Raj Samadhiala, a village 30km off Rajkot in Gujarat, is perhaps the only village in the country that imposes a fine on those who do not vote in the elections. This has been the law in the village since 1985. Those who unable to vote have to inform the sarpanch their reason in writing.
Thanks to fear of the fine, the voter turnout would be over 95 per cent in all elections in this village which falls under the reserved constituency of Rajkot Rural.
According to Bhavana Ben Asok Bai, sarpanch of Raj Samadhiala, those who do not cast their vote have no right to complain about their rights and privileges. The village has a population of 1,747 people who live in over 300 homes. In all, there are 900 voters. Politicians are not allowed into the village. Posters, election meetings and door-to-door campaigning too are not permitted. Raj Samadhiala Vikas Committee, which looks after the development of the village, decides who the villagers vote for.
Raj Samadhiala is the most beautiful village in Rajkot. One can see the aged resting under huge trees that grow all over the village. Each house has an attractive garden in the front. The concrete roads are neat and tidy. No one can be seen whiling away time on roadsides. Women do not waste time by indulging in silly talk with neighbours.
A lot of effort has gone into making Raj Samadhiala the village what it is today. Until 1985, parents were unwilling to marry off their daughters to this village. There was acute water shortage; water had to be brought from many kilometres away. The water problem was resolved once underground water sources were located and ponds and borewells were dug.
Plastic products are strictly banned in the village. Use of intoxicants such as alcohol and tobacco attract fines. Also penalised are those who do not keep their homes and surroundings tidy as well as those who deliberately stay away from work. With all these penalties in place, Raj Samadhiala has earned the reputation of a village without crime.
Crimes and punishments
Penalties are plenty in Raj Samadhiala. At every junction in the village, there are huge boards with 19 types of ‘crimes’ and ‘punishments’ for each of them.
If anything bought from a shop is in plastic cover, the shopkeeper has to write on the cover the name of the buyer. If that plastic cover is found anywhere on the road, the buyer is fined Rs 51. The shopkeeper is fined if he does not write the mane of the buyer on the plastic cover.
The other crimes and penalties are:
Consumption of alcohol: Rs 501
Smoking: Rs 51
Throwing wastes on the road; quarreling at home: Rs 51
Not keeping home tidy: Rs 251
Illegal felling of trees: Rs 501
Declaring oneself god: Rs 501
Failure to take care of parents: Rs 501
Staying away from work and wasting time: Rs 1,000
(This article has originally appeared in Malayala Manorama)
