short of only one member to form the
ruling coalition, the borrowed member may be given the post of Deputy
Sarpanch at the most, but not the post of the Sarpanch.
The panel not to entertain political interference in the running of the
Panchayat. The members of the panel could be affiliated to certain
political party or parties. But the working of the Panchayat to be strictly
on non-party politics basis (i.e. discourage cultivation of vote-banks).
All infrastructural development works in the village to be carried out on
priority basis.
All developmental works to be carried out in the village and which are
pending, to be listed and submitted to the authorities for estimation
purposes. These estimates to reflect in the budget prepared for the village
each year even if it is reflected as a deficit budget. The deficit budget
will reflect the true measure of infrastructural development works pending
and accordingly requests for additional funding from the government may be
put forward.
Apart from the stipulated fortnightly Panchayat body meetings (in force
presently), the Panchayat body to meet every week, preferably on SATURDAYs
, to co-ordinate with each member on the matter of development of the
village and/or to pass any requests for NOCs, permissions etc so that the
developmental works in the village is not held up or delayed because of the
scheduled fortnightly meetings. Minor works and other matters which does not
require consensus of the Panchayat body to be dealt with on daily basis by
the Panchayat staff.
All administrative matters of the Panchayat to be dispensed with within the
stipulated time frame or earlier.
All works, NOCs, Permissions, Licenses, Occupancy certificates etc to be
dispensed with in time bound manner and without any harassment or without
asking for donations (which is the alternate term for bribes)
Any and all illegal activities in the respective wards to be strictly dealt
with and the respective ward member to be held responsible for such
illegalities.
The Gram Sabha members to be kept fully informed about the Government
Schemes on offer and every step to be taken to get these schemes sanctioned
to deserving persons without let, hindrance or bias.
The panel to be actively involved to make the village garbage and plastic
free through the initiation of door-to-door garbage and plastic collection.
People's voluntary participation in this area to be encouraged to discourage
discarding of wastes in public places like road-sides etc. All garbage bins
placed in the village to be removed, as there shall be no need for such bins
to be ravaged by stray animals. The Panchayat to promote a garbage treatment
and recycling plant for the village with respect to the wet and dry
garbage.
Panchayat to encourage organic vegetable farming and work towards the
formation of the village co-operatives for farm produce such as home grown
vegetables, fruits, etc.
The maintenance of the village roads, water supply, electrical supply,
communication system (telephones) and other essential services to be the
prime concern of the Panchayat including effective street lighting.
Law and order to be ensured through the effective co-ordination of the
Panchayat and the Police authorities.
The resolutions passed by the Gram Sabha to be executed in letter and
spirit.
Scheduled monthly meetings of the Panchayat body shall not be held in camera
and shall be open to any member of the Gram Sabha who wants to attend these
meetings, but without the right to speak.
All building projects in the village which are multi-unit projects shall be
placed for the scrutiny of the Gram Sabha before being forwarded to the
Authorities for approvals. If necessary, a special Gram Sabha may be called
for this purpose depending on the urgency.
Hill cutting, filling of agricultural fields and large scale tree cutting to
invite immediate action by the Panchayat.
Special attention to be given to Noise, air, water and land pollution,
breeding of mosquitoes vide septic tanks and other ill effects that bother
the village people, including the menace of stray animals and clearance of
carcasses of dead animals from public places.
The Panchayat to keep track of outsiders living in the village on rental
basis.
The Panchayat to keep track of door- to -door travelling salespersons by
having them first register themselves with the Panchayat before moving
freely in the village.
These few points could be the 'FOCUSED VISION' by which the Panchayats of
GOA may work to the absolute satisfaction of all its citizens, without
exception in the real spirit of SELF-GOVERNANCE that the Father of the
Nation Mahatma Gandhi aspired for.
Ditto system of elections could be followed for the Municipal/Urban areas
which come under the 74th. Amendment of the Constitution of India.
END
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It is not ENOUGH that GOOD, HONEST citizens contest elections.
It is not ENOUGH that GOOD, HONEST citizen voters elect good, honest
representatives.
GOA urgently needs 'GOOD, HONEST, DISCIPLINED SYSTEM of GOVERNANCE'.
Wherein, even a dishonest person is forced to be good, honest n disciplined,
or to QUIT.
Only through PPS can such 'good, honest n disciplined system of governance'
be identified and accepted.
PPS GOA =PEOPLE for POLITICAL SANITY = PEOPLE'S POWER SYSTEM
for a date in 2012
Display the 'PPS' sticker on your vehicle today, to reject political madness
tomorrow.
* * *
Was life in the *kudds* glamourised? Who said, "It appears that the Goanese (sic)
are a roving people, prepared to go to any part of the world for well-paid
employment"? How did Goans find their first toehold in the Gulf? Find your answers
in Selma
Carvalho's *Into the Goan Diaspora Wilderness*. Buy from
Broadways Book Centre, Panjim [Ph +91-9822488564] Price (in
Goa only) Rs 295. http://selmacarvalho.squarespace.com/
* * *
