LETTER: Gujarat was among the first few states to hold panchayat elections after the country implemented Panchayati Raj in 1964. But Dandi of Navsari, known for Salt Satyagraha by Mahatma Gandhi, did not include itself in the ‘election’ list. This village chose not to hold any panchayat elections as a mark of respect for the father of the nation.
This year too, when state’s village panchayats will go on the election mode on December 19, villagers here will place Nikita Rathod (27) as their sarpanch who they have already selected sans ballot — through the concept of Samras village — a tradition they have been adhering to for nearly six decades now.
Villagers claim that the concept of Samras village has now been introduced in Gujarat recently in which villages do not elect, but select members and sarpanch.
“This year the seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribe women and Rathod being one of few educated women from the village has been chosen for the responsibility. Since Panchayati Raj started in Gujarat Dandi never held elections for gram panchayat,” outgoing sarpanch Vimal Patel told TOI.
“Villagers finalized my name and I am proud of becoming the sarpanch of this historical village. It is also a matter of pride for the village that we unanimously select our leader,” said Rathod.
“Many Gandhian workers continued welfare activities in Dandi after the historical march and for Independence. Due to the awareness created, villagers chose not to hold elections since Panchayati Raj was introduced in Gujarat in 1964 and the tradition is continued till now,” said Satyakam Joshi, in-charge director, Centre for Social Studies, Surat.
This year too, when state’s village panchayats will go on the election mode on December 19, villagers here will place Nikita Rathod (27) as their sarpanch who they have already selected sans ballot — through the concept of Samras village — a tradition they have been adhering to for nearly six decades now.
Villagers claim that the concept of Samras village has now been introduced in Gujarat recently in which villages do not elect, but select members and sarpanch.
“This year the seat is reserved for Scheduled Tribe women and Rathod being one of few educated women from the village has been chosen for the responsibility. Since Panchayati Raj started in Gujarat Dandi never held elections for gram panchayat,” outgoing sarpanch Vimal Patel told TOI.
“Villagers finalized my name and I am proud of becoming the sarpanch of this historical village. It is also a matter of pride for the village that we unanimously select our leader,” said Rathod.
“Many Gandhian workers continued welfare activities in Dandi after the historical march and for Independence. Due to the awareness created, villagers chose not to hold elections since Panchayati Raj was introduced in Gujarat in 1964 and the tradition is continued till now,” said Satyakam Joshi, in-charge director, Centre for Social Studies, Surat.
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