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♦ CHAPTER - V *»* ** ** **♦**#***41* ******************* *****
240
B & S p p i S S K O P T H S P S Q P L B
In the preceding c h a p t e r , we hare dealt on
the evolution of panchayats i .e . their position from
1935 to 1947 and how they changed after 1947. We
further discussed the impact of this evolution upon
the panchayat leadership i .e . panches. This chapter
will deal with the attitude of the people towards
panchayati system of Kashmir and its development,
and their involvement in the process of communication
and participation In panchayats.
This is based on the response of three
hundred people, correlatedwith some of the parts
of the response of the panches. The variables
taken into consideration are education, age, religion,
occupation, Income, villages with urban character and
villages with rural character. But since there was
no difference in the resroonse in the context of the
variables of religion, occupation and Income, no
discussion can be based on these variables. The
variables which have been discussed are * literate,
Illiterate, young and old. The main aspects which
have been discussed are (a) Image of the panciiayat
241
(b) Process or conuaunlcation (c) Leadership
(d) General impression about panehas (c) Suggestions.
One hundred questionnaires were administered
to the educated persons as undert-
Middle 30
Matriculate - 5 0
Above Matric 20
The age of these educated persons was as underi-
Grouo IftiflttfflftfiS
30 - 24
25 - 29 20
20 - 34 60
35 - 39 14
40 & above 61
The mode of the age is 32, which shows that
our sample of these hundred persons consists of young,
educated persons. Only six of the educated persons
are such whose age is above forty} who can thus be
generally counted old educated.
Two hundred questionnaires were administered
to the illiterate people whose age is given as undert-
Villages of urban character-
20 1) Pulwaea 2) Tral3) Khrev
20 because ve find
2 0 - 2 4
Young 2 5 - 2 9
3 0 - 3 4
Premieaiev
3 5 - 3 9 60
4 0 - 4 4 25
4 5 - 4 9 15
5 0 - 5 4 55
55 - 59 5
literacy, mass media, pol»partiei- patlon and other trends of modernization higher than those In other
Old 50 - 54 55 panchayats of oursasple.
The mode of the young Illiterate group is
37 and that of the old Illiterate group is 52,
PANCHAYATS - THEIR PUBLIC IMAGB
We have seen earlier that the general
impression of panchas about panchayat! system is
that a panchayat is a judicial organ rather than a
political, administrative or developmental organ.
The same notion is held by the people. All illitera
te, especially old, are under the Impression that
the main function of a panchayat is to settle small,
local disputes. The young Illiterate consider
constructional work also to be the function of
panchayats# The young educated is the only
variable which is a bit aware of the changed image
of panchayat, looking upon it as the institution of
village government, basic democracy and village
representation. This is evident from the following
tables-
Table I • Communication and cause#
Percentage Percentage Percentagewhich go to which go with which go withpanchayat. disputes other things.
Z/e 9 % 1 $ 99 .9 $
0/e 95 % 95 i 5 %
v t 95 % 99 % 1 %
0 /i 100 % 100 % -
Total 380 294*1 105.9
Table II - Functions of Panchayat
To settle the disputes
disputesandconstruction#
Disputesconst*development.
Develop merit ' construction only.
X/e 10 $ 80* 10 % -
1/e 50 % 40 % 10 % -
X /i m % 20 % - -
0 /i 100 % - * -
Total 240 140 20
The two tables given above make it clear that tile
judicial image I s too common • Those who go to the
panchayats for other purposes like games material
or to attend reading rooms, are young educated only,
244
but their contact with the panchayat is too
poor - only 9% are in contact with the panchayat.
For agricultural purposes only, one percent go to
panchayat*
The second table shows that there is no
response which considers a panchayat beyond a
judicial organ* Eighty percent from young educated
persons gave the response that the function of a
panchayat is judicial and constructional work*
The response which regards the panchayat as
an institution of rural, local self-government,was
only 20 in at total Q€r5% of the whole* that also came
from the educated group only, while the illiterate
consider it a judicial and constructional unit. Even
the common ception as regards a successful panchayat
is based on its success in settling Judicial cases.
PROCESS OF COMHUKICATIOH
It has been already said that the process of
communication between the panchayat and the people,
especially with young educated persons, Is very poor.
From table I It Is clear that from among the young
! • JJ^e* 0 /e , V i , 0 /i , means young educated,^old educated, young Illiterate, old Illiterate.
