VST News :: Spring 2007
PRI – ‘MORE THAN HALF OF OUR CANDIDATES WIN ELECTION’
Panchayat Raj president The Panchayat Raj Institutions programme, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, aims to encourage participation in the local political process so that people can more effectively and sustainably demand their rights and get the basic services they need at a village level.
Throughout the summer of 2006 the programme raised awareness of the benefits of participation and provided training in the skills and knowledge needed to build confidence amongst people who would not normally have thought of putting themselves forward for election.
We had hoped to identify 425 possible candidates, primarily women, but also Arunthidiyar people who are the most oppressed group among Dalits. In the end we reached 486. A total of 273 people then attended training courses to encourage nomination and 479 went on to contest the election. Remarkably, nearly 58% of those candidates won their campaigns and now serve as ward members (216), Panchayat presidents (27) or union councillors (3).
Of course, the elections were not without incident and a fair smattering of intrigue. Panchayat institutions have a good deal of local power and influence and hold the purse strings to relatively substantial budgets. Individuals and groups with local vested interest are predictably reluctant to relinquish their power. They often use social pressure, bribery and even kidnapping to maintain their position and it is no easy task for new candidates to win office and carry out their roles fairly and appropriately. In women reserved Panchayats and wards binami or proxy candidates are often elected and later controlled by husbands, brothers and others. In scheduled caste (Dalit) reserved constituencies, Arunthidiyar candidates are rarely selected and proxy by other castes is again common.
The training offered to potential candidates covered the concept of Panchayat Raj, the 73rd and 74th statutory amendments to the constitution, qualifications of candidates, the election process and rules and regulations. It was designed to encourage good practice in nomination and electioneering. A model manifesto was developed and adopted by many, including candidates who were not directly involved in the programme.
Support committees were formed to help candidates get together their campaigns and canvass support. Cultural programmes were delivered in many villages to educate the electorate in the qualities they should look for in their local officials.
Issues of proxy were still sharply in evidence in the elections of October 2006. The programme does not pretend to be able to eradicate them overnight. But a huge amount of progress was made. Women contested more seats than men. Dalit candidates campaigning under the programme banner won 50% of the seats they contested. Five Dalit women contested in constituencies with no reservation. Unfortunately only one was successful.
The model election manifesto that was developed for candidates to use during the election was also adopted by opposing candidates indicating recognition of its validity and potential as a vote winner. Awareness campaigns resulted in a substantial increase in polling with some areas achieving 70-80%.
Of course, this is only the beginning of the process. The programme will now work with elected candidates, their husbands and Panchayat clerks offering further training. Solidarity groups will be formed at block level to offer continuing support to candidates and monitor the work of the Panchayats. The programme will work to strengthen committees, including standing committees who offer advice on the delivery of basic services. There will be a baseline survey and further work to establish a network of support, collaborating with other nongovernmental organisations. And the programme will highlight the importance of the Grama Sabha (quarterly meetings of everyone in the Panchayat) as a way to achieve greater accountability from elected representatives.
Much of this work has already begun.
WHAT IS PANCHAYAT RAJ?
at the bottom ... it follows, therefore, that every village has
to be self-sustained and capable of managing its affairs ...’
VST’s work to strengthen the Panchayat Raj programme of village councils is becoming an increasingly important part of our work, offering a way for disadvantaged people like Dalits and women, to gain greater
independence and power. But what exactly are Panchayat Raj Institutions? A Panchayat is a council of elected members who take decisions on issues relating to a village’s social, cultural and economic life, including health, education and welfare. The term ‘Panchayat Raj’ originated during the British administration with ‘Raj’ meaning governance or government.
Mahatma Gandhi advocated Panchayat Raj as the foundation of India’s political system. His term for such a vision was Gram Swaraj (village self-governance). However, the philosophy behind Panchayat Raj is no modern concept. It is deeply steeped in the tradition and culture of rural India and in some areas is said to go back as far as the Vedic age (1500 BC onwards).
In Tamil Nadu, where VST works, this tradition reached its peak during the 10th-11th centuries under the reign of the Chola dynasty, when village councils used to levy taxes, improve community life and administer justice for their area. These village councils had effective links with the Chola rulers.
