1. The Status of Panchayats
The 73rd constitutional amendment guarantees the village level local self governments as village panchayats. The 9th schedule of the constitution empowers the panchayats by earmarking 29 areas under section243G in order to make the panchayats to function as local self governments. The constitution also emphasises that the states should devolve the functions, funds and functionaries to enable the panchayats to deliver the services to achieve social justice and economic development.
The Panchayat raj act was passed in the parliament in 1992 and it was also passed in Tamilnadu State Assembly in 1994. The first Panchayat elections were conducted in October 1996 and four terms of five year are completed. Fifth term election which was due in October 2016 was not conducted due to political crisis and the special officer’s period was dragged for more than three years which was unconstitutional. This period of 2016 October to 2019 December was a dark period, because of the non-availability of elected local governments which lead to complete drip in the steady upward development in the villages. The corrupt practices in the official methods, tender systems, centralized purchases, meager transparency and complete breakdown of people participation became the blow in the gradual empowerment of Panchayat Raj System in Tamilnadu state. Atlast with the Supreme Courts intervention, the village panchayat level elections were conducted that too leaving nine newly formed districts.
According to the constitution, the state governments should form the state election commission and conduct elections for every five year term without leaving any vacancy. The states should devolve enough powers, funds and functionaries in such a way the panchayats could function as local self governments. Except Kerala state, all other states have put least efforts in this process and the emergence of panchayats as local self governments is still a struggle and in reality the system is drifting. Year by year the Panchayat system is weakened and instead of decentralisation of power it is getting centralized towards district administration and stumbling at block level development administration. Still there is hope to recover and rebuild the system because it is a democratic process and also the community system is still alive in villages. There may be problems like deep caste system and other traditional backward practices but through grama sabhas and community groups, it is possible to overcome these difficulties.
2. Kuthambakkam as Model Panchayat
Long felt needs of fulfilling the basic civic needs, best educational support to all the children, caste neutral communal hormony, social justice, women empowerment and local resource centered economic growth were forged well when panchayat elections was declared in 1996 September by the then DMK lead state government. It clicked a signal in the minds of many who were dreaming to achieve the above mentioned goals and the buoyancy of election process started after more than a decade of non availability of panchayats in the village. Shri.R.Elango, took the lead in organaising the meetings among different section of the community through the community group discussions about the new Panchayat raj system. People felt the need of a good leader who could lead and make use of the system. Atlast it became the compulsion that Shri.R.Elango quit his scientist job and contested to win. Efforts were taken to arrive the consensus but it became election. In that he was elected with more than 2/3 majority.
This became the opening for exploring the possibility of demonstrating developmental solutions in the village. Surveys and data collections were done; meeting the families at their door step gave opportunity to understand their need and also to make them to understand their role in building the future. A planning group was constituted with Panchayat ward members and likeminded-experienced elders. The plan was discussed and validated by the gramashaba. The caption of the plan was “All fifty years felt needs should be filled in five years”. Fund mobilisation, fund utilization, resources from government schemes, resources from other options, local resource mobilization, local contributions, prioritization, year wise implementation and evaluations were thoroughly discussed. Actually it became the peoples plan at the end when it was validated by gramashaba.
Kuthambakkam before 1996
Though this village is nearer to Chennai city, there were lots of social and economic problems existed in this village. This was mainly because of landlessness of the majority schedule caste families, leading their life in absolute poverty. The problems prevailed were:
- • Illicit arrack brewing activities and easy availability of illicit liquor
- • Caste clashes between dalits (so called lower caste) and non dalits
- • Inadequate basic facilities like safe drinking water, drainages and internal roads
- • No regular income due to unemployment
- • No assurance to food
- • Violence against women and children
- • Non availability of high school or higher secondary school
Notable changes happened due to the following steps taken by the panchayat
- • Panchayat prepared a five year plan for a holistic development.
- • Ensured people’s participation in Gram Sabha.
- • Pathways created for social transformation through social integration programs .
- • Livelihood creations by value addition of village produces within the village and also with the local resources available.
- • Safe housing for all the needy families.
- • Organizing the poor people in to self help groups.
- • Activities were planned using good database with the help of information technology.
- • Village information centre was formed.
- • Rehabilitation programs for those who were rescued from the illicit arrack brewing activity.
- • Water bodies were deepened to increase storage capacity.
- • New check dams constructed.
- • The higher elementary level of school has been elevated to high school and then to higher secondary school.
- • Samathuvapuram, a new hamlet of hundred houses with all infrastructure facilities consisting of 50% SC families and the remaining are from other backward communities.
