Page 122 - Acharya Vinoba Bhave in 21st Century ISBN

21oha “krkCnh esa vkpk;Z fouksck Hkkos dh izklafxdrk

full participation and involvement of women. This was the basic sarvayatan principle. Mendha villagers
were convinced of this principle and they started convening the assemblies of both men and women

and did not make any gender difference thereafter.
The Sarvayatan principle is practiced in the following manner.

· All the decisions pertaining to the village are taken in the general village assembly i.e. gramsabha.
No person or a group of persons are authorized to take decisions on behalf of the whole

village. Executive responsibilities might be delegated but the basic decision is made in the
gramsabha.

· Participation in the gramsabha is mandatory. One male and one female adult member from
each household is expected to attend the gramsabha, failing which a fine is levied on the

household.
· Everybody is encouraged to voice his/her views in the village assembly. Nobody is barred

from speaking out or raising opposition. The gramsabha is governed by all and not by any
group of elders or senior persons.

· Decision in the gramsabha is withheld unless consented by all. Even a single dissenting voice is
respected and no decision is taken if consensus is not reached.

· When consensus is not reached, the gramsabha is ended and issue is left open for debate and
dialogue outside the gramsabha. In Mendha, a peculiar institutional form called as ‘Abhyas

Mandal’ (study circle) is used for studying and analyzing the issue. Villagers who have the urge
for brainstorming the issue meet in abhyas mandals and discuss itthoroughly. Abhyas mandal

is not a formal or single structure but it is an informal process carried out in the nooks and
corners of the village where participation is voluntary. Abhyas mandals come up with suggestions

to resolve the issue but they do not make the decision. Decision is ultimately taken by the
gramsabha. In a nutshell, these mandals act as knowledge and information resources with

which decision making becomes easier.
· It has been the experience of Mendha that acceptance of the consensus principle, by itself,

ensures wholehearted and candid participation by all. Nobody is afraid to voice opposing
concerns as everybody is assured of fair play and patient hearing. The success of the whole

process lies in everybody accepting the principle beforehand.
· Once the decision is taken, then the gramsabha delegates the responsibility for execution.

Tasks are assigned to individuals or groups of individuals and temporary or permanent
arrangements are made for carrying them out. Implementation is easier as everybody has

consented.

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