Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Dec 10: The Odisha government is taking a strong stand against the practice of ‘proxy’ Sarpanchs, with Panchayati Raj Minister Rabi Narayan Naik emphasizing that stringent action will be enforced against such behavior.
The minister announced that the government has already taken action against 15 Sarpanches suspected of operating under this practice since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took office in Odisha.
Naik highlighted the party’s long-standing opposition to the practice of husbands or male family members acting as de facto Sarpanches while a woman holds the official position. He pointed out that under the three-tier Panchayati Raj system, women are given significant responsibilities and power. However, if a woman Sarpanch becomes a mere figurehead, with her husband running the show, it undermines the fundamental goal of women’s empowerment at the grassroots level.
The minister noted that this issue was prevalent during the tenure of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and that the BJP has previously organized large protests against such unlawful practices. Naik urged the public to report any instances of proxy Sarpanches to the local Block Development Officer (BDO) or the Panchayati Raj department. He assured that if allegations are substantiated, strict action will be taken to uphold democratic values.
