Chandana Gram Panchayat, District Kaithal, Haryana
“Development with Determination knows no Boundaries”
Chandana, a village in the heart of Kaithal District, blessed with a
young, educated, tech-savvy leader, made the extra effort to
overcome technology barriers and become limitless in its own way for
betterment of the village with a relentless focus on upliftment and
development. The Chandana Gram Panchayat, led by Sarpanch, Sh.
Surendar Singh Kalaramna since 01.08.2010, has played a pioneering
role in improving the infrastructure of the village while engaging the
local folk in different activities along with eradicating the social evils
and working for the human welfare at the grass root level.
While India struggles to ensure the effective implementation of
transparency laws such as the Right to Information (RTI) Act and faces
resistance on the part of officialdom over posting data in the public
domain, Chandana panchayat offer a refreshing contrast. With a
population of 9000 people, 4300 of whom are registered voters, this
Panchayat has successfully not even created its own website but also
keep it updated regularly. Sarpanch with his creative thinking was able
to convince the other members that going online would work to the
advantage of the village. One of the main effects of digitizing
panchayats is creating awareness about the Internet and digital
literacy. It leads to achieve transparency even without being asked
for it. In order to strengthen the system of budgeting, accounts and
audit using e-enabled processes, the Gram Panchayat has
computerised their records and updated their website. They have
also maintained Chandana Gram Panchayat accounts on-line.
For Chandana, the move also allowed its people to forge a bond with
history. Panchayat members and the younger people in the village
became engaged in finding out about their own past in a bid to
generate content. All the information that was collected, apart from
multimedia content such as photos were uploaded and then the
website ‘http://chandana.epanchayat.in’ was set up in 2011. The
panchayat then took the project forward by scanning in documents
and posting details about funds and meetings, keeping it relevant.
Aside from serving as a psychological boost, going digital also means
higher officials can easily access information about the village,
resulting in the swifter clearing of, say, grants. It working is equipped
with strong vision of progression of the villagers and society. There
accounting entries and records are also updated in the PRIASoft. This
online availability of information enables Institutional accountability
processes such as voluntary disclosure of information and
transparent social audit component and thereby lessening the
number of RTI applications.
Gram Panchayat, being India’s smallest local self-governance unit
taking their first steps towards promoting transparency through digital
empowerment and showing how it can help. Panchayat members are
fully aware that digital empowerment by itself does not ensure the
effectiveness of Gram Sabhas and work needs to be done on the ground
to get the full benefit of such initiatives.
Chandana Gram Panchayat also explores a window of opportunity in its
local manpower, a resource which could be used to address the
structural requirements of the village. In order to Strengthen the
institutional structure for capacity building of Panchayats, selecting
suitable partners for capacity building, and improving outreach and
quality of capacity building, several construction projects have been
undertaken after due discussions in the Gram Sabha. Rajiv Gandhi
Sewa Kendra was constructed and is well maintained with proper
infrastructure (containing tables, chairs, computer and printer) and all
facilities (including sanitation). A hall of size 75X25 Sq. feet area is
under construction adjoining Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra. The assets
under construction also include Choupal. Infact, Dr Ambedkar Bhawan
is yet another useful asset in the village which was built by efforts of
Sarpanch in 2012 from MP (Member of Parliament) land Grants. It is
also used as a Health Centre in the village because of worse condition
of health centre building. These are certain examples of the capital
assets being created diligently by the Panchayat.
Seeking out the best possible conditions for the villagers to live in and
grow, this Panchayat constitutes regular and timely Gram Sabha
meetings in the Rajiv Gandhi Sewa Kendra which are attended by one
and all. These meetings served as a platform to discuss the issues
faced by the villagers and also served the dual purpose of scrutinizing
the steps taken by the Panchayat towards remedying the same. The
proceedings of all Gram Sabha meetings are duly video graphed and
recorded for future reference and follow up activities, thereby leading
to Strengthening of Gram Sabhas. Cash books and other registers like
Stock register, Muster Roll Register are also properly maintained.
