The success of Panchayati Raj and NAREGA needs devotion and great resolve” : Sonia Gandhi

October 2, 2009, Nagaur(Rajasthan): Congress President Sonia Gandhi while addressing a public meeting in Nagaur said that the Panchayati Raj has established its deep root in the country. Congress President was addressing a huge gathering on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee ceremony of Panchayati Raj. It was on this day in Nagaur in 1959 that India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation of Panchayati Raj.

Ms Gandhi started her speech by thanking the people of Rajasthan for their support in recent Loksabha election. She said, “On the occasion of the birth anniversary of Gandhiji, I feel very happy to be here. During freedom movement, Mahatma Gandhi dreamt of Gramswarajya and same dream was envisioned by Jawaharlal Nehru, fifty years ago in Nagaur,” she said.

Terming India as the country of villages, Congress President said that since its start, Panchayati Raj has not only established its root in Rajasthan, it has also been strengthened in the whole of country. “Until and unless the villagers of this country feel their right to decide their fate, to solve their problems, there could not be true democracy,” she said. She said that this thinking of Mahatma Gandhi was accepted by our freedom fighters and nation builders.

Speaking on the huge success of the country in many fields, Congress President said, “Even after our success in many fields, there have been some lack in the field of Pachayati Raj due to power politics and some vested interests. In many states there were no timely elections of civic bodies and the importance of administration grew upon Panchayats and Municipalities. It weakened the voice of common people.”

Congress President said, “For our party, power is just a means to strengthen and provide respect to common people and we have tried to motivate the system towards this.” She said that when Rajiv Gandhi was Prime Minister he visited across the country, saw the life of the people and was very disturbed to see the misery of their life. “ Rajivji resolved to bring changes in the lives of villagers and struggled for that. It was due to his efforts, that later on in 1993, the Congress-led central government ensured the legal status to Panchayats,” she said. She further said that reservation was given to SCs, STs as well as to women in the Panchayats. “More than 12 lakhs women have been elected to Panchayats and raising their voices to sort out their problems,” she said.

Praising the works of Rajasthan Chief Minsiter Ashok Gehlot, Congress President said that he has started many schemes for the common people. “The central government and the government of Rajasthan are following the path of our great leaders. The government of Rajasthan has set up a BPL Jeewan Raksha Kosh for providing medical help and treatment to BPL families,” she said.

Congress President said, “The people of Rajasthan and the country have expressed their faith to the policies and schemes of the Congress Party. This is the duty of not only the government but also of workers to regard that mandate and fulfill their desire.”

Talking about the weak monsoon and the difficulties faced by farmers, she said that her government is taking adequate steps to sort out this problem. She said, “I remember when I came here three years before I talked about the water problem in this area. I know that you face acute water and electricity problem. Ashok Gehlotji has been again with us as Chief Minister and I hope he will certainly pay attention to your problems.”

She said that there are many works to be done. “As the CM has said, his government is taking many steps for the welfare of the people, but there is no end of works. We, our CM and our party are committed for the development of Nagaur and Rajasthan,” she said.

Congress President said that there must be devotion and great resolve to do a great work. “The success of Panchayati Raj and NAREGA need such type of devotion,” she appealed.
Recalling Mahatma Gandhi for his commitment for social harmony, she said, “There must be peace and development. Our country should be self-dependent and strong and we should march ahead along with the rest world.” She stressed the need of running the affairs of the country on the basis of a good ideology.

Congress President concluded her speech by expressing her best wishes to the people for Diwali.