Thousands of voters of Dulmi block gave befitting reply to mukhiyas in recently concluded panchayat elections for showing no interest in helping them shun the usual practice of open defecation and provide a dignified life by encouraging construction of toilets at incentives provided by the Government as six out of 10 panchayats elected new mukhiyas in the recently concluded panchayats elections.
More than half of the total 10 mukhiyas elected in 2010 have been shown the door in 2015 for remaining aloof of people’s aspirations of adopting a more venerable practice for answering nature’s call. Dulmi block with 10 panchayats has elected six new faces for Mukhiya whereas of the remaining four, two have been re-elected and the rest have been replaced by their better half.
“People were angered by Mukhiyas’ indifference and lack of interest in the construction of toilets. Awareness among the people of the block is very high and they realised the lack of interest in mukhiyas. Quality, community awareness and lack of interest are the factors that made people replace six mukhiyas,” said Coordinator of Vikas Bharti working in Dulmi, Sanjay Gautam.
Those panchayats where the mukhiyas were shown the door are Ichatu, Dulmi, Honhe, Patamdaga, Siru and Jamira whereas mukhiyas of Sikni and Kulhi secured their seat. Voters of Usra and Soso elected better half of previous mukhiya who could not contest because of changes in the reservations for those panchayats.
Mukhiya being the head of the Village Water and Sanitation Committee faced the ire for not making best use of funds and compromising interests by yielding to the alleged politics of managing funds sanctioned for the construction of pakka (brick) toilets in villages. The concoction of indifference and bad execution towards transforming villages and panchayats to open defecation free led to the fall of the mukhiyas. Even as the perception of the majority cost them their seat, it helped others triumph the election once again in 2015.
Unicef’s Wash specialist, Prem Chand added, “Initially they had not exhibited interest and their perception about the scheme was that they just have to spend money provided in this government scheme. We held meetings in villages to change that perception. Although most of them lost election I see this election as a triumph of those who performed in their panchayats”.
Notably, Dulmi block features high on the list of the Drinking Water and Sanitation Department as it is focussing on the block to make it first open defecation free block in Jharkhand. Around 9,500 toilets are proposed to be built in all the panchayats of the block of which around 7,000 is said to have been completed and work for the remaining is near completion.