Global Ecovillage Network/Solution Library/Village councilcouncil of elders

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Decision making and governance in rural villages.

Village Council/Council of Elders is the decision-making, executive, juridical and supervising body of the village governance. In the village council there are both elected and natural members. Elected members are determined according to universal majority votes for a five year period. Number of members vary from 8 to 10 according to the village population. Anyone who is literate can be a nominee. The village headman is also the head of village council.The headteacher of the village school and the religious leader 'imam' are the natural members.

The village council gathers at least once a week and decisions are taken by simple majority among at least 6 members. Major responsibilities of the village council/council of elders are:

• Discussing the basic needs of the village and prioritizing them.
• Deciding about which public works (health, roads, schools) will be done by collective labour (imece) and which will be done by the money collected from the villagers and other resources.
• Deciding on compensation for village services.
• Deciding the amount of money to be collected for public works.
• Providing land for the village members who don't have their own land for agriculture.
• Reconciliation between the villagers.
• Imposing the relevant penalties for those who don't pay the agreed amount of collective money or who don't participate in the collective work.

• Social
  • Leadership & Governance