July 28, 2011

Even if powers have been recently transferred to sarpanch and panches in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, there are certain pockets in the Valley where Panchayat had started taking ball in their court much earlier.

Buren, located few kilometers from Srinagar-Baramulla-Muzaffarabad road in Pattan falling in district Baramulla, is one such example. Panches and Sarpanch in Buren in North Kashmir started resolving issues pertaining to domestic violence and related matters, and issues concerning masses at grassroot level immediately after a Panchayat was elected, here.

“Since panchayat election in our area on May 16, we’ve started receiving complaints from masses mostly about matrimonial issues, land disputes and related matters. Such matters often keep us busy till late evenings and we’ve been able to resolve most of them,” says Ghulam Nabi Bhat, Sarpanch of the area, adding cases are decided in consultation with Village Welfare Committee that was working on such issues prior to Panchayat elections.

Government has framed Panchayat as Lok Adalat to look into issues and grievances of masses, observes Mohammad Dilawar, a panch. “We’ve been elected to work for public good,” he remarks.

The panch however, demands that government should put them on pay-rolls. “If MLA gets Rs. 80,000 as salary, we too should get some salary or honorarium. Working on commission basis would strengthen corruption and nepotism,” he says emphatically.

He adds: “Whatever we’ve been doing till date since formation of panchayat body in a village, it is all from our own expenses. Whom shall we convey this? Government has to look into it. They can’t take us like dumb- driven cattle.”

Dilawar says if their issues are not addressed they’ll frame a union to press for their demands. “We contested election at our own risks. There was no security offered to us. People could have lost their lives. Now, government should think about us as well,” he reminds.

Sharing that contesting panchayat election gave him inner satisfaction, Dilawar, who is in his old-age, comments “this time panchayats have been formed, constitutionally. Otherwise 30-35 years down the line they (panchayats) were not so powerful institutions.” He demands identity cards to be issued to them at the earliest.

Turning nostalgic, he says that five years down the line he had submitted an application for old-age pension. “Till date there has been no progress on it. I will take up the matter of old-age fund, widow-pension scheme and scholarship for children on urgent basis in near future. This is the right of people and they should avail such benefits,” he hopes.

The village panch based on seven members has two women panches as well. “We do consult women panches and take them along where we think feasible. They are generally preferred in women-related issues,” says Ghulam Rasool Bhat, a panch, adding that they however, train female panches how to deal with various issues.

Zana Begum, a female panch chips in, “We want to work towards progress and prosperity of our community. We want our children to excel and want to provide better opportunities to them and a healthy environment to grow.”

Turning to innumerable problems faced by villagers, Mohammad Rajab Dar, a panch says “no dispensary, veterinary unit and public transportation exist here. Sick people have to be carried in a ‘tonga’ (horse cart) to a hospital in Pattan, few kilometers from the village or a vehicle has to be arranged. There have been cases where people have died for want of immediate medical aid.” Dar says even cattle have to be taken to Pattan for medical care. “If veterinary doctor visits us then we’ve to bear his travel expenses in addition to other expenses,” he remarks.

Joined by another panch, Ghulam Mohammad Dar, it comes to fore that the area suffers on account of water-scarcity. “Out of seven khouls (streams), five have dried up. We demand irrigation facilities to be provided by government so that our irrigation woes are addressed. Infact, no government facilities reach us. We are left high and dry,” he laments.

The panches unanimously said that the area has never been visited by concerned Member Legislative Assembly (MLA) to look into public grievances. They demand ‘Awami darbar’ to be organized by concerned deputy commissioner to look into the grievances.

Even locals say influential are able to avail benefits of various welfare schemes offered by government. “Job cards under National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (NREGA) have been issued, but what is the fun of job cards when there is no work and when those who have already worked under its purview are yet to be paid for their services,” the add. The villagers demand fresh survey of Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards in their village.

“If work is carried out with sincerity, Panchayati Raj can be of great help,” comments the Sarpanch.
Article By –
Ms.Afsana Rashid
A media fellow with IGSSS
(The article is a part of Indo Global Social Service Society’s (IGSSS) Media Fellowship Programme under European Union’s EIDHR project jointly implemented with Welthungerhife in J & K)