245
educated persons, only 9% go to the panchayat. No
doubt, old people, both educated and aon-educated
have been going to panchayats since the very beginning
of 1935, but mostly for settling disputes and not for
participating In the programmes Introduced through the
movements o f Ooaraunity Development and National
Extension Service. This proves that panchayat! system
of Kashmir has no Influence on educated persons; only
a little Influence it has over illiterate and old
persons. This is why its role in villages of an
urban character (villages where expansion of educa
tion was higher than other villages) has diminished
as eonpared with the villages with absolute rural
character (full discussion under the sub-heading
leadership) • Therefore the role of panchayats In
giving people political, social, eccelomlc and educa
tional training and their impact on political
legitimacy, civil sense and political participation,
have not been satisfactory, which can be studied from
the below given tables *-
Table Ho. Ill
Responses who consul- Negative resoonseted". Sarpanch at the regarding eonsulta-time of election. tion of sarpsnch at__________________________ elections. -- -
Y/e - 100 %0/e - 100 %Y / i 30 % 70 %0 / i 50# 50 %
Total 80 380
246
fable IV - Discussions of political problems with sarpanch.
Positive responses lagaUVft rsspgfl.s&s.
Y/e - 100 %
0 /e - 100 %
Y /i 15 % 85 $
0 /1 15 % 85 %
Total 30 397
Discussion of social and economic problems with
sarpanch (Family Planning, Child marriage, Child
education, Any Other).9 m
Table V
Family Planning Child Marriage Child Bduca- Any_____________ _ ___________ _ Jdfim________ Bhsr
pa HR PR HS PR HR
Y/e - 100 % 100 % - 100 %
0 /e 1 % 99 $ 1 % 99 % X % 99 %
Y /i 3 % 97 % 3 % 97 3$ 3 * 97 *
0/i - 100 g 100 % 100 %
Total 4 396 4 394 4 396
The above given tables make it clear that
panchayat! leaders like sarpanches have no influence
on the educated in the sphere of political* social or
economic education, which is needed at present. To
some extent they do exercise an influence on the
247
illiterate group but that also is not satisfactory.
Similar is the case with the movements of
Community Development and National Extension Service.
The respondents in general «fefl?$#^that any type of
education is being given to the® to enable thee to
learn new methods of agriculture or they are
beneficiaries of any aspect of social education or
any other activity of community development and
national extension service. The response is dis
appointing as regards panchayat! leaders and officials,
which can be studied in the following tables*-
Table VI - Guidance of panches in respect of new methods of Agriculture.
jes—
Y/e 100 %
6/e 10 % 90 %
Y /i 15 % 85 %
0/1 - 100 %
total 25 375
It can be seen that ninety-five percent young
educated of our samole are government servants,
they have passed on their agricultural responsibilities
to other members of their family. Therefore, their
response given in the above mentioned table regarding
guidance in agriculture given by panchayats is less
valid and significant! same is the case with old
248
people because, due to old age, they attend to
agriculture only occasionally.
PROCESS OF COMMUNICATION WITH VILLAGELEVEL foGHKSRS
The following table concerns the response
about the role of the village level worker t-
Table VII - Name of the village level worker.
Correct Incorrect MoResponse ...
Y/e 35 % 15 %
0/e 85 $ 15 %
Y/i 20 % 16 % 70 %
0 /1 1 % 5 % 94 %
Total 191 45 164
The table given above shows that the
village level worker is not in contact with the
people, therefore they do not know even his name.
The villagers who are generally illiterate needed
his contact too much; the positive response of
educated group in this table does not mean that the
village level worker is in contact with them; it
is so because of the general information and knowledge
which an educated person has about his village and
the bureaucracy.
249
Tuble VIII - Guidance and help of Village LevelWorker.
Tells Tells new Family Stall sav*about methods of Planning tog Afertilizers Agriculture Nationali
sation.
