WB Panchayat Elections: Victorious Catholic Candidates to Work for Poor

Isaac Gomes –

Kolkata: The West Bengal three-tier Panchayat elections were held on 8th July. According to West Bengal Election Commission website, 1,70,812 candidates contested for Gram Panchayat 63,229 seats, 31,016 candidates contested for 9730 seats Panchayat Samiti and 4,467 candidates contested for 928 Zilla Parishad seats.

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) has swept the polls amidst unprecedented pre and post-electoral violence (55 reported deaths so far).  Taking note of the rampant violence that broke out during and after the West Bengal panchayat elections, the Calcutta High Court on Wednesday made it clear that the entire process of elections including the results of the polls would be subject to the court’s further orders [Suvendu Adhikari vs State of West Bengal]. Source: Bar and Bench 12 July 2023.

There have been reports of several Christian women candidates having done pretty well in the Panchayat elections. Among them were Mrs Kanchan Das Barui (TMC) from Shantipara, Bongaon, Mrs Mamata Das (TMC) who won from Jhowdanga Gaighata block and Mrs Lilima Sardar who won on as a BJP candidate from Mansada Sunderpur.  All three candidates are from North 24-Parganas belt.

Two women candidates, Mrs Neela Subba won in Kalimpong (Panchayat Parishad) and Ms Anju Bomzon won uncontested in Maria Busty Kalimpong Gram Panchayat.

On behalf of the Ecumenical and Dialogue Commission of the Archdiocese of Calcutta, Fr Francis Sunil Rosario and I went to Bongaon area (North 24 Parganas) on 15th July 2023 to greet and interact with the above-mentioned three first-time Catholic women candidates who won in Panchayat Elections. Fr Sunil is the Regional Secretary of the Commission.

 

The journey to the three places was quite time-consuming (we left at 11.00 am and returned around 10 pm) yet very fruitful. Our first stopover was at the Gram Panchayat of Jhowdanga where we met the winner Mrs Mamata Das at the local Vailankanni Church (a small room). Mrs Mamata, her husband and around 50 of her voters (many Catholics) had gathered with great enthusiasm to meet us. We had a very pleasant and homely interaction.  Mrs Mamata is quite unassuming and down-to-earth.  On being questioned when she came to know that she had been chosen as a candidate, she said she got only one day’s prior notice and was totally dumbfounded at her nomination.

When we visited Mrs Kanchan Das Barui and her husband at Shantipara, Bongaon, she looked very confident in her outlook. She was very clear about the priorities in her electorate area.  She said her people know her very well due to her door-to-door health work service during the Covid period.  She said more than Christians in her area, non-Christians were very happy that she was chosen as a Gram Panchayat candidate. In fact, many had offered Pujas to pray for her victory.

Mrs Lilima Sardar who won on a BJP ticket from Mansada Sunderpur (North 24 Parganas) Gram Panchayat, said she was informed of her candidature one week before the nomination papers were to be filed. Her husband is very vocal and is aware of the local problems like lack of pucca roads, reaching government welfare schemes to all especially the marginalised, old age and widow pension (Rs1,000 per month), Laxmi Bhander (Direct Benefit Transfer of monthly Rs 500 to poor women of general category and @ Rs 1000 per month to SC/ST women) between 25 and 60 years of age, roof over each household, etc.

During the interaction, all the candidates said that they would help their electorate avail of government welfare schemes. They also said that they would visit them regularly and not only when they got a call from them. Mrs Kanchan Das Barui emphatically said she would gladly cater to even those who did not vote for her. Her reasoning was she was a Village Resource Person (VRP) and she considered it her duty to visit each household (which, as a health worker, she would do even during peak Covid period) to find out if they had any health-related issues. She said that as a trained nurse, she even draws blood (for those who cannot afford to go to Diagnostic centres) and sends the samples to Kolkata laboratories at lower charges than the local diagnostic centres. She said she also collects their reports. Her priorities were to ensure Housing for those who did not have one and Aid for handicapped persons.

Mrs Mamata Das said her priority areas were road building, safe drinking water, and to provide protection (at least tarpaulin) for many roofs which are leaking. She said in the on-going Monsoon season, this was her top priority.

Mrs Lilima Sardar said TMC had done little development work in last 10 years. All families were not given their due Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) schemes. Many had not yet got Amphan Super Cyclone compensation. She said even she was yet to receive Amphan compensation and showed us the damaged roof of her home.

All the three women candidates from North 24-Parganas showed great eagerness to work for the betterment of their electorate and undergo necessary training for this.

Regarding annual budget of Gram Panchayats, overall, a small Gram Panchayat of about 2000 population can have a spending of close to Rupees One Crore per annum.