People will have differences

 

 

Many opponents of gram Sabha model argue that villagers cannot take decisions because they are uneducated. In the gram Sabha assemblies they will fight with each other. A sarpanch is elected by a majority vote. The detractors argue that even if a sarpanch wins with a majority of 60/40 vote then the 40 will oppose and will not let the gram sabhas be conducted peacefully. 

 

 

The statistic around the world, however prove that these fears have no basis. In this book we had taken the example of Hivere Bazar where there were warring factions of people who used to fight with each other. There were cases of murder and every week the police used to make rounds. Even there when the gram sabhas started, the attendance was very thin but as the gram sabhas progressed people started to take up the issue of these group rivalries and brought out solution to end the same. By mutual discussions they started to come together and today Hivere Bazar is a model gram Sabha worthy of emulation. 

 

 

In Delhi assemblies of people are taking place under the banner of “Resident Welfare Associations”. In these association meetings all kinds of people come from diverse group. There is a BJP councilor and so is the councilor from the congress to attend the meeting. People discuss their problems. 

 

 

There are differences that lead to arguments. The discussions are important but in the end decisions are taken. One thing is certain that in villages where people gather under one forum and discuss their problems and solutions, there development will take place. In villages where people only fight with each other there no improvement can take place. In such places the people will only blame the administration and keep pointing fingers at corrupt officials, local parties or the politicians. 

 

 

Such people are responsible for their own fate and must understand that they themselves are incapable, having rivalries with each other and unless they reform themselves they have little chance of redemptions themselves. They will not be able to hold someone else responsible for their poverty, their fate, their unemployed status, and their lives but themselves. 

 

 

In today’s system political leaders, located at the state capitals like Bhopal, Lucknow or at the centre in Delhi takes decisions about our life. Argue yourself and decide what is better; who will be better judge to take decisions about our life, we in villages or an official or a politician sitting at a distant capital?

 

 

Needless to say, the decision taken jointly by the villagers. When all the villagers assemble together then there would be arguments, differences, hot exchange of words, may be scuffles or fights but in the end the decision will be of the village. We are thirsty and want wells in our village but the official in the state capital decides to build parks for us and send computers for us. 

 

 

How does he know what is that we want the most? 

 

 

It is our village, whether we fight or live peacefully but whatever decisions that we take will be for the common benefit of our village. Decisions for our colonies should be taken on the local level of the colony only. This is what is best for all of us.