Chandana has distinguished itself in more ways than one,
infrastructure, is one such area. In order to ensure devolution of
funds, functions and functionaries properly, several initiatives are
undertaken in field of public health and sanitation and in respect of
power department also by the Gram Panchayat. The Gram Sabhas
have put seamless and dedicated effort towards constructing pakka
roads and linking them with nearby villages. Effective, as this approach
can be called, it resulted in providing outstanding facilities like proper
drainage system in all the houses and roads and along with improved
electricity supply across the village. The Sarpanch made tremendous
efforts to repair and change the electricity wires and electricity poles
to reduce the electricity failures. Proper care has been taken to
address the issues of sanitation and importance of cleanliness in the
village by the Sarpanch.
The Chandana Gram Panchayat has undertaken several activities to
improve the standard of living of its people. Adequate measures have
been taken to provide the families with safe and clean drinking water
under various sanitation schemes of the panchayat. 500 taps were
distributed free of cost in the village by the Panchayat. Chandana
village was also awarded a sum of INR 50000 by the Public Health
Department for the commendable efforts in controlling water
wastage. Under this MNREGA, the village has constructed a 3 pond
system for cleaning and proper disposal of waste water in 2012. Under
this system, all the waste water of the village is collected and passed
through various pipes conjunctively and filtered water then gets stored
in third pond. This clean water can further be used for fish breeding or
any other cause. These measures will help in strengthening the
institutional structure of the Panchayats.
Under the strong leadership of its enthusiastic Sarpanch, Chandana
village increased its Own Resources Income drastically. The increase
in own funds from Lease of Pond was from Rs. 9,00,000 (as in FY 200910) to Rs. 17,80,000 (as in FY 2014-15) because of cleaner water in
Ponds. And also substantial increment is observed in income from
Lease of Land from Rs.8, 50,000 (in year 2010) to Rs. 22, 25,400 (in
year 2014) with the help of Submersible water pumps in the
agricultural fields. House tax is also a major source of income from
Own Resources in the village. It can be well said that Chandana Gram
Panchayat is making its way to enhance its revenue and
performance and thereby strengthening the financial base of
Panchayats by assigning appropriate taxes, fees, etc.
Identifying youth as the future and valuing the importance of
education in this dynamic world, Chandana Gram Panchayat has
smartly invested in their younger generation. Village has 3 Government
schools operating with proper infrastructure and equipped with
deserving faculties. Senior Secondary School is having all the major
streams (Arts, Commerce, Medical and Non-medical) with proper
laboratories for the practical. It is the efforts of Sarpanch that the
School got extended from 10th class to 12th Class. Facilities such as
Library Room and Computer Lab (with latest 20 computers) are also
provided to the students for assisting in their studies. The other two
schools are Girls Govt. Middle School and Govt. Primary School for kids.
Through these efforts in field of education, Gram Panchayat is
ensuring the real objective of convergence with line departments
resulting in devolution of 3Fs. With its relentless follow up and
seamless planning the Chandana Panchayat had budged past several
barriers with ease on its way to glory.
The Gram Sabha of Chandana has also planned and undertaken several
human and social welfare activities like Blood donation camps and
Eye Donation camps. The Sarpanch himself is one of the regular blood
donor in the blood donation camp and is also awarded by HSBTC
(Haryana-State-Blood-Transfusion-Council) and thereby setting an
example and motivator for other fellow village members. Eye Camp
was started in year 2012 and is organized every year for the village
people. Panchayat was also selected for the Night Camp in year 2011
in which DC came and stayed for a night in the village. Members from
Chandana also performed and participated at the Independence Day
function held at district level (Kaithal) in 2013.
Apart from doing their best on the technology front and societal
welfare, Chandana Gram Sabha has also taken several steps to increase
the sex ratio in the village. Kanya Bachao Muhim was started in Year
2012 and as per the updated population record; it has resulted in
increased ratio than before. In Chandana, this revolution is part of a
bigger picture in which young, enlightened leaders want to make their
village a better place.
It would be apt to say Chandana Panchayat has done a marvellous job
in planting a firm foothold in their journey towards a developed path.
With their continuous efforts and dedication, all sections of society
irrespective of gender, caste and age differences will usher into a
future brighter than we can imagine.