Question

who are the power holders in the new power structure that has emerged in the villages today?

Answer 1

The power holders may be classified in four groups:
(a) those who have power based on ownership and control of land
(b) those who have power based on their caste
(c) those who have power based on numerical strength and,
(d) those who have power because of the positions they hold ,e.g.,in panchayats etc.

Answer 2

The power holders in the new power structure that has emerged in the villages today are categorised in four key groups:

(a) those who have power on the basis of their caste

(b) those who have power based on ownership and control of land

(c) those who have power on the basis of the numerical strength and,

(d) those who have power based on the positions they hold for instance in village panchayats etc.

Explanation:

• The key dimensions of the power system were: the Zamindari system, the caste system and the panchayat village in the traditional power system. Villagers referred to the Zamindar or their caste leader or to the village Panchayat for their religious, economic or other problems. The traditional power structure was feudalistic in a state like Rajasthan
• The caste leaders in a village had a social status. Because caste councils are very powerful, they could even ostracize caste defaulter by means of severe sanctions. The leaders had great authority over their representatives
• There were village elders from among all the village's major castes in the panchayats. Those organizations were informal. Whenever questions relating to the village interests were determined, the members came together.
• The jagirdari and zamindari systems have been abrogated since independence and various land reforms have been enforced to undermine the traditional power structure and create new power structures.
• In place of hereditary and caste leaders, elected persons with political backing be­came leaders. Individual merit and not caste or class became an important factor in leadership.