No clear role for NGOs

The implementation of panchayati raj is expected to provide a fillip to various grassroot movements in the state, thanks to activists being elected. About 700 sarpanches are affiliated to the Ekta Parishad, an ngo. In Bilaspur, more than 1,000 panches and sarpanches are associated literacy programmes.

The Narmada Ghati Nav Nirman Samiti secured a handful of posts in the Narmada valley, which is expected to affect the future of the Narmada dam project. In Raipur, the Chattisgarh Mahila Jagriti Sanghatan (CMJS), won 9 seats, including a janpad post. Naxalites, too, have created niches for themselves in the most backward areas.

However, despite assurances from chief minister Digvijay Singh, NGOs have not been assigned any specific role. Vinod Raina of Eklavya feels ngos have a lot to contribute: "They will act as a resource base, providing inputs from rural engineering to gender issues". Shashi Sail, president of the cmjs says, "ngo involvement is very important in getting people to understand the mechanism of transfer of power".

The government is considering involving ngos mainly in training activities, but Ekta Parishad and cmjs have already started these programmes.