Odisha Govt Not To Tolerate Proxy Sarpanch Culture, Action Taken Against 15: Minister

Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will not tolerate the menace of ‘proxy’ Sarpanch any more and stringent action will be taken against those adopting such culture, Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik said.

Already action has been taken against 15 Sarpanches on similar ground, after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government assumed office in Odisha, the minister told media.

He further stated that the saffron party had earlier vehemently opposed the wrong practice of husbands or male family members operating as de facto Sarpanches, while a lady Sarpanch has been voted to power.

In the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, women have been entrusted with more responsibilities and power. But if she becomes a rubber stamp or puppet, and her husband operates as the de facto Sarpanch, then the very purpose of women empowerment from the grassroots level is not fulfilled, Naik clarified.

The minister further stated that proxy Sarpanch practice was rampant during the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) regime in state. The BJP had earlier staged massive protest condemning such an unlawful practice.

Naik added that such a faulty practice is harmful for democracy. If there is any such instance anywhere in Odisha, people must immediately bring that to the notice of the local Block Development Officer (BDO) or the Panchyati Raj department. If proven true, stern action would be taken, he warned.

However, the BJD had countered the allegations stating that in some cases, where a Sarpanch seat has been reserved for women, the elected woman Sarpanch at times struggles with the decision making ability. Therefore, she takes the help of her husband or other family members at times. But why drag the BJD only into such allegations, questioned BJD MLA Prasanta Kumar Muduli.