Rajasthan Sarpanches on Warpath: Threaten Vidhan Sabha Gherao Over 14-Point Demand Charter

Jaipur- The Sarpanches of Rajasthan are once again on the path of agitation. If their demands are not met, they will gherao the Vidhan Sabha on July 18, comes the warning.

A crucial meeting of the Rajasthan Sarpanch Sangh was held under the chairmanship of state president BansiDhar Gadhwal. Chief spokesperson Rafiq Pathan said that the meeting was attended by state office bearers, district presidents, block presidents, and sarpanches from all districts, who put forth their views.

Despite repeated meetings with the government and high-ranking officials, the problems of the sarpanches remain unsolved.

The issues include non-payment of NREGA material bills for the past two years, the food security portal being shut for a long time, and the Prime Minister's housing approvals not being issued since 2021.

According to the Sangh members, Rs 6000 crore for SFC and CFC combined, and nearly Rs 7,000 crore for NREGA material costs have been pending for past 2 years.

The sarpanches have prepared a 14-point charter of demands and submitted a memorandum to the Chief Secretary, Sudhanshu Pant, on behalf of the Chief Minister.

They also met Additional Chief Secretary, Abhay Kumar, Panchayati Raj Secretary, Ravi Jain, Rural Development Secretary, Ashutosh A.T., Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, Akhil Arora, NREGA Commissioner, Tina Dabi, and other officials to apprise them of the problems faced by the sarpanches.

If their demands are not met, the sarpanches will observe a symbolic bandh in all gram panchayats on July 8, followed by a dharna at the panchayat samiti level on July 10.

They will also submit a memorandum to the district collectors on July 12. If their demands are still not met, they will gherao the Vidhan Sabha on July 18. The meeting was attended by prominent sarpanches, including Nemi Chand Meena, Roshan Ali, Shakti Singh Rawat, Mahendra Singh Mijhavela, and others.