Where villagers barter and rule

Unlike everywhere else, it is the villagers, and not politicians, who flex their muscles before each election in Rajsamadhiyala. The winning...

Unlike everywhere else, it is the villagers, and not politicians, who flex their muscles before each election in Rajsamadhiyala. The winning formula is quite simple: the villagers have set up a Vikas Samiti which promises 100 per cent votes. In exchange, the candidate has to fulfill their demands.

The result of this barter is evident. Ever since it implemented its novel formula in 1978, Rajsamadhiyala has become a model village, getting a total grant of Rs 2.5 crore from the MLA’s development fund. For the last two decades, the village has not asked for a single water tanker from the government.

After all, it has about 45 check dams. The village also boasts of metalled roads, street lights, schools and a community hall. Due to the money spent on agriculture, the yearly vegetable sale itself fetched a cool Rs 1 crore.

Story continues below this ad

The votes-for-funds idea is the brainchild of Hardevsinh Jadeja, former sarpanch and present president of the Rajkot taluka panchayat as well as head of the Vikas Samiti. It comprises 11 members, including a woman.

Till 1990, the village, which comes under Rajkot Rural constituency, supported the Congress. After that, they switched loyalties to the BJP. This time, the BJP candidate is first-timer Siddharth Parmar.

‘‘It is not that the Congress did not work. But in the 1990s, when the BJP started emerging as another big party, we started supporting them,’’ says Jadeja, who himself is a BJP worker now.

The village has also formulated Rajsamadhiyala Penal Code.

Says Jadeja: ‘‘Voting is a must and so is education till Class X. Throwing garbage on the road, consuming liquor, gambling or selling gutkha is prohibited. For violation of any of these rules, there is a fine which can be anywhere between Rs 51 and Rs 500. A fine is also imposed on those who refuse to take the witness stand despite knowledge of a crime.’’

Story continues below this ad

In 1978, the total fine collected was Rs 30,000. ‘‘In the past seven years, there has been no violation of rules. So we have not collected a single rupee as fine,’’ says a proud Jadeja.