The downfall of the Cholas saw a decline in village autonomy and the rise of the centralised feudal administrative system. This continued until British rulers introduced local self-governance, mainly for administrative convenience. During the 1950s and 60s, after Independence, laws were passed to establish Panchayats in various states. More recently, they
found backing in the Indian constitution, which was amended in 1992 to incorporate the idea. Then in 1994, the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act came into place. The important changes brought about by these two Acts include the introduction of a three-tier Panchayat system, at village,
intermediate and district levels with local elections every five years.
The reservation of seats and offices for scheduled castes and for women was also introduced, along with the concept of Grama Sabha – a body consisting of registered voters who elect the village Panchayat. An active and enlightened Grama Sabha – a sort of parliament of the people – is vital to the success of the Panchayat Raj system. To this end, the
Government has ordered that Gram Sabha meetings must be held a minimum of four times a year.
In order to elect the members, the area of every Panchayat is divided into wards. In Tamil Nadu, village Panchayats have a minimum
of two wards and a maximum of five, with a minimum of six ward members and a maximum of 15.
A village Panchayat consists of a president, vice president and ward members. Village Panchayat ward members and the president are
chosen by direct election, while the vice president is chosen through
indirect election. These elections are held on a non-party basis and
election expenses limited to Rs 15,000 (£173) for a president and Rs
3,750 (£43) for a ward member.
The constitution envisages Panchayats as institutions which, among other things, ensure the welfare of the people in areas including health, education, communal harmony, social justice (particularly gender and castebased discrimination), dispute resolution and the welfare of
children, especially girls.
Funded by the Big Lottery Fund for the next five years, VST plans to
work with the federations and other people’s organisations to strengthen the Panchayat Raj programme that was begun under Network Theni.
Four successful candidates
ESHWARI
Ward member (BC community)
Eshwari is 26. Her husband and her eight year-old son are also
HIV+. I first met her on a monitoring visit to Theni in February 2006. She had appeared then as shy and retiring, deferring most of the time to her husband and saying little in the group training session for TDNP+ (Theni District Network of Positive People). I was quite taken aback by the change in her.
She explained that she had been quite depressed the year before but was now taking anti-retrovirals and has much more energy and enthusiasm. Contesting and winning the election as a ward member in her Panchayat has also invigorated her. “It gives me immense pleasure. Of course, it was very challenging at the time but now that I have been elected I have won great respect from the community. I am very proud and determined to do a good job.”
She attended a two-day training session organised under the PRI programme. This had encouraged her to put herself forward for nomination. In the end she stood against five men. She received strong support from the local women’s self help group, getting a large portion of votes from women, and TDNP+ also helped her in her
campaign. She went house to house in her ward, visiting close to 300 houses. She openly discussed her HIV status and pledged to speak out about HIV/Aids and to highlight health issues in the Panchayat. During the campaign she was interviewed by a TV station in the neighbouring state of Kerala. She was asked some pretty direct questions about how she could put herself forward for a five-year term when, in all likelihood, she would die before completing it! Eshwari countered strongly explaining that, with the availability of anti-retrovirals and by keeping herself healthy, she was fully confident that she would be around for many years to come.
S VELLUSAMY
President (Arunthidiyar community)
Vellusamy is an unlikely Panchayat President, softly spoken and very conscious of the responsibility he has taken on. He would like to bring about greater equality amongst the different caste communities in the Panchayat. He plans to consult closely with other ward members on the needs of the village and will visit households regularly to find out about the issues that most concern them.This was the first time Vellusamy, pictured here with his seven year-old daughter, had been involved in local politics although he has always played an active role in the life of the village and is a popular person. He was elected, unopposed, as President in a SC (scheduled caste) reserved Panchayat. Joining him as ward members are two others from the AR (Arunthidiyar) community; the remaining seven are BC (backward caste). Vellusamy lives in the AR colony adjoining Govindannagaram village. He is educated to 3rd standard and left school at the age of eight. He works as a driver. He is keen to improve education for all children in the Panchayat and is particularly interested in finding ways of improving school attendance of children from the AR community. He is keen to learn and attended a two-day government training scheme in the responsibilities and skills of Panchayat presidents.
The training of candidates in the skills needed to stand for election constituted the first phase of the PRI programme. Now elected officials are in place, the next phase will begin. They will offer training to all successful candidates but particularly to those new to their roles. New presidents will be offered guidance in leadership and administrative responsibilities. Panchayat support committees will work with elected officials to assist them in identifying priorities and working towards positive change ensuring that those in most need are heard and resources used fairly.