Infrastructure Improvement
A. Road facilities
• All inner roads up to 8000 meters length connecting all the residential areas of the Kuthambakkam panchayat had been converted into concrete roads by ‘Nammaku Naame’ scheme and Equalization incentive grant support of the state government.
• The remaining length of the roads were converted into asphalt roads using various schemes like MLA constituency development fund, MPLADS funds, District panchayat funds and panchayat union general fund.
B. Sanitation
• Open sewage gutters in Kuthambakkam south had been converted to granite walled drains and also with the regular brick and mortar based drainages
• A big storm water drain was formed in Kuthambakkam south along the Chettipedu main road which was the long felt need of that hamlet
• Drainages were constructed at all the required places in all the seven hamlets.
• Women toilet complex was constructed and maintained well in Kuthambakkam north
• Innovative toilet cum bathrooms were provided for all the needy individual families
C. Water distribution
• Safe drinking water is ensured to all the families in the panchayat.
• Four new overhead tanks were constructed with the support of Tamilnadu Water supplies and Drainages Department in Utkottai, Samathuvapuram, Kannadapalayam. and Kuthambakkam south.
D. Electricity supply and energy audit initiatives
• Streetlights with CFL lamps and recently with LED lamps were installed to reduce maintenance cost and also to save electricity. By this way the panchayat saved electricity worth more than Rs.50,000 per month.
• Repairable LED light sets are produced in the village level manufacturing set-up run by women self-help groups
E. Establishment of Samathuvapuram (caste neutral society)
Caste system is the curse prevailing among the village societies. It divides the people and creates hatred among the village communities. The practice of untouchability, practice of providing separate tea cups for the so called lower caste people in the tea shops and no entry for the dalits in the places of worship are some of the cruel practices happening in the villages. Due to the persistent hard work the above mentioned social evils are neutralized in Kuthambakkam village and a model new colony consisting of fifty twin houses were constructed along with common facilities like good roads, drains, play lots, public distribution systems, a community hall and a child care centre.
In every twin house one side a dalit family and the other side a non-dalit family was made to live. This became a historical one because this was the first occasion to see the dalits and the other communities were living together in the same locality. The proposal was placed before the then Chief Minister Dr.M.Karunanithi, he expressed his complete satisfaction and coined the scheme “Samathuvapuram”. After Kuthambakkam initiatives more than 250 places across the state, this program was implemented with the name ‘Samathuvapuram’ by the Government of Tamilnadu.
F. Eradication of illicit arrack distillation
In 1996, when the new panchayat took over charge, hundreds of families were involved in the production of illicit arrack. As a result, the illicit liquor was being sold at all the corners of the panchayat. Due to this, quarrels and violence occurred among individuals, groups and sometimes among the villages. The women and children were the worst affected by the intoxicated men.
Strong efforts of the panchayat and the police with the co-operation of the state government had stopped the arrack production. People involved in the illicit business were rehabilitated and given jobs through various development programs of the panchayat. Many kinds of alternative employments were created. More and more such programs were introduced phase by phase.
G. Housing for all
The construction of Samathuvapuram gave opportunity to use variety of cost effective and eco- friendly building materials and methods. The village people were well trained to produce these materials. After the Samathuvapuram program, number of consultations were held with the communities and a detailed plan was prepared to upgrade all houses in the village using the innovative building materials and methods. All huts were upgraded to pukka houses with the support of Rural Development Department - Government of India , Swiss Embassy-Delhi and Trust for Village Self Governance (TVSG). The village became a hut less village and the dignity of living in a safe house was enjoyed by the poor families. This became a good model and was celebrated by getting ‘UN – Habitat’ organization.
Production units based on village resources
a. Energy saving burner production
Production of kerosene stove burners is done in Kuthambakkam. This provides job to the needy people, particularly women. This makes women and their family self reliant. Drilling, welding, quality checking are some of the technical works the women and the men undertook.
b. First Aid Kits package
Packaging of First Aid kits is done with most cleanliness and in a hygienic environment. This created good job to women. All kinds of First aid materials were packaged here.
c. Compressed earth mud blocks
Innovative houses were constructed with these compressed earth mud blocks. With 6 % of cement as binder, the mud blocks are highly environment friendly. These blocks are also stronger than the conventional bricks.
d. Micro concrete tiles
These concrete tiles are stronger and can withstand more weight. With small investment the village community was producing these tiles. These are cost effective and eco-friendly.
e. Concrete blocks
Different verities of concrete blocks produced using locally designed innovative hydraulically operated simple machines.
f. Edible oil units
Different types of edible oils like groundnut oil, thill oil, coconut oil, mustered oil and other non edible oils like neem oil and pungamia oil are being extracted using cold press type expellers and also by country type wood pestal ghanies.
