Gujarat: Dalit woman sarpanch battles to hold on to her panchayat

The battle to secure government in Karnataka lasted only a few days for the Cong-JDS. But, for Heraben Vaniya, a 50-year-old Dalit sarpanch of Sahuka village, Limbdi taluka, of Surendranagar district, it has been an uphill task to get things done.

In fact, Heraben, who was chosen through Samras (a process in which villagers unanimously appoint a sarpanch to avoid elections) as the sarpanch of the village a year ago has been battling patriarchy and caste prejudice since her election. The seat was reserved for a Scheduled Caste female candidate.

"Only two of the total nine members in the panchayat are Dalits; one is a Koli Patel and the rest are Darbars who form a majority. They tried to move a no-confidence motion against me twice. Now, they are all set to get the entire body dismissed because the budget could not be passed by March end," said Heraben, who has no formal education.

It should be noted that, as per the panchayat rules, a panchayat body that fails to get its budget passed by March end is liable to be dismissed. A new body will be elected in its place. Heraben alleges that this is one of the ways found by the men to harass her.

She said the members, majority of whom are men and from upper caste, don't show up during panchayat meetings to pass the budget.

"I am the sarpanch, but I don't even get a chair to sit there. I'm made to sit on a bench far away from what is happening. They expected me to give thumb impression on whatever documents they made. But, I started questioning them and that is when the harassment started," said Heraben, and looking at her husband, added he helps her read and understand papers.

She claims to have to spend Rs1 lakh for village work. However, all such works should be funded by the government only if it is backed by a resolution of the panchayat. "The upper caste men would not pass a resolution for the work that has been done in the village. This means even if I put the bills, the talati won't clear it. I have spent so much from my own pocket because I can't plead helplessness when villagers complaint to me," said Heraben.

She claims her appeals to the talati and other government officials have fallen on deaf ears. "Neither the talati, nor the panchayat members give me details about the resolution that has been passed. When I first became the sarpanch, they asked me to give my thumb impression on blank pages of tharav (resolution) register and now they write whatever they want and show it as a resolution passed in the panchayat," said Heraben. JV Varsar, talati of Limbdi, said the problems of the village panchayat seem to be one of no trust. "As for getting thumb impression of the lady on the tharav register, no such thing has happened," said Varsar.

FOR HER RIGHT

• 50-year-old Heraben was chosen through Samras (a process in which villagers appoint a sarpanch to avoid elections) as the sarpanch a year ago.
   
• Since then, she has been battling patriarchy and caste prejudice.