Education Qualification Issue in Panchayati Raj Elections in Rajasthan

Rajasthan schools have been in a state of neglect and many successive governments did not pay attention to the dismal state of affairs. In addition the government has shut as many as 17,000 schools mostly in remote areas. The eligibility criteria for contesting elections of Panchayats were announced a few days before the elections.  This would directly disqualify about 95 percent women and 80 percent men. The experts see the reason behind the ordinance is to capture democracy at grassroots level. It will ensure the power continues to remain in hands of a few people. The most affected lot will be of women and dalits.

• The people who come from rural and illiterate backgrounds may not have a tinge of formal education but have enough learning gathered from life’s experiences that they can make sound decision of difficult matters of villages which have long-term and widespread repercussions. These people are more open to knowledge and have a knack for learning newer techniques which they can pass on to the general masses. The point that illiteracy does not always come from lack of formal education but also from the apparent ignorance of highly specialised modes of governance which someone with a Masters degree cannot match.
• Literacy is definitely essential and every state has the duty to ensure education to all its residents. However, literacy and intelligence go hand in hand and neither can replace the other. If there are many examples of illiteracy which led to unreasonable activities, there are also many unintelligent and feudal acts which were led by literate men in Rajasthan. Literacy thus may not turn the balance of power but is the indiscriminate power which leads to bad governance.

The bureaucratic system needs reforms to ensure accountability so there is an accurate balance of power between the technocratic executive and the elected representative.