Letter: Gujarat It was one of the first few states to conduct Panchayat elections after the implementation of Panchayati Raj in the country in 1964. But Dandi of Navsari, known for the Salt Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi, did not include himself in the ‘Election’ list. This village decided not to hold any Panchayat elections in honor of the Father of the Nation.
This year too, when the state’s gram panchayats are in election mode on December 19, the villagers here will make Nikita Rathod (27) their sarpanch, whom they have already elected without votes through the concept of Samras village. Been following for almost six decades.
Villagers claim that recently the concept of Samaras village has been introduced in Gujarat in which the members and sarpanchs are not elected.
“This year the seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribe women and Rathod has been selected for the responsibility being one of the few educated women in the village. Since Panchayati Raj started in Gujarat, Dandi never held elections for a gram panchayat,” outgoing sarpanch Vimal Patel told TOI.
“The villagers finalized my name and I am proud to be the Sarpanch of this historic village. It is also a matter of pride for the village that we elect our leader unanimously, Rathod said.
“Many Gandhian activists continued the welfare activities in Dandi after the historic march and for independence. Because of creating awareness, villagers have decided not to hold elections since the introduction of Panchayati Raj in Gujarat in 1964 and this tradition continues till now,” said Satyakam Joshi, director-in-charge, Center for Social Studies, Surat.
This year too, when the state’s gram panchayats are in election mode on December 19, the villagers here will make Nikita Rathod (27) their sarpanch, whom they have already elected without votes through the concept of Samras village. Been following for almost six decades.
Villagers claim that recently the concept of Samaras village has been introduced in Gujarat in which the members and sarpanchs are not elected.
“This year the seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribe women and Rathod has been selected for the responsibility being one of the few educated women in the village. Since Panchayati Raj started in Gujarat, Dandi never held elections for a gram panchayat,” outgoing sarpanch Vimal Patel told TOI.
“The villagers finalized my name and I am proud to be the Sarpanch of this historic village. It is also a matter of pride for the village that we elect our leader unanimously, Rathod said.
“Many Gandhian activists continued the welfare activities in Dandi after the historic march and for independence. Because of creating awareness, villagers have decided not to hold elections since the introduction of Panchayati Raj in Gujarat in 1964 and this tradition continues till now,” said Satyakam Joshi, director-in-charge, Center for Social Studies, Surat.
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