MANGAI
Ward member (BC community)
Mangai is a vital young woman, full of energy, intelligence and good humour. Her husband is a barber and, as such, the lowest in the backward caste to which they belong. The family is one of the poorest in the village and she seems to do all manner of jobs to make ends meet. She serves as an accountant in three self-help groups, works stitching clothes 15 days per month and helps her husband out in the shop attached to their house. She feels she has benefited greatly from her involvement with the women’s self help group: her knowledge of the wider world has increased, her social
networks expanded and she has gained the respect of her village and officials with whom she has done business.
It wasn’t surprising that the self help group and many in her community encouraged her to stand for election though she was doubtful of success and reluctant at first to put herself forward.
It was evident from the outset that many in the Panchayat felt threatened by Mangai’s popularity. There was a good deal of pressure from one of the political parties for her to withdraw. At one point she was offered a bribe of Rs25,000/- but was able to resist what was a huge temptation (she barely earns Rs 1,000/- per month) with the support of her family and her clear sense of the importance of her good name. There were two other candidates in her women reserved ward, both backward caste andclosely aligned to political parties.
Mangai campaigned on a rights-based manifesto and declared that she would help the poorest in the Panchayat to benefit from government schemes and ensure that the basic needs of the community are met first. She made it clear that she was not open to bribery, would fight corruption and make sure that the Panchayat was accountable by encouraging participation in a fully functioning Grama Sabha.EYARANI – Elachi federation leader
President (SC community)
This is the second time that Subbulakshmi has been elected president of her Panchayat. She feels she has been successful because she has a good name in the five villages that make upthe Panchayat. She has achieved concrete results for the people, including the poorest and most marginalised in the community.
The Arunthidiyar colony at one time had no land registration. She worked with them to achieve the security they needed and recognises that there is still more to be done to ensure that resources are allocated fairly and where there is most need. She has also campaigned and raised funds to build marriage halls in two villages and a drama hall for another. She has secured extra finance
for her Panchayat and a number of houses have been built under government schemes.
Her husband is supportive of her in what can be a very demanding role. He mostly works in agriculture on their own land but he also takes care of the cattle, fetches water and does other domestic tasks so that she can attend meetings and carry out her community duties.
Subbulakshmi has been a member of the village self-help group for five years and she believes that this has helped her to successfully contest the election. She received solid support from the self-help group in her campaign. As with a good number of the candidates, I was concerned by the level of expenditure involved in her campaign. She spent around Rs 17,000/- and family and friends helped her to raise the funds (the ceiling – as laid down under Panchayat regulation – is Rs 3,750/- for ward member candidates and for
presidents Rs 15,000/-) Candidates incur necessary expenses: production of posters, design and print of information flyers, transport, tea and snacks for meetings and thank you events for supporters and friends. These expenses are routinely met by the candidates themselves and are accepted despite the fact that they
can mean they are in debt for months and even years – whether or not they are elected.
PRI programme training reminds candidates of the need to keep election expenses at sensible levels, but often they are competing with party-backed candidates who have access to considerable funds. The rules governing elections to the Panchayat state that political parties should not participate but inevitably they find it impossible to pass up the chance of power at all levels. The PRI programme will work to address these anomalies in the run up to the next elections in 5 years’ time.
After the election...
In November 2006, we brought together staff from all our partners to conduct ‘Resource Mapping’ training. A starting point for the programme is to conduct a baseline survey in 87 Panchayats and resource mapping will be the main tool to achieve this. The survey will serve two purposes. Firstly, it will help the Panchayats themselves to analyse their needs and the resources they have available making planning easier. Secondly, it will help us to analyse achievements and progress over the five-year duration of the project.In addition to the training of staff, we have prepared guidelines for the conduct of the surveys and plan to produce documents for each of the Panchayats on the process and its findings. The surveys will take place in 47 Panchayats in the coming months to June 2007, with the remainder completed by September.
In January 2007, training the trainer courses were conducted for 50 members of staff from partner NGOs. This was designed to ensure consistency and effectiveness across the training that the programme
will offer up to elected representatives in the Panchayats. The course covered all aspects of the skills required of trainers and, most importantly, the content of the courses to be delivered. All partner
NGOs now feel confident in the organisation, design and delivery of training to elected representatives in their area.
