Lakshmi: Brother... How are you? Silvanus: My dear, we met yesterday and again today you are asking me how are you? Lakshmi: Oh yeah!! we met yesterday. I totally forgot in my busy work schedule Silvanus: Did you forget what all I told you about Gram sabha yesterday? Lakshmi: Brother... Dont under estimate me. I will tell you what all you explained me yesterday about Gram sabha. Silvanus: Oh really!! Let me see.. Tell me Lakshmi: Gram sabha is like parliament in our panchayath. Court has ordered to follow decisions taken in gram sabha. For example, if gram sabha decides to shut down liquor shop in their village, nobody can start liquor shop there. Gram sabha is very powerful. The gram sabha meetings happen 4times in a year, i.e on January 26th, May 1st, August 15th and October 2nd. Silvanus: Very good... Who will believe if I say you are uneducated. You are very brilliant. Super. I asked you to share it with your friends and neighbors. Did you share? Lakshmi: Yes.. I have shared it with everyone. We all are going to participate in tomorrow’s gramsabha in our panchayath. Silvanus: Very good my dear. Please do participate in gram sabha. But before that, know the process of gram sabha. It will be useful for you when you take part in it. Lakshmi: Sure brother Silvanus: Gram sabha should be headed by Panchath council head. 7 days before that meeting the gist of meeting should be discussed with panchayth council members and the report should be prepared. Lakshmi: Who should prepare the report brother? Silvanus: Of course panchayath head!! Lakshmi: Okay.. How will they intimate people about this? Silvanus: It will be done through public announcement or by giving pamphlets and by sticking posters in main areas. Lakshmi: Oh okay Silvanus: Same way, these meeting should not happen in any particular religion places. If there are many villages in a particular area, on rotation basis gram sabha meetings should be conducted. On the same day Income and expenditure account will be read on this day. If district collector or Rural development director wants to discuss any specific point, they must discuss it on that day. Lakshmi: Ohhhh… So many things are involved Silvanus: Yes!!! Tomorrow when you attend, make sure that everything is happening. If they are missing something, you should question them. Lakshmi: Definatly I will brother. And one more thing brother.. Silvanus: Please ask my dear Lakshmi: My friends anted to know whether food will be provided during gram sabha? Silvanus: There you go!!! Our people will never change. If they get anything to eat, they will nod their head for anything and everything. Then how can we find growth? Everyone will cheat. Lakshmi: What are you saying brother? Silvanus: Yeaa my dear!!! For every meeting, they can spend up to Rs1000 from panchayath fund. But our people will be more focused it and they will eat and leave the place. But this time it should not happen like that. For that people like should take responsibility. Lakshmi: Brother.. Thanks for sharing this. Now you will show that we will not nod our head for whatever they say. We will prove that we are human beings with 6th sense. Silvanus: Very good!!! You said it beautifully. My dear friends participate in tomorrow’s gram sabha in your area and observe what all we said are happening or not. If its not happening be brave and question them. Prove them that you will no more nod your head for anything and they can’t fool you anymore. Make use of your rights properly.
