Gram sevaks skip their own meet

Gramsabhas are mandatory in each village on Independence Day and Republic Day. It is also mandatory for a women’s gram sabha to be held in each village but often it is not strictly enforced,said Datar. This year,women from six villages in Pune district — Rautwadi,(Karunj),Bhramhanoli,Lohgad,Gherewasti,Shilim,Jadhavwadi,Ajiwali — had written to the gram sevaks to hold the annual women’s gram sabha in their villages in a formal manner. Ahead of the formal gram sabha,they had arranged an informal meeting with gram sevaks at the convention.

“The interaction with gramsevaks would have been useful as this would have made their interactions on January 26 at the formal gram sabha even more meaningful,” Datar said.

Maval block development officer Santosh Kawade,however,said if such a convention was held again,he would send gram sevaks to attend it. “In this case,the women had not given a written request. They should have put in a request in writing.”

However,Datar showed a copy of the letter she had submitted to the BDO along with an acknowledgement. On Monday,many women are planning to file a written complaint with their panchayats over the attitude of the gram sevaks.