Democracy at grass root level in Punjab is managed by Panches and Sarpanches who hardly went to schools nor completed their matriculation. No less than 42 percent of them have qualifications just class 8th or below. If Haryana pattern of contesting Panchayat polls was to be adopted in Punjab at this stage, a substantial number of them would be weeded out of the election fray.
According to available data, Out of the total 13,028 Panchayats in the State, 5,584 Panchayats are being headed by people with educational qualification below 8th class. What comes as a surprise is that 1485 Sarpanches in the State are illiterates.
The data reveals that from the 5584 low educated Sarpanches, 35 are below 5th grade, 1989 are fifth pass and 2075 are those who have cleared 8th grade.
Ferozpur is the district where maximum number of Panchayats are being headed by illiterate Sarpanches. Out of 816 Panchayats in the district, 140 Panchyats have illiterate heads. Though in terms of number of the Panchayats, Hoshiarpur stands first with 1,372 Panchayats, but the situation is better in the district in terms of literate Sarpanches as 110 illiterate Sarpanches are presiding the Panchayats.
Though the number of well educated Sarpanches gives a soothing feel, as around 9 percent panchayats are being led by people who find a place in the category of well qualified. 1049 Sarpanches have graduate degrees while 10 possess B. Sc or B. Tech. and 163 are post graduates. Bathinda takes the lead in the number of highly educated Sarpanches where 145 Sarpanches possess a graduate degree and 26 have done Post graduation. The data of Punjab makes it clears that if education qualification is made mandatory for Panchayat polls in Punjab, around 40 percent of the existing Panchayat members would be barred from contesting the election.
Asked about implementing educational criteria for Panchayats in Punjab, Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Sikandar Singh Maluka downplayed the issue saying it would be looked into when time comes.