A Journey Towards Empowerment In Gujarat: Jankar To Sarpanch

In 2002, Abrubhai Tetabhai Rathwa of Kasotiya Village, in Devgarh Bariya block of Dahod District in Gujarat was elected Sarpanch (head of the Panchayat) through a general election. Abrubhai created a record of sorts by defeating the former Sarpanch, who had held the seat for the previous 20 years, by the highest margin of votes ever.

GVT‑Gujarat selected village Kasotiya as a core village in August 2000. The village has a total of 13 SHGs, of which one is Jai Knablia Dev Kripa Mandal. Abrubhai, as Group Jankar, helped the SHG accumulate a fund of Rs. 17,574, while an additional Rs. 11,550 is in rotation.

Abrubhai, who filed his nomination papers for the election at the request of the people of Kasotiya, has since his election, has helped his panchayat access numerous development schemes of the government.