Volvoi elected its panchayat in June 2017, but got a sarpanch only in December 2021. In the long intervening period, whenever one of the two lady panchas filed a nomination for the post of sarpanch, the nomination would be proposed by the other lady pancha, but none of the three men panchas would second the nomination, resulting in the post going vacant and the panchayat affairs managed by the deputy sarpanch who would be one of the men. The post of sarpanch in this panchayat is reserved for women. That stalemate has now ended.
The only apparent reason for the sarpanch not being elected in the panchayat is that the three men were not in favour of allowing any one of the two women panchas to hold the post. The very purpose of women’s upliftment was defeated at Volvoi till this week as three of the panchas had banded together to deprive either one of the two ladies to hold the post, until one of the men finally relented and seconded the nomination. The most surprising aspect of the entire episode is how come the Department of Panchayats did not act for over four years to ensure that a sarpanch was elected? Does the Panchayati Raj Act contain no provision to have a sarpanch elected within a reasonable period of an election?
What occurred in Volvoi defeats the very purpose of reserving 33 per cent of sarpanch and deputy sarpanch posts for women. The aim of the reservation is to bring women into public life and for their political empowerment by giving them a platform under the law to lead the village. The decision to involve women at the grassroots level has shown positive results. Studies have shown that across the country, with women getting elected as sarpanchas and deputies, there have been positive changes seen and many panchayats performed better despite the financial constraints. Goa requires a study to determine how reservation for women has helped panchayats and also women in rural areas. Surely there have been positives that have come about in the panchayats since women have been allowed to occupy the seats of power.
However, what the elected members of the Volvoi panchayat have shown to the other panchayats in the State is that it is easy to circumvent the provisions of law that are meant to uplift women. This calls for a change in the system to ensure that women are not deprived of the positions that the law accords them. Not just women, any other such reservation that may be for any class or caste. If there is no candidate for the post and it remains vacant for such reason is understandable, but there should not deliberately be hurdles placed in the path of those who are eligible to occupy any such position.
Panchayati Raj in Goa will struggle to meet its objectives if the government remains unresponsive to specific stumbling blocks that come in the way of equal representation to all. The Panchayat Department requires to be more alert to what is happening in the village panchayats of Goa. Aberrations such as these should not be condoned as it will only serve to set an example for other panchayats to follow. We have had instance of sarpanchas being elected and hours later a motion of no confidence moved, but in Volvoi the election of the sarpanch was just not allowed to happen.
