Democracy At Work part 1

 

India i.e. Bharat is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic. India has been a miracle for the World. The world, especially the western world was convinced that democracy shall never take its roots in India. According to them the prerequisites for liberal democracy, literacy, meritocracy, a strong foundation of Nation-State are absent. But the fact remains despite having lived under kingdoms for years India and Indian people did possess the most basic factor to make democracy work i.e. an ability to accept the possibility of other views. The Indian ethos believes in "एकम् सत विप्रा: बहुधा वदन्ति." The traces of republics can be traced to the very origin in Vedas. A great historian and writer K. P. Jaiswal has elaborated the forms of ancient Indian republics in his scholarly work 'Hindu Polity.' The modern Constitution of India and laws framed according to it are mere sophisticated forms to make democracy work according to modern needs. 

Intending to decentralizing the power, the Govt. of India constituted multiple committees to suggest, recommend the multi-layered structure of local self-government. According to the recommendations of the Balwantrai Mehta committee, the Three-layered structure of local self-government was introduced and implemented in India. The Gram Panchayat, Panchayat Samiti at Block level, and Zila Parishad at the district level. Some state governments adopted different models according to their needs, and suitability. However, the basic model is mostly similar across the country. Keeping this in mind it has to be noted and considered that Tribal communities constitute a significant chunk of the total population in many states of India. 

The constitution of India in Schedule 5 and Schedule 6 provide for special provisions concerning the administration of tribal areas in various states. The tribal communities mostly are situated in remote areas with dense forests. Their livelihood is dependent upon the jungles and jungle lands for hundreds of years. However, the British period in India saw a major change in the life of the tribal belts in India. The British era laws like Indian Forest Act disassociated the tribal from their livelihood, the jungles. The original, rightful protectors, owners of the jungle became intruders. It had to be changed after the independence of India. It took 49 years to make efforts at legislative level to come up with a statute like PESA i.e. Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996. 

The act provides for a Gram Sabha that consisting of persons whose names are included in the electoral rolls for the Panchayat. Every Gram Sabha shall be competent to safeguard and preserve the traditions and customs of the people, their cultural identity, Community Resources, and the customary mode of dispute resolution. Every Gram Sabha shall approve plans, programs, projects for social and economic development before such plans, programs, and projects are taken up for implementation by the Panchayat at the village level. There are many such provisions in the act that basically empower the Gram Sabha to control their own affairs. An ideal law according to the vision of 'Gram Swaraj' emphasized by Mahatma Gandhiji. 

In India, the legislation are drafted with care, keeping the development of the common man in perspective. However, the fact remains most of the common people do not know how to use those legislations for their benefit. Either simply just out of ignorance or due to the 'Mai-Baap Sarkar' syndrome imbibed in the social psyche of the people. There is a need to make common people, who are the direct beneficiaries of such legislations, aware, empower, and strengthen to implement such legislation. 

The Jawhar-Mokhada belt in the Palghar district has more than 90% tribal population. The tribes in these areas are Warli, Katkari, and Thakar. These communities live in remote villages, called Pada. The number of households in Pada can be as small as 5-10. Many families who prefer to live in their houses built on their farms alone. The belt faces the issues that most of the remote tribal belts in India face. Lack of literacy, employment opportunities, access to healthcare, and many more. The issue of outmigration for employment is rampant. Even though the area is not quite at distant from the industrially developed regions of Mumbai, Nashik, and Vapi-Valsad in Gujarat, this tribal belt is not developed. The belt receives ample rainfall in the monsoon, but it faces acute water shortage in the summer period. On this background the need for the movements such as 'Vayam' becomes pertinent. 

Vayam, a movement for self-empowerment through democratic means, initiated by Milind Thatte and Deepali Gogate, focuses more on making local tribal communities, Gram Sabhas awake, aware and empowered to manage their affairs using all the constitutional-legislative means available. While doing this they come up with innovative ideas to preserve, protect local culture. Ideas to mitigate various issues through innovative ideas that may cost less, can be implemented through community participation or even at the individual level. I watched a presentation by Milind Thatte on the platform of 'Swaym Talks' and the idea, the movement caught my attention. I decided to visit the place, and study the model, learn as much as possible as to how Democracy is at work there. 

Abhyas Varga at Vayam

Let us go through various programs the Vayam movement conducts. Vayam conducts the Abhyas Varg (Learning session) every month for the representatives of Gram Sabhas of nearby Padas. Where Karyakartas take stock of work done by the Gram Sabha in the previous month. Whether villages conducted the Gram Sabha meeting. Were the legal procedures followed? What issues were discussed, were they resolved, what resolutions were proposed? They conduct a session of representatives explaining and elaborating the provisions of PESA 1996, Gram Panchayat Act of Maharashtra state, and other relevant statutes. All the procedures to be followed while conducting Gram Sabha meetings. How to communicate with government authorities such as Gram Sevak, BDO, Tahsildar, and Sub Divisional Officer, etc. 

I attended the Abhyas Varg at the Vayam campus at Jawhar. while listening to what a Karyakarta was explaining I was observing the village representatives keenly. They were enthusiastic, to learn new things. Many of them had experienced the difference after their empowerment and getting first-hand experience of managing their own affairs. 

During the Abhyas Varga, while taking stock of the previous Gram Sabha of a village, Vayam karyakarta asked the representative whether the Gram Sevak was present for the Gram Sabha meeting? If not then whether the notice of such meeting was sent to him? Whether the minutes of the meeting were duly sent to the Gram Sevak for his sign and stamp? The answer from the village was, No. At this point, I realized why the Vayam movement is different than others after listening to what Vayam karyakarta stated after listening to a No. She said, "We should follow and abide by the constitution, and the law. The law provides that the Gram Sevak being Panchayat Secretary is to be served with the notice of meeting to be conducted, the Gram Sevak shall be present at the meeting to record the proceedings in meetings, if not the Gram Sabha shall maintain the record of minutes and get it duly signed-stamped. We should not go beyond the statutory provisions." 

At this point, I can't resist from comparing the Vayam movement with the so-called people's movement in parts of central India a.k.a. Naxalism or Maoism. Maoist movement call for a complete overhaul of the system of constitutional democracy by violent means called the revolution. On the other hand at Jawhar-Mokhada there is a silent revolution happening within the framework of the constitution which asks the common people to awake, make aware, and empower themselves to use all the statutory provisions for the betterment of their lives. This is how Democracy is at work.... 

Let us go through various innovative programs and my experience with Gram Sabha meeting in the next part of Democracy At Work..