Nisar Malik
Last year Panchayat election was the milestone in the history of J&K. The state cracked in turbulence and uprises in the recent past, the newly elected Sarpanch and Panch were initiating new soul in the people of J&K. In the beginning when the elections were going to be held government promised to give special powers to Sarpanch and Panch that compelled people to contest the election of Panchs and Sarpanchs . On the day of election, people came out in large sums from their houses to cast their precious votes, which resulted in record 80%voting. Now the people were expecting a lot from their elected Panch’s and Sarpanch’s but it was only game of say and show as time has proven. The Sarpanch were elected just for show, they were not given the powers that government promised to them. Over last few months sarpanch’s and panchs are struggling for their rights. Demanding more powers for local governance but the threats to them have lead them in struggling for their survival and this has lead the grassroots of democracy at crossroads in J&K Sarpanchs were killed in past one and half year, among them one was Mohd Shafi Teli, Nowpora, Baramulla who was killed on 23 september 2012 by unidentified gunmen in his village Nowpora ,his wife Atiqa Begum surviving her two daughters namely umaira shafi (12), sobia(7) and a son basit(10).
Disturbed and distressed Atiqa shared her woeful tale and broke down many times during conversation, “My husband was the helpful person, always used to work for the benefit of the village. After his death we are living a tragic life, all has ruined with his death”.
“My husband was a cement dealer, he owned a shop on loan few years back and the dealings were on debts with his customers. Later customers didn’t pay their debts as a result it was difficult for me to make both ends meet. We sold 4 canals of land to pay the loan”, she chipped in.
She also alleged that police did not investigate their case properly and there was no help from the government and stated that ‘give the devil his due’ in a sad tone.
Then after six months of gap another Sarpanch, Javid Ahmad Bhat from kalantra blaa, Baramulla was killed by unidentified gunmen on 23 Feb. 2013. His brother Mansoor Ahmad narrated the story with tears trickled down the cheeks.
“Javid Ahmad was kind enough, helpful, chary and philanthropist. His death has digged us in a deep hole with no way to come out from it. I was working in a medical shop earning a good amount, after his death shop remained shattered, the medicines got expired and I lost money in lacs.
After losing all of my income it is impossible for me to take care of my and his family. In these five months, once a Minister visited our home and made big promises but still I am jobless, craving for work,” stated his brother.
Javid’s son and daughter were living a luxurious life even his wife was not aware about the price of 1 kilo of knol khol ,tomato and other household things but his death has triggered their life. After the winds of deaths in Baramullah various sarpanch’s tried to resign but there resignation was not accepted because they were so much threatened about their lives.
The fear of killing sarpannch ‘s and panchs created the disturbance at local government which compelled the sarpanches to go on hunger strike for their security reason but once again this demand lost the direction and way like other demands. Minister for Panchayati Raj, Ali Mohd Sagar requested PM to arrange security for Sarpanch’s but PM rejected the demand.
Abid Hussain Pandith Sarpanch from authoora, Baramulla said, “The importance of Sarpanch is as important as head in a body because he is the mediator between the people and government. He is the one who listens to the grievances of the public and finds the solution for that very problem”.
He further said that there should be a co -operation for the proper functioning of local government. Earlier the strike of sarpanches and panchs had the main motive of elections on block and district level which will enhance the system of working and will be in more thorough and sophisticated manner.
“The government did a brilliant job by electing these panchs and sarpanchs after a gap of 35 years”, a local said ironically.
“It created ripples and controversies allover but the main motive should have been the benefit and upliftment of society which is lagging in our vicinity”, a local Shabir malik from village doulathpora said.
The Panchayat Raj in Kashmir looks at crossroads facing diverse challenges.