Question

A student of Delhi University, Raghavendra Parpanna, wanted to study the role of decentralisation in decision-making about primary education. He asked some questions to the villagers. These questions are given below. If you were among those villagers, what answer would you give to each of these questions?

A meeting of the Gram Sabha is to be called to discuss what steps should be taken to ensure that every child of the village goes to the school.

a. How would you decide a suitable day for the meeting? Think who would be able to attend / not attend the meeting because of your choice.

(i) A day specified by the BDO or the collector

(ii) Day of the village haat

(iii) Sunday

(iv) Naag Panchami/Sankranti

b. What is a suitable venue for the meeting? Why?

(i) Venue suggested by the circular of the district collector.

(ii) Religious place in the village.

(iii) Dalit Mohalla

(iv) Upper caste Tola

(v) Village school

c. In the Gram Sabha meeting firstly a circular sent by the district collector was read. It suggested what steps should be taken to organise an education rally and what should be its route. The meeting did not discuss the children who never come to school or about girls’ education, or the condition of the school building and the timing of the school. No women teacher attended the meeting as it was held on Sunday.

What do you think about these proceedings as an instance of people’s participation?

d. Imagine your class as the Gram Sabha. Discuss the agenda of the meeting and suggest some steps to realise the goal.

Answer 1

Any answer supported with argument or explanation would solve the purpose. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own. However, one sample solution has been provided for your reference:

a. (iii) Sunday. It would allow all the adults in the village to attend the meeting.

b. (v) Village school would be a suitable place for the meeting because the meeting is regarding education irrespective of the caste, gender, and religion of the children.

c. It is not an instance of people’s participation as women teachers did not attend the meeting, girl’s education was not discussed and children who had never been to school were not considered. The condition of the building and timing of the school were also ignored. Thus, most issues that were vital to the participation of people were ignored as issues related to all groups were not considered.

d. Any answer supported with an argument or explanation would solve the purpose. It is strongly recommended that you prepare the solution on your own. However, some sample pointers have been provided for your reference:

Agenda of the Gram Sabha

• Age of children: All children of the village from the age of 5 years should be enrolled in the school.

• School Building: The school building should be renovated with proper seats and blackboards in all classrooms.

• Water and sanitation facility: The Gram Pradhan is made responsible for the water supply and better and separate sanitation facility for boys and girls.

• Syllabus: Sports and extra co-curricular activities will be included to lessen the pressure of the study and cultivate physical development.

• Mid-day meal: School principal would be responsible for the quality and quantity of the food provided to the students.

• Free education: Every child till 14 years of age is eligible for free education.

• Appointment of the staff: Helping staff can be recruited from the village and secretary would be responsible for the appointment of the teachers.

• Residential facility: Gram Pradhan has to approach the Block Development Officer for appealing to provide residential facility to the teachers.

• Hostel facility: Gram Pradhan has to approach the BDO to ask for hostel facility near the village school to accommodate students from distant villages.

• Compensation: Villagers whose land will be taken will be provided with appropriate compensation from the government.