E-panchayat system: CM Khattar proposes, sarpanches dispose

Chandigarh: E-panchayat system has become a bone of contention between panchayat representatives and the Manohar Lal Khattar government in Haryana.

The sarpanches (panchayat heads) and other panchayat representatives are angry as the state government is trying to introduce e-panchayat system. In this system, each panchayat will be computerised and it will have to interact with the government through computers only. The panchayat representatives are calling it an attempt to bypass the Panchyati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

In the e-panchayat system, the panchayats have to give a detailed report in advance of all the developmental work they are going to carry out next year. The panchayat representatives have taken a dim view of this “diktat”. They say it is not easy to give a progress report in advance as there are many small works or emergencies cropping up every now and then.  

During the past few days, the sarpanches have organised a demonstration against the e-panchayat system at various places in Haryana. They have staged dharnas at various district headquarters and even outside the chief minister’s residence. There are about 6,200 panchayats and roughly as many sarpanches in the state. 

The demands of the protesters include withdrawal of the e-panchayat system, execution of the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, remunerations for gram sachivs on a par with those of patwaris and pension for gram sarpanches. On his part, chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has said that all the issues of the panchayat representatives will be resolved.

However, the Khatttar government is maintaining that the e-panchayat project would be implemented as it would not only increase transparency, but would also help check corruption and make people repose greater faith in the Panchyati Raj Institutions. 

On the other hand, the Opposition Congress is not gung-ho about it. The party calls it a government attempt to cover up its failure in carrying out development in the villages — simply an attempt to divert people's attention. 

The state party president Ashok Tanwar said the BJP has realised its failure on all fronts in the state, so it is now resorting to such tactics. In his opinion, there is no infrastructure to implement the e-panchayat system. “Forget about computers, there is no electricity in the villages. Our party is totally supporting the agitation of the panchayat activists,” he said.

However, the office-bearers of the sarpanches’ union claimed that they had not been invited for talks. The government would be holding parleys with a “select few favourably inclined sarpanches”, they said.

Some of them said during Khattar’s programme in Sonepat on Tuesday, the authorities rounded up protesting sarpanches. The move has alienated them further and sabotaged any possibility of talks.  

Union president Surender Rana said five sarpanches from each district had been invited for talks. “A few days ago, a senior officer of the Panchayat Department had expressed his intention to meet us and resolve the matter. However, we rejected his proposal as we wanted Khattar to first apologise for his behaviour and invite gram sachivs as well for talks,” Mr Rana said, adding there was pressure on the district administrations to send five sarpanches from their areas.

However, sources in the government claimed that a “pick and choose” policy was not employed in inviting sarpanches for talks. “The government never shied away from talks. Their concerns will be addressed to their satisfaction,” a government functionary said.

Opposing change

• Sarpanches (panchayat heads) are up in arms against the Haryana government for trying to implement e-panchyat system
• Under the system panchyats have to give a detailed report of all the developmental work they plan to carry out in the year ahead
• The government thinks it will bring transparency and reduce corruption
• Panchayat representatives think it is not practical to introduce e-panchyat system so abruptly and without proper infrastructure
• The Opposition Congress calls it a government step to cover up its failure in carrying out development in villages 
• There are around 6,200 panchayts in Haryana and almost as many heads of panchayats