Neither sarpanch nor gram panchayat officer turns up for Khadsangi special gram sabha in Chimur

Questions have been raised over the functioning of the Khadsangi gram panchayat in Chimur after neither the sarpanch nor the gram panchayat officer was present at a gram sabha for which a notice had been issued, a time fixed and key issues listed on the agenda.

The special gram sabha was scheduled for 12 noon on Friday in the premises of the gram panchayat office. It is being discussed in the village, and people are confused over who was responsible for holding it.

The agenda listed issues such as "Reform Utsav", the People's Plan Campaign (PPC), Viksit Bharat 2047 and empowerment of women farmers. Discussion was due in particular on informing women farmers about government schemes, measures to strengthen them economically and their role in the rural economy.

However, there is no clear picture even about how the meeting was conducted. Questions are therefore being asked whether the agenda items were actually discussed, whether villagers put their questions and whether any decision was taken.

Gram panchayat officer Kawadu Tarale said the notice for the gram sabha had been issued on time on the orders of senior officials. According to him, he had been asked only to issue the notice, while the responsibility for holding the gram sabha lay with the sarpanch. Tarale said, "The notice of the gram sabha was issued on time as per the orders of seniors. We were only told to issue the notice of the gram sabha. The responsibility for holding the gram sabha was the sarpanch's. So holding the gram sabha was the sarpanch's job."

Sarpanch Priyanka Kolte, on the other hand, said the notice was issued on time, so she did not sign it. She said, "The notice of the special gram sabha was issued on time, so I did not sign it. On top of that, I was not well, so I could not come to the gram sabha."

The confusion remains despite both explanations. Villagers are demanding clarity on who was ultimately responsible for everything from issuing the notice to completing the proceedings of the meeting.

The gram sabha is regarded as an important forum to discuss village development decisions, people's problems and the various government schemes. If the picture remains unclear even after a notice for a special gram sabha was issued, villagers are asking what will become of their expectations. They say they should be given official information on whether an important issue such as women farmers was actually discussed.

Villagers are now waiting to see whether senior officials will take note of the matter and whether necessary action will be taken over the conduct of the gram sabha.