Datwas. Residents of Kharwalon Ki Dhani, also known as Nadi Ki Dhani, launched a formal protest on Tuesday by boycotting the voting process. The community gathered at the local school premises to voice their strong opposition against the administrative decision to keep their village attached to a distant gram panchayat rather than merging it with a more accessible local body. The atmosphere remained tense as both men and women participated in the demonstration to highlight their collective grievances.
The core of the dispute lies in the significant distance villagers must travel to access essential services. Currently, the designated panchayat headquarters is located more than 20 kilometers away, which creates a substantial burden for residents seeking to complete routine administrative tasks. In contrast, a more suitable and functional gram panchayat is situated just two kilometers from their settlement. Villagers argue that this geographical disparity leads to unnecessary waste of both time and financial resources.
Local representatives and community members emphasized that this is not a new issue. They have previously submitted formal memorandums to the relevant authorities requesting a boundary adjustment to include their dhani in the closer panchayat. Despite these efforts, the administration has failed to provide a resolution or address the concerns raised by the residents. The lack of response from officials eventually pushed the community to take the drastic step of boycotting the election to ensure their voices are heard.
The protest saw participation from numerous residents, including Sagar, Girraj, Kedar Prasad, Hansraj, Mukesh, Ramesh, Kanaram, Babulal, Vishnu, Sonu, Nathulal, Jagdish, and Shivjiram. Several women from the community, such as Kailashi Devi, Rajanti Devi, Mana Devi, Sugana Devi, Anu Devi, and Mira Devi, were also at the forefront of the demonstration. The villagers have reiterated their demand for the administration to reconsider the current arrangement and facilitate a merger with the nearby panchayat to alleviate their ongoing hardships.
