Rahul Gandhi wants 'ideal village' Ralegan Siddhi replicated

Jaisingh Mapari, sarpanch of veteran Gandhian Anna Hazare’s village, Ralegan Siddhi, will be travelling to New Delhi on Tuesday to meet the all-India Congress committee (AICC) general secretary, Rahul Gandhi.

Mapari has been invited to discuss the innovative projects of village development being undertaken in Ralegan Siddhi, situated in Ahmednagar district.

Ralegan Siddhi is often cited as an example of an ideal village because of its welfare activities.

Initiated by Hazare himself, these activities include watershed development projects, rainwater harvesting and sharing of pastoral lands.

The village has also carved a name for its propagation of community village life and uplift of the poor.

“During the 12-day fast undertaken by Hazare in August in New Delhi, senior Congress leader PT Thomas visited our village and was very impressed with the way the village had developed,” said Mapari. Thomas briefed Gandhi about the welfare activities in the village.

“Gandhi was very interested in the projects and wanted to discuss the same, to implement these projects on a nationwide level,” he added.

The sarpanch received an invitation from Gandhi for a meeting in New Delhi last week.

When the matter was broached before Hazare, he permitted the sarpanch to attend the meeting, albeit with some conditions.

“Anna has instructed us to ensure the meeting happens in front of the public. Also, he has instructed us to take four villagers for the meeting,” he said.

The meeting is scheduled to be attended by senior bureaucrats and planners.

Mapari said discussions would be held on the feasibility of replicating the example of Ralegan Siddhi in all villages across the country.