Concern for common resources

Some important issues that were discussed in the workshop pertained to pastureland management, common land-path disputes and Nagrik adhikar patra (right of information bill). These issues were raised for empowering and ensuring transparency in administration of panchayat samities for better management of village resources and implementation of government schemes in village. As per land-revenue rights and panchayat act, maintenance and management of the pastureland is the responsibility of gram panchayat, the situation led to a threat towards the safety of the pastureland.

The workshop identified the loopholes and emphasised the need to improve the style of functioning of these samities.

Besides these issues the workshop forwarded a memorandum to chief minister Ashok Gehlot, relevant ministries, chairperson of revenue department and district magistrates of Jaipur and Tonk. The memorandum included the following demands:

• To give right to the panchayat samiti for maintenance and protection of village common resources such as, pasturelands, village meeting place, common paths-land, village school and water resources.
• Proper enforcement of Nagarik adhikar patra.
• Revival of water harvesting systems by developing tankas for ensuring availability of water for irrigation and drinking purposes.
• Developing agriculture by promoting rainwater harvesting by unique chouka bandi system, which facilitates water percolation through arresting rainwater by building earthen boundaries in arid pasturelands. The memorandum mentiones that through proper dissemination of information amongst villagers the traditional approach would be made popular.
• To give right to panchayat samiti for proper implementation of the education programme, and to empower a village committee for proper

distribution of food and fodder in the drought period.