g. Toilet soaps and shampoos
Toilet soaps using pure coconut oil obtained from the local unit is made using simple mechanical and chemical process. Various kinds of natural additives and herbal extracts could be made and added to improve the quality of the soap. Simplified production set up is established for this.
h. Detergent powder, cakes and washing soaps
Different varieties of detergent powders with natural filler ingredients are developed and demonstrated. Less polluting natural oil based washing soaps are also developed.
i. Bio gas digester
Different types of biogas digesters are designed and operated for the effective utilization of domestic and agricultural wastes.
j. Thur dal mills
Different varieties thurdal mills are installed and operated for processing the thurdal locally.
k. Mini rice mills
Different types of mini rice mills are operated to process the paddy into rice with small power consumption and less investment.
l. Simple milk processing
Simple milk processing units are designed to operate small and viable dairy units at village level.
m. Metal pressing and deep drawing unit
Power presses and hydraulic deep drawing units are designed and installed to produce domestic utensils and press metal components for the villages and also for industrial purposes.
n. Basic engineering facilities
Basic engineering facilities like lath, welding, grinding, milling facilities are established to meet the engineering needs of the village communities.
o. Basic chemical production units
Chemical engineering facilities are established to produce basic chemicals like washing solutions, disinfectants and other basic chemical agents. Laboratory facilities also established to undertake the basic tests required for day to day village affairs.
p. Solar energy service unit
A comprehensive facility for undertaking solar installations is established. This is a laboratory cum production and installation unit which works more on energy management in the villages.
q. BLDC motors, fans and battery driven vehicles
BLDC motor production, testing and installation facilities are established to produce BLDC fans, small BLDC motors production and to install different kinds of BLDC motors for bicycles, auto rickshaws and small four wheelers are successfully done here.
r. LED bulbs production unit
Different types of LED bulbs are produced for the domestic and industrial applications. These are designed as repairable bulbs because they can be opened and repaired and reused.
3.Trust for Village Self Governance (TVSG)
TVSG was started in the year 2001 to support the Kuthambakkam Panchayat and also other panchayats primarily in the state of Tamilnadu. The programs and packages are designed to strengthen the Panchayat raj institutions by networking them and also by organizing different types of trainings. TVSG also involves in developing and demonstrating the appropriate technology solutions for villages in the fields of agriculture, village industries, housing for the poor, energy audit and non conventional energy utilization. TVSG also under takes R&D programs on local economy based on local resources and local demand.
4.Panchayat Academy and Centre for Sustainable Growth Solutions
Twenty five years of sincere efforts in building Kuthambakkam as a model village has become a vibrant experience and this could be or should be taken to hundreds and hundreds of good and aspiring Panchayat leaders, women leaders and village youth for replication or for appropriate adoption. Apart from experiments and development programs, efforts were put to network other panchayats and organizations to take it to more and more villages. Every person whoever visits the centre with zeal will get energy to works for his / her village with an economic package.
Training Programs
Three to four types of training programs are planned as follows:
1. Training for the elected panchayat personals like Panchayat president, Ward members and Panchayat employees.
2. Training for women SHG leaders, women development workers and women entrepreneurs.
3. Training for village youth and volunteers.
4. Training for voluntary organizations and development workers.
5. Training and internship for students from different disciplines from colleges and institutions.
Basic training materials will be provided to the participants but mostly will be based on live experience sharing methods. Theories on governance, legal information, formulations and formats will be provided. Along with the talks, opportunities will be given to operate the suitable packages which will enable the participants to have hands on experience on village industries and village economy. Focus will be given on green methods so that environmental consciousness will be built in every person who participate. This training will be a fully participatory and will cover variety of emotional and practical aspects in planning and resource mobilisation. Focused discussions on social justice and sustainable economic development will be held.
Same way the programs will emphasize the participants to understand the SDG goals and will drive them to take their family as a demonstrating unit by tracking the goals. For this they will get the knowledge of SDG tracking calander here. This training will enable them to add their ideas as innovations and will make them to get suitable partnering people. They will be able to draw an action plan and will be starting this as soon as they reach their villages.
Training Period
It has been designed to offer two days program or if needed it could be extended for one more day based on the interest of the participants and also based on the other planned schedules.
Costing of the trainings
The programs are based on the sponsors or participants contribution. The food, staying, cost of the training materials and small honorarium for the trainers is the cost for the trainings. This will be shared by the participants if there is no sponsor available.
Courses and internship programs
Courses are designed for trainees or students from other training institutions like CSIM, BALM, MSSW and other institutions looking for collaborations. Students from different institutions like Arts & Science Colleges, Engineering Colleges can undertake internship on social and technology related programs. They can do this as day scholar or they can even stay here do the works.
