Importance of Panchayat

“True democracy cannot be worked by twenty men sitting in the centre. It has to be worked from below by the people of every village”

Whatever the context in which Mahatma Gandhi wrote the above words, they capture the essence of democracy, which has to start at the grassroots to attain vibrancy. The words were as true for the nationalist temperament of Gandhi’s times as they are for our globalised times. One may begin to wonder why it is so. Is not  globalisation macro and panchayat micro? Why must we give time to the small and “petty” when we have larger global and national concerns?

My humble answer is that the more globalised we get, the more we must involve ourselves in the life and matters of our villages and towns. “Think global, act local” must be our motto. Act local in ways that are consistent with the physical, social and cultural fabric of the place. Otherwise, we may end up with the monster of uniformity swallowing our rich diversity. Each village and town has its unique features and way of life. Only the people of the locality can understand the nuances that are particular to their place of living. Others may study and appreciate them, and want to settle down in the places they admire, and even point out the richness to the inhabitants whose familiarity with the place may have blinded them to its riches. This is in fact happening in Goa. Foreigners and people from outside the state are enamoured by our villages, but some villagers only yearn to migrate to the West for good and sell their ancestral properties. We must appreciate our natural endowments  and work together to build better facilities for our common peace, prosperity and happiness. Our panchayat body is the right forum for this exercise.

Unfortunately the panchayat has become the first school of corruption in many villages. Those with education, character and vision have become victims of cynicism. Indifferent. Those with vested interests and political opportunism have taken the upper hand. Observe for yourself how political affiliations change with the change in government. Those who were hobnobbing with ministers and MLA’s of a defeated party are now hand in glove with the new ruling party. This, they say, is necessary for development. An assumption that needs to be demolished. Only men and women of character can withstand this expected way of behaving. Only those with character and courage can stand on their own feet against the might of the powers that be. Therefore, only those with character, courage of conviction, honesty and vision deserve to be elected. The only affiliation they should have is to the people of their wards and locality. If forward looking citizens network among themselves to support such candidates then change is possible. It is being tried in some places and is likely to succeed.

In some progressive villages a people’s manifesto is being attempted. People have risen against the manipulation in the delimitation and reservation of wards. In most cases people will have to bear with the injustice for the time being and participate in the elections in spite of it. Boycotting is not the answer. People must give a strong message that they can win in spite of odds. But for this to happen, the electorate must have the same qualities that are sought in candidates, specially vision, courage and character. It is very true that people get the government they deserve, specially at the local self government level. 

Once elections are over and results declared, the work of not only  the winning candidates but of all citizens will begin. To keep a watch. To attend the gram sabha. It is a paradox to see the people fighting against their representatives in every gram sabha. This happens because the elected representatives cease to listen to the people’s voice. Instead of carrying the people with them, the elected panch members end up turning the electorate into an opposition body. When this stops, there  could be harmonious development of the locality and community.

We can only hope that the panchayat election on 16^th May will be a turning point at least in some wards, some villages. It could be a beginning which will have good repercussions in the evolution of local self government.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 13.05.2012 

Positive Strokes for Dialogue

There was a lot of good news and bad news last week as at any other time of the year. The good news was in the areas I’ve been touching on for last two months in this column. So I’m sharing happy thoughts with you this Sunday. It happened at the national and state levels, intra-party and government-people level, and involving key leaders in Congress as well as Bharatiya Janata Party.

First the national level. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi visited Uttar Pradesh first time after the defeat in the last assembly elections. He discussed the results with his workers in an open way, and the latter responded frankly and boldly with complaints. They pointed out to him the selection of wrong candidates, neglect of grass root workers, groupings, and dominance of  a few  “yes men”. I think these are factors that contribute to defeat in most elections. But they also reportedly pointed out, that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra visits the constituencies of her mother and brother only at election time. It was a moment of facing the truth after a very poor show at the assembly polls. The workers capped their complaints by telling bluntly that the leadership was neither listening nor accessible. Gandhi was thus able to receive first hand information, explain his difficulties since many of their grievances are state subjects, and respond with a promise to respect them and resolve their problems. The people will now watch the long road from dialogue to delivery.

Coming to Goa, I must commend our Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar for showing his willingness to meet the stakeholders and people in general to find reasonable solutions to divisive problems. And I hope the trend will continue beyond the impending Cortalim by-election.

The CM has promised to interact with all concerned about the medium of instruction imbroglio. It is a difficult situation for him as he has received support from people on both sides of the MoI divide, and has to arrive at a consensus after studying the viewpoints of all stakeholders. The solution has to be such that regional and global, short term and long term, social and technical, traditional and modern dimensions of education have to be given due consideration. Emotionalism, divisiveness and bigotry are the last things in education. Any person who wants to dabble in educational matters must have an open mind. A closed mind is the antithesis of education. I have my own views on this subject, but shall refrain from expressing them at this point of time as I am not an immediate stakeholder. However, I welcome the statement of the CM that status quo will be maintained till a decision is taken, and that he does not want to see children coming out on the streets. It is a pity that children and parents had to come on the streets several times in the past. This should be the last thing to happen in a dialogue driven democracy.

The CM also responded with a mellow tone on the Mopa airport apprehensions. It is an issue which has been debated for a very long time. It is certainly divisive, not on emotional grounds but because of economic considerations and fears. Parrikar need not have taken a decision on this matter so soon in his tenure. There are other more pressing and less controversial matters to be settled. Divisive issues can wait. There is opposition to the proposed airport from some local people at Mopa  and surrounding areas  on the basis of land, traditional occupations and environment. And from the people in the south of Goa on grounds of tourism and tourism related occupations as well as distance, Mopa being on the extreme side of north Goa. Guarantees on the future of Dabolim airport can never be given for all times. Hence the anxiety of the people in the south. It is good that the CM has shown willingness to listen, and give up on Mopa if it is proved to be infeasible. But it  is the physical, practical and economic considerations that determine feasibility. Social costs and people’s convenience should also be the determining factors. The government has done well by discarding the Panaji-Vasco sea link with sound reasoning.

We expect the Chief Minister to carry the people of Goa with him on important matters like the second airport, medium of instruction at the primary level, and regional plan. His decision to go back to RP-2001 in the interim period before declaring the final RP-2021, without assurances on safeguarding the good and accepted features of the draft plan, is a setback to the aspirations of all those who have participated in the RP-2021 process. He is not expected to be in a hurry, but certainly required to remain tuned in to the people's voice.

Published in The Navhind Times, Panorama 06.05.2012