Dalit woman elected sarpanch in khapland
Bhaskar Mukherjee, TNN, Jul 8, 2010, 05.53am IST
HISAR: Caste may have split Mirchpur — where two dalits were burnt
alive in a caste violence blamed on Jats about three months back — but
hardly 40km away, a Jat-dominated Serhada village has done something
unbelievable: it unanimously elected a dalit woman as its sarpanch.
Rani Devi, wife of Raju Balmiki was among 24 candidates for the post,
which was reserved for a general category woman.
In a break from the prevailing trend in caste-ridden state,
representatives of all castes sat together and decided to elect Rani
Devi as the village sarpanch.
"Our decision is a reply to the political leaders with vested
interests in the Mirchpur incident. We have set a positive example,"
said Master Abhay Singh Lathar, a village elder, who chaired the
proceedings to elect Rani.
Wife of a poor shepherd, Rani, who is in her early 30s, was surprised
when she was informed about the decision taken by the village khap. "I
am daughter-in-law of this village, and now I have the responsibility
towards each family living here. Though we were a part of their
families on all occasions, this would further strengthen our bond,"
said Rani.
She got 1,384 votes out of 1,702 from this block. There were 24 women
candidates left after the withdrawal of nominations.
In a panchayat held two days before the election, under the leadership
of Lathar, all the 36 communities presented in the meeting decided
unanimously to vote for a dalit woman.
"The government should declare our village as a model village. We all
want prosperity for everyone. We have full faith in Rani Devi," said
Raghuveer Lathar and Jagbeer Poonia, panchayat members.
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