Manda: A tense situation was witnessed during the Gram Sabha held at Manda Gram Panchayat on October 2, on the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti, when several villagers objected to Zilla Panchayat member Ramdas Vartha speaking and demanded that the Sarpanch be given an opportunity to address the gathering.
During the Gram Sabha, villagers reportedly told Ramdas Vartha, “Let the Sarpanch speak.” However, despite the objections raised by the villagers, Vartha continued to speak on the issues being discussed. His conduct reportedly led to visible resentment among some of the villagers present at the meeting.
A Gram Sabha is an important platform at the Gram Panchayat level where local issues concerning the village are discussed and deliberated upon. Against this backdrop, villagers questioned why the Sarpanch was not being given an adequate opportunity to present his views on matters concerning the Gram Panchayat.
The continued intervention by Vartha also sparked discussion among villagers over the distinction between the responsibilities of an elected Zilla Panchayat member and the role of the Gram Panchayat Sarpanch.
The key question raised during the proceedings was: When villagers themselves were demanding that the Sarpanch be allowed to speak, why did Zilla Panchayat member Ramdas Vartha continue to address the gathering?
The incident has raised questions among residents of Manda regarding local representation, the role of elected representatives and the decorum expected during a Gram Sabha.