PB m PR HB PB HR PB NR
Y/e - 100% m 10 0# m 100* - 10051
0/e 5% 95% 5% 95?$ m 100% - 100 £
Y/i 10% 90% 2056 90% 7% 93% * 100%
0 /1 8% 92% 8* 92% 3% 97% • 100%
Total 23 377 23 377 10 390 400
Positive responses given by old educated and
illiterate are in favour of fertilizers and agricul
tural methods and these also 23 In total as coup a red
to 377 negative. Responses in favour of Family
Planning are only ten while about bank nationaliza
tion and other aspects, the positive responses are
nil#
In fact, these positive responses have come
from the villages with absolute rural character;
this is due to the little i^>act of modernisation
on villages with rural character and their general
backwardness as cong>ared to the villages with
urban character. This is why political and social
AnyOther
250
education given by panchayat! system through
discussion, consultation and advice is a bit higher
in villages with rural character*
The response of the panches of the villages
(rural character) to the questions whether people
come to them for consultation regarding (a) Disputes
(b) Demands of the villages (c) Political problems
(d) Suggestions regarding the development of the
villages, was in the affirmative as compared with
the response of the panches of the villages with
urban character (Pulwama, Tral and Khrew).
LEADERSHIP
In villages (rural character) the leader
ship comp rises the Sarpanch, Number da r and the
Halqa President} mostly all these three patterns
of leadership, or at least two, have been monopoli
zed by the Nuraberdars or their relatives, but in the
urban type the response about leadership is next
to zero which is clear from the following tables*
LoJ^&L-\X Sarpanch as the leader/head of the village
jforal gharactgrefl HrbancharacteredPR________ NB PE W l
V * - 100 £ - 100*
0/e 3 97$ - 100%
X/i 50% SO$ 1% 99%
0/i 60$ 40% 10$ 90$
251
In rural charactered village* about 30#
respondents agreed that they consider Sarpanch,
Humberdar or Halqa President of the ruling party as
their village head, but in urban charactered villa
ges the response was that they consider none as the
head of the village*
GENERAL IMPRESSION ABOUT PANCHES
The common impression which the masses in
Kashmir villages have about panches is that (a) They
are dishonest (b) they are lazy Cc) They have got no
interest in the village welfare (d) They are corrupt.
It was complained that the constructional work done
by panches after the introduction of the movements
of Community Development and National Extension
Service, was not satisfactory} the panches abused
their positions and misappropriated funds allotted
to them for constructional work. It was cot^ilained
that even judicial cases were decided to help
favourites in disregard of justice* Panches care
more for their selfish interests than the interests
of the society* For exaaple the panches of Tral
did’nt favour and thus prevented the establishment
of tiie slaughter house so that tax could be
collected from the butchers, because they had
252
always been unduly favouring the butchers of
Tral.
It was coexplained that the ruling party
has always given undue sip port to village
Khadnanehea who are mostly panches.
SUGGESTIONS
The opinion and the suggestions for the
improvement of panchayat! system came mostly from
the young educated persons* The first and the
most inportant suggestion given was that there must
be educational bar on panehes$ a Sarpanch must be at
least a Matriculate, in rural charactered villages
and«^urban charactered villages.
About Panches -
1. Saphasis was laid on a Sarpanch being at
least a graduate* It is felt even by the coamon
masses that panchayats are considered of no
importance mad value by the government* They
desire that panchayat! system should be given
iimportance and the status of village government in
tixe real sense*
2* Die second suggestion given was that the Sarpanch
should be given a sort of salary and other panches
some sort of sitting fees or honorariua*
253
3 . Village Level Worker and other panchayat!
officials mist be z&alndars.
4 . The dishonesty of panches should be checked
strongly.
5 . Panches should be given some sort of training
for discharging their duty and responsibility In
respect of agriculture, planning, budget making
sanitation and the taxation of the village.
6 . The Illiterate respondents emphasized that a
panch must be a Mlrdadua (elderly).
Regarding officials -
7 . There must be a strict examination and also
completion of the achievements of Village Level
Worker.
8 . The Village Level Vfoiker must be honest; he
should distribute new seeds among all deserving
peasants Instead of his relatives and friends.
9 . Die Block Development Officer should strictly
supervise the functions of the Village Level Worker
and convene the meeting of Gram Sabha.
Political suggestions «*
10. Member Legislative Assembly should off and on
visit the panchayat instead of seeing his political
agents and political bosses.
11. In Legislative Council there mist be at least
two members rep resenting panchayats.
254
12* Elections m et be fair and no interference
should be made in panchayat! elections by Member
Legislative Assembly.
13. Three tier-system should be very soon applied
to Jammu and Kashmir.
14. There must be no party politics in the
panchayat! system.
Others -
15. Numberdari system should be abolished.
16. More funds should be allotted to the panchayat
for development works.
17. Social education and adult education should be
stressed and established.
18. Halshari (volunteer work) should be observed
strictly and fine should be lflposed on those who
do not participate in It .
