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Despite some setbacks, NRIs remain committed to their vision of unity and development
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Their insistence on unanimous sarpanch elections reflects their desire to promote harmony and ensure that their contributions are used to uplift their home villages
Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) are playing a crucial role in ensuring unity and transparency in local governance in the Doaba region. By encouraging villagers to elect their sarpanch (village head) unanimously, NRIs are actively working to eliminate petty politics and focus on development. Their efforts have led to several villages in Punjab electing their gram panchayats without opposition.
In the villages of Ucha and Musapur in Jalandhar, NRIs have linked their financial support for village development to unanimous elections. They’ve made it clear that funds for development projects will only be provided if the villagers unite behind a single candidate for sarpanch. As a result, these villages have seen peaceful, uncontested elections.
Sukhbir Singh, who was elected sarpanch of Ucha, emphasized the importance of responsible use of NRI contributions. “The NRIs want the money they send to be utilized effectively. Upgrading the government dispensary and building a library are my top priorities,” he stated.
The divided elections in these villages highlight the challenges of overcoming entrenched political rivalries, which often hinder progress
Joga Singh Sandhu, an NRI based in Calgary and originally from Ucha, explained the driving motivation. “We are ready to support the village in any way, but we don’t want to see divisive politics. In the last panchayat elections, we couldn’t convince the villagers to elect a sarpanch unanimously. This time, we succeeded.”
Similarly, in Musapur, a village with a population of 500, Rajwinder Kaur was elected sarpanch without opposition. Her focus will be on solid waste management. “The NRIs do not appreciate groupism within the village. Unanimity helps us achieve our development goals,” Kaur said. Nanak Singh, an NRI from Musapur currently residing in England, expressed his satisfaction with the villagers’ decision to follow the NRIs’ advice. “There will be no infighting now, and we can move forward with development plans.”
However, not all villages have followed this trend. In Sann Kalan and Dosanjh Khurd of Banga, Nawanshahr, NRIs faced resistance in their efforts to encourage a unified election. Shaminder Singh, a UK-based NRI from Sann Kalan, expressed disappointment. “We tried hard to convince the villagers, but unfortunately, they were divided. If we had succeeded, the village would have been eligible for a Rs 5 lakh development grant,” he explained.
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