Mendha Lekha Village

A village in Garhchiroli in Maharashtra named Mendha lekha is a living example where people don't rely on any government for work to be undertaken in their area. They themselves are government and take decisions related to development. For them few people sitting at top positions in Delhi and Mumbai can't take effective decisions regarding their development.

The village lies in Dhanora Tehsil and consists of 84 Adivasi families. Like all other villages this village also has lots of problems but the village is unique in the sense that villagers themselves take decisions regarding their development. Since 1996 people collectively take decisions in the Gram Sabha and before taking any decision a lot of detailed study takes place regarding the particular decision.

Actually the village is a forest area and people depend on the forest for their livelihood. In 1950 villagers got a right from State government wherein forest management rights were given to the people. But later on it was taken back by the government. People of the area fought for it and succeeded in taking back the management in their hands. The decision that any government official or outsider cannot use the forest without the permission of Gram Sabha is a landmark decision.

When villagers realized that cutting of trees for fruits or honey is not good for them it was banned and was decided collectively that fine worth Rs. 150 would be imposed on the one found guilty. To stop cutting of bamboos in villages Gram Sabha collectively took decisions and stopped paper mills in coming to their area. Participation of women was increased in Gram Sabha.

The village also has an opposition leader who points out the mistakes of decisions taken by gram Sabha and people take it in a positive way and work on it. The best part is that decisions in this village are not taken on the basis of majority but only when every person of the village agrees to it.