19. Panchayats should take measures to remove the
poverty of the masses.
20. The post of Mall~eum-»Chot£cldars should be
revived and reinstated.
CONCLUSION AND COMMENTS
The Image of panchayat! system In rural
Kashmir Is that It Is more a judicial organ than a
basic democratic, administrative or political
institution. The passage of three Acta, giving more
255
powers to panchayats and introduction of the move
ments of Community Development and National Extension
Services have had least Impact on the rural people
of Kashmir in popularising panchayats and project
ing a better image of them* The people identify a
panchayat with the Sarpanch, and the other panches
have no significance in their eyes, as ninety percent
respondents failed to give the names of the panches
of their Mohalla or Ward* Some of the illiterate
respondents got puzzled to know that panches are
elected or selected mohalla-wise} consequently the
responses to the following questions, as "Do you tell
him (Mahalla Paneh) the problems of your Hohalla?
Does he take them up in the Panchayat? W at has
your Panchayat done in your Mohalla?” were in the
negative* This proves that the participation of the
people in the deliberations and undertakings of
a panchayat is minimal and hence of no consequence.
This is borne out by the fact that even the
convening of Gram Sabha has never taken place.
The process of communication between the
illiterate and the panchayat has been only in respect
of judicial disputes and not at all in respect of
other aspects*
The educated persons do not participate In
panchayat activities. This is one of the weak points
256
of the panchayat! system of Kashmir* 3$|» fact
Is that all educated persons want employment and
salary. That Is why all the educated persons
replied to the question "would you like to become
a panch In the next panchayatl election?" In the
negative. Reasons given by them for this reluctan
ce In participating In panchayatl election were that
it has no Importance, no political prospects and no
salary to offer. Vhen they were further asked if
they were willing to fight legislative elections,
their general response was •Yes* becaage as ML As
they could get salaries. The educated persons
insisted on the suggestion that there must be
provision of salary and qualification bar in the
panchayatl system* The panchayats can become
institutions of local self-government only If
salaries are provided for attracting young educa
ted persons; the conception of ffitiCflsdOE (elderly)
would no longer prevail as it does among the old
and illiterate* Moreover, democratic decentraliza
tion through three tier system, planning and budget
making can be successful in practice and application
when instead of Gam Khojas, the young educated are
in the panchayats*
Hie contact of the agents Oseeronlty
Development and National Extension Services with
257
the people is not satisfactory* Bo doubt,
panches have acknowledged the guidance, of these
agents and the change brought about by these
movements to some extent, but the people have
denied it completely. They refused that any kind
of guidance is given to them by the Village Level
Ubliter, Extension Officer, Panchayat Inspector or
Block Development Officer, They do not believe even
that any change In agricultural production has been
the outcome of the role of the Village Level Worker
or any other agent of Community Development! they
attribute it to other agencies like ralio, co
operative salesmen and man to man communication •
These agents of Community Development and
National Extension Service have not been influencing
villagers and their life and enhancing the process
of rapport with them; on the other hand the agents
of Revenue Department have been exercising more
Influence on the Kashmiri zamlndar* Any Kashmiri
villager can readily mention the names of the officials
of Revenue Department - Patwari, Girdavar, laib
Tehsildar or Tehsildarj on the other hand, he does
not know even the Village Level Worker or Block
Development Officer.
The leadership in the Kashmiri village at
present is scattered in general. Before 1947 the
258
village leadership, even though we may call it
despotic and undemocratic, had got effect and
following} it was one and not scattered* There was
discipline, Gam Gand (village unity), even though
its main causes could have been that economically
and educationally people were backward. B *
economic and educational development can in no way
be detrimental to discipline and unity among the
leadership. Before 1947 people were at the beck
and call of the village leadership, Gam Bratharl
(village brotherhood) and there was Manna Zenun
(obedience)*
After 1947 village leadership changed* It
was taken up by political bosses, rather by demagogues.
In 1949-50 when panchayats were re-established and
the old sarpanch, numberdar and zalldar came again
Into being and power, the leadership was divided
into two and after 1953-54 into three type* s
(1) Panchayat! leaders,supported by the Department
of Cbaummlty Developments.
(2) Numberdar and Chowkldar, supported by tile
Revenue Department.
(3) Halqa President of the ruling parties, supported
by M .L.A .
*••••*259
The following diagram illustrates the pattern
of this leadership and village government before
2947 and after*
Figure I . present leadership
(Scattered)
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