In late January further training was given to partner NGO staff in finance management and the government schemes that are implemented through
the Panchayats. Most recently 180 ward members, presidents and vice presidents, district government and NGO officials and the media, attended a district level seminar on strengthening Panchayat Raj Institutions. Many of the programme’s messages were reinforced. The most senior government official, the newly appointed District Collector, also attended and encouraged women presidents and ward members to
‘go it alone’ and not involve their husbands in decision-making.
Encouraging networking, collaboration and best practice are important components of the programme and we have already made good progress
at a district level. The reach of the project has also extended to other districts: Dindigul, Vellore, Kanchipuram, and Villupuram and a state level
convention of elected representatives is to be held in Chennai in late March.
The work continues...
Understandably the focus of work in the past fewmonths has been on PRI. But work continues in other
areas:
Women’s development and the federations:
Vaigai Federation in the Vasandham area is close to full sustainability and autonomy. Leadership is stronger than it has ever been and progress has been made in developing federation based enterprise projects to secure the future. Other federations in Theni continue to struggle to a greater or lesser extent. VST’s partners plan to make stronger links between federations and encourage exchange of knowledge and expertise.
The Gender and Equity Sensitised Person (GESP) programme
- formerly known as the GSM (Gender Sensitised Men) project – continues to develop and support work with women in self-help groups, the federations and most recently in the PRI programme. In addition to the training courses offered solely to men, the programme is now working
with groups of couples. We also work to strengthen the position of women working for our partner organisations, prioritising them for management training and working towards establishing them in senior positions in their organisations.
And develops...
TUBERCULOSIS CONTROLIn collaboration with Target Tuberculosis (TTB), our partners are reviewing the work they are doing to reduce tuberculosis transmission and multi-drug resistance by ensuring effective and genuine detection and cure rates. The work also seeks to demonstrate effective partnership between NGOs and the government system leading to adoption of best practices in TB by all parties.
We have recently opened discussions with TTB to add an operational research component to the programme. This research will add value to the project and will enable Network Theni and Target TB to showcase how their innovative approach of public/NGO partnership benefits communities affected by tuberculosis and HIV. The research outputs and publicity will assist in local and wider advocacy and will, we hope, have an impact beyond the immediate project area.
WATER ENCROACHMENT
One of VST’s oldest partners, Vasandham, is looking to embark on a new area of work.
Kanmai – traditional watershed reservoirs – were constructed by the Government in the 1950s to store rainwater. All of those in the area are either partially or fully encroached by farmers who use the land to grow
crops. Encroachers are often large landowners with powerful political allegiances. Their wealth and status make it very hard for communities to demand their restoration.
Vasandham is situated in the Varusanadu valley, a remote and rural area. 99% of the population are either marginal or small farmers or landless agricultural day labourers, dependent on agriculture for their income. Most land is poor quality, much of it affected by soil erosion and desertification; productivity is very poor, and income low.
The area is blighted by irregular monsoons; for four successive years, 2001-2004, the rains failed. The resulting drought had a severe impact on the local community, including increased poverty, land alienation, migration and ill health.
The local community has very limited awareness of their water rights, and local government officials show no intention of restoring the kanmai.
Vasandham plans to work with community based organisations in the area helping them to develop local campaigns demanding restoration of nine of the most severely encroached kanmais.
Restoration will increase land productivity and income across the community. It will also help to reduce seasonal and permanent migration by providing sustainable local employment, decrease the effects of water scarcity on public health and increase the status of water rights as an issue.
MY VST
by Vanajaa Augustine, Programme Director DAC Trust/Network Theni
Vanajaa Augustine What struck me immediately was the simplicity of the set up. Meetings were informal, people dressed very casually creating an atmosphere that encouraged everyone to speak and participate. Quite a contrast to the larger agencies I had been used to dealing with, with their sophisticated offices and plush furniture and fittings.
My first contacts were with Mr John – VST’s programme adviser and Secretary of one of the seven ngo partners, Arogya Agaam and Mr Jothi – the Chairman of the Development Action Consortium Trust. Both men, but with a friendly approach and manner which, once again, contrasted starkly with the hierarchical attitudes I had been used to in previous jobs.
