The Hindu : Modi defers convening of `gram sabhas'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Oct 26, 2003

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Other States - Gujarat

Modi defers convening of `gram sabhas'

By Manas Dasgupta

GANDHINAGAR OCT. 25. Facing stiff opposition from the Government employees, including a section of his own office staff, the Gujarat Chief Minister, Narendra Modi, was forced to defer the convening of `gram sabhas' by four days. The `gram sabhas' will now be held from October 31, the birth anniversary of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.

Ever since Mr. Modi unfolded his plan at an informal Cabinet meeting for a series of `gram sabhas,' employees had been opposing it. Even delegations from the CMO and the Chief Secretary's office called on Mr. Modi to explain to him that organising `gram sabhas' when the entire State would be in the `Deepavali mood' would not be possible. Besides even the villagers would not fancy the idea of holding meetings during the festival.

The Government employees were unhappy that while Mr. Modi was sympathetic towards women and elderly male prisoners above the age of 70 serving life-terms in different jails in the State, he had not been considerate to his employees. The State Government granted a special 10-day parole for 118 women and 23 male prisoners to enable them to celebrate the festival. Mr. Modi specifically chose the Deepavali period for the `gram sabhas' because he wanted to hold the meetings in a "festive mood.'' The meetings will also include Rangoli and cooking competitions, cleanliness campaign, medical and blood donation camps, dance festivals and special programmes for youths and children. This would mean the involvement of almost the entire Government machinery at different levels.

Deepavali, followed by the Vikram Samvat new year, is the biggest annual festival of Gujarat and even the Ministers were feeling let down by Mr. Modi's decision. The Ministers and senior officials were instructed to attend the `gram sabhas' in their respective areas and cautioned against `absenteeism'. The people enter the `festive mode' from about a week prior to Deepavali and the celebrations continue for at least a week after.

Despite the deferment by four days, the employees and the officials are none too happy. They still will have to plan for the `gram sabhas' because it would mean gearing up the entire machinery. Particularly, outstation employees said they would prefer to go on leave and be with their families.

Mr. Modi has other reasons also to plan for the `gram sabhas' during the festival period.

The main reason, sources close to Mr. Modi said, is that the ruling party would be in "election mode'' by Dev Deepavali (November 10). He and his Ministers would be touring Rajasthan and other States going to the polls in December and therefore would have no time to attend the `gram sabhas'.

And after the elections, the officials would get busy preparing to celebrate `Utran' (festival of kite-flying) with the non-resident Gujaratis for a week from January 14 and then for observing the Republic Day away from the capital in Jamnagar.

All the top bureaucrats and Ministers were taken to Patan in north Gujarat to celebrate the Independence Day, and a similar plan is on the cards for January 26.

While the Navratri festivals were on last month, the officers were organising a "Vibrant Gujarat'' show to attract foreign investments. But the Congress-controlled Gujarat Panchayat Parishad has added a new dimension to the controversy.

According to the Parishad, only the "sarpanch'' had the right to convene `gram sabhas' and not the Chief Minister.

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Modi defers convening of `gram sabhas'