Chief Minister has distributes Rs.55.62-cr prizes to 2,123 samras villages in Gujarat

Concept of governance through consensus at grassroots level to change face of such villages in 5 years – Narendra Modi

Ahmedabad, Saturday: Chief Minister Narendra Modi distributed incentive prizes worth Rs.4.40-crore to 216 ‘samras gram panchayats’ of north Gujarat region and honoured the sarpanchs of those villages at a function at Kadi today. He has so far distributed prizes totaling Rs.55.62-crore to 2,123 such samras villages in the entire state.

Speaking at the function, he said that Gujarat now intends to place before India the ‘Samras Gram Panchayat’ concept of ‘governance through consensus’ instead of conflict as a finer and more successful model of democracy at the grassroots level.

When the entire village reposes confidence on the unanimously elected panchayat, he said that elected body has been found to be functioning with greater zeal. He congratulated the people opting for such a novel method of self-governance. He exuded confidence this successful model would change the face of such villages in five years. One has to just visualize how it would look like with no place for bickering in villages.

Referring to the opposition parties’ criticizing the ‘samras gram’ concept as ‘murder of democracy’, Mr. Modi said that when India elects its President unanimously it is dubbed as the victory of democracy but when a village elects its entire panchayat unanimously in Gujarat the opposition finds it murder.

Interestingly, he said, it doesn’t cost any extra money but just change in the leadership style. Moreover, he said, the responsibility has been bestowed on all-women samras gram panchayats in several villages. Women can take better care of general hygiene, clean toilets, school children’s education, nourishment, tree plantation and improved environment. They manage funds also better. Sakhi Mandals in several villages have also shown the way as to how to get rid of debts. Transparency would come naturally.

The Chief Minister regretted that although the Gujarat Government has passed a proposal for 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats and local self-government bodies, but is waiting for the Governor’s assent for uncertain period.

Panchayat Minister Narottam Patel said that Gujarat is one state which has accorded priority to village development, long neglected during the Congress rule.

Mehsana Guardian and Revenue Minister Anandiben Patel said that Gujarat has adopted a model of all round development, down to the taluka and village level. The taluka level ‘Jan Seva Kendras’ have received 18 lakh applications during the last one year and has disposed off 17 lakh of them. The government has placed Rs.25 lakh funds with Prant Officer for small and sundry works.

Others who spoke on the occasion included Ministers Nitin Patel, Nitin Patel, Ramanlal Vora, Parbat Pal, MPs Natuji Thakor, Jayashriben Patel, Gujarat Agro Industries Corporation (GAIC) Managing Director Mr. Singh.