And then came the work… Working with just one NGO can be difficult enough, but working with ten different NGOs, all with a different vision and different management structures and personalities, was a real challenge. Yet, somehow it has worked and the achievements have been quite remarkable.
I have seen huge improvements in attitudes towards HIV+ people with better treatment in hospitals and other health services, a greater acceptance of HIV+ widows, with access to their husbands’ assets, counselling and most importantly greater confidence to work for the rights of HIV+ people. I have seen a substantial drop in the incidence of female infanticide, watched as the PRI programme has developed with greater voter awareness, increased participation and a reduction in the proxy management of the Panchayats. Women’s federations have taken up issues of violence against women at Panchayat and district levels.
Untouchability is no longer swept under thecarpet and our team constantly seeks recognition of the issue from government.
I have now entered my fifth year working with VST, Network Theni and DAC Trust. The pavement has not been a smooth
one. It has been littered with stones, nails, leaves and cotton threads, yet it has taught me a great deal. There have been many happy occasions and some frustrating ones but what ultimately keeps me going are the smiles of the people we work with, the courage on the faces of the women both young and old as they win greater respect from society. In the early stages of working with couples in the gender programme, I met with an elderlycouple and was touched by how much they were
prepared to change with the times and adjust. They were
able to influence younger members of the group to keep
the best elements of the past and embrace a new future.
None of the joy I feel in the work I do in partnership with VST would be possible without the help of VST’s supporters – the Big Lottery Fund, the Department for International Development and Target Tuberculosis who fund large programmes and most importantly, the many individual supporters who allow VST to introduce new areas of work and maintain and improve existing programmes.
SUPPORTING VST WITHOUTSPENDING A PENNY!
VOLUNTEERINGKeeping administrative costs to a minimum is one of VST’s chief concerns. As the work expands this becomes increasingly challenging and some of the seemingly less urgent tasks can quickly fall off the ‘to do’ list. We received a welcome boost to our hands on resources last year with the arrival of two volunteers – Caroline Helder and Karla Gunby.
Caroline has already made great progress updating VST’s web-site. Take a look at some of the changes at www.villageservicetrust.org.uk. She
works one day a week either from home or at the office in Brixton. The rest of the time she works as a magazine sub-editor. In the future, she will be helping out with the production of newsletters, the
annual report and other materials, putting her writing and editing skills to good use.
Karla came to us wanting to do something useful while she was looking for a full-time job. In October and November last year she completely revamped the Brixton office, sorting out the filing and bringing some of the more routine jobs right up to date. She also found time to get together information on leaving a legacy to VST and, with Caroline, ensured that the annual report was despatched while our programmes manager, Ruth, was away on a monitoring visit to Theni. Thankfully for her but unfortunately for us, she found a job just before Christmas managing community programmes in
North London. She still retains an interest in VST and comes in a couple of times a month if she can and will help out from home as well.
We would like to involve more people in helping us in a wide range of activity that they can do from home as well as at the office in Brixton. If you are interested in helping out, give Ruth a ring on: 020 7326 5338 or e-mail her at: villageservicetrust@lineone.net.
EVERYCLICK
Everyclick.com is a search engine that gives half of the revenue it generates to charity. Last year search engines generated close to £3.2 billion. By registering with Everyclick and using it as your
search engine you can use it to raise money for VST whenever you search the web. There is no charge to you and no charge to VST so it really is ‘free money’. Sign up now at www.everyclick.com.
LEAVING A LEGACY TO VST
Remembering Village Service Trust in your Will is your opportunity to support our work into the future with a donation which you may not have been able to afford during your lifetime.
If you would like more information about leaving a legacy to VST contact us now and ask us to send you our new legacy pack.
GIFT AID
Many of our tax-paying supporters have already completed a Gift Aid declaration form which allows us to increase their donations by 28% by reclaiming the tax they have already paid. In practice, this means
that if you give £10 to VST using Gift Aid, that gift is worth £12.82.
We are trying to update our records and make sure that we claim every penny we can from the tax man. If you are a taxpayer, please complete the Gift Aid declaration enclosed (whether or not you have
completed one before). If we cannot claim tax on your donations we would be most grateful if you could let us know why so that we can make sure our records reflect this.