Journalism of Courage
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The development comes in the wake of demands from a section of villagers who have been raising questions about the manner in which the village headwoman, Durgawati Patel, and her representative, Narayan Patel, were functioning, alleging the two are “carrying out the development works only in selected areas”.
Some villagers had, in fact, raised the issue before Nripendra Misra, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, who visited Jayapur on March 28. Misra had then urged villagers to sit together and sort out the issues.
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Confirming the formation of the committee, District BJP president Nagendra Raghuvanshi said: “Immediately after the issue was brought before the top officer, it was felt that a better coordination was needed among the villagers so that no part of the village remains deprived of the development works. Also, a large number of NGOs, companies and agencies are coming to Jayapur. Our intention is to ensure there is discussion and representation from all the stakeholders in the village and there is equitable development, without any discrimination.”
The committee has members from all the seven hamlets (purvas) of the village and is headed by Arvind Singh alias Arvindji. A member of the RSS, Singh has been active in the village for the past several years. The village headwoman, Durgawati Devi and her representative Narayan Patel, who is also her brother-in-law, too, are members of the committee.
Singh clarified it’s “neither a BJP committee nor an RSS committee”. “This is a committee of the village residents and I am a resident of this village,” he said.
Singh also clarified that the committee would not interfere with the Panchayati Raj system.
“The funds and programmes under the Panchayati Raj are different. The developmental activities taking place in Jayapur are the result of the PM’s initiative. So there is no conflict,” he said.
Patel said that there was nothing wrong in his functioning. “We already have a ‘cabinet’ represented by all the 13 wards. Those raising questions on my functioning are the ones who lost the gram pradhan elections against us. My only request is that everybody should form an opinion about my functioning only after visiting the village and assessing the situation on the ground.”
