Speech

Co-ops Key to Progress : Sonia Gandhi

I am very much gratified and happy to meet all of you at the Gram-Swaraj Sammelan (village-self-rule conference). Today, if Rajivji were amidst us, he would have felt happy that his labour and dream had materialised to see that the Panchayat-raj system was working in an effective manner in the entire country. Gandhiji gave the idea of Gram-Swaraj. He used to see the truth at the ground level and used to put forth his ideas accordingly for the benefit of the common man. He knew India was a great country of different races and creeds. Ours is a mixed culture and civilization. There are different languages, traditions and customs in the country. Democratic setup can truly work in an exemplary country like ours. Our democracy cannot be successful until it is strong at the base. The dreams - village-self-rule and Panchayat raj - of Gandhiji are there to strengthen the foundation of democracy. After achieving independence, the Congress under the leadership of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru implemented this system through its governments. With the passage of time, the system got slowed down. There were no panchayat elections in some states for years and there will also be some shortcomings.

When he became the Prime minister, Rajivji toured parts of the country and studied the situation in the villages and visited the huts of poor people and he felt very sad when he found that this voice had no relevance in development activity in his neighbourhood. He realised that there would be no relationship of development and progress between village, district and state and the Centre as the leaders like Gandhiji and Panditji wanted unless the Panchayat raj system is strengthened in a new way. Working hard day and night, he prepared a draft of a new Panchayat raj system and placed it before the country. Unfortunately, there was no co-operation from the then opposition parties and the Constitution could not be amended during his life-time. After the elections in 1991, when the Congress formed its government at the Centre, it enacted a new Panchayat raj law, which is till date in force in the entire country. On the ground-level, you are the true representatives of people and protectors of democracy. For this, I congratulate all of you.

I am very happy and proud that our Madhya Pradesh is ahead of other states in regard to the Panchayat Raj system. It has set up an example for the entire country. This is not a small achievement. In more than 52,000 villages, village committees are functioning in this state. I have been told that in the next election, there is a proposal to set up panchayat in every village. This will lead to development of village activity and get opportunity to make progress. Dalits, tribals, women and other backward classes have got reservation in the panchayat raj system. This is an attempt to give strength to the person who is standing last in the row of society. I am very happy to hear that my sisters are presidents in twenty district panchayats out of forty-five district panchayats in the state. Women will acquire more benefits from the new women policy in the state. Madhya Pradesh is leading other states by giving 30 percent reservation to women in jobs. A programme of women’s self-assistance groups was held here a few days ago. My heart is filled with joy to see that now my sisters are becoming economically self-reliant by these programmes. They will get respect in their families and society.

Who knows better than you, what work of development and progress should be taken up near your area? Earlier, there used to be a proposal for a canal, where there was a need for a road and there used to be a proposal for a pond where there was the need for a school. Now, at least, this thing will not happen. You can supervise whether the developmental works are taking place properly or not. If you really desire there will not be any corruption in the Panchayat raj system. I am saying this because in today’s politics, corruption is a big disease like unemployment. The Congress will have to fight against all this also. First of all, we have to ourselves set an example if we want to have an impact on society.

You know, I have been continuously stressing on the point that whatever promises we have made to the public during the election, we should fulfill them. Frequently, I hold meetings of our chief ministers and review the performance of our state governments. I know this, the parties which are unable to fulfil promises made in their election manifestoes could not do any beneficial work for the common man. This is the difference between the Congress and other parties.

BJP and its allies in the Central government made tall promises in the last elections. BJP had said that it would eradicate fear, hunger and corruption from society, give jobs to one crore (ten million) youths every year. But what did people get? There is fear and terror everywhere in the country. People’s stomachs are empty due to hunger. Present Central Government has set new examples in fraud, scandals and corruption. When they are unable to answer the people they raise such issues and slogans which mislead the people, just before the elections to spread poison in the society and weaken social unity. Who does not know, that social unity in necessary first for national unity of India. Whosoever weakens social unity, weakens national unity of India. How can such people be called patriots?

We have many hopes from you. If you so decide, no power in the world can weaken our social unity. We have to move forward together. This is the main purpose of Panchayat raj.

This voice should come from everybody’s heart that : "Village is ours, State is ours; and Country is ours".

With these feelings, future of all of us and the future of the new generations will be bright. I am fully confident that Madhya Pradesh will continuously move forward to the new destination of progress and development.

(The Congress President’s address at Gram Swaraj - Sammelan, Bauhari, Shahdol, M.P on April 12, 2003)