Surat Patidar Samaj Forms ‘Samadhan Panch’ for Dispute Resolution

SURAT: In a bid to prevent community disputes from deepening into prolonged conflicts, the Samast Patidar Samaj Trust, Surat, has formed a ‘Samadhan Panch’ (Resolution Committee) to settle social and personal issues through dialogue, mutual understanding and reconciliation.

Jagdish Khunt has been appointed president of the committee, which will begin functioning from October 11, coinciding with the start of Navratri. The committee aims to provide members with an accessible platform where differences can be discussed and resolved amicably while preserving community relationships.

Khunt said the initiative was intended to strengthen trust rather than allow disagreements to turn into lasting divisions.

“Our objective is not to decide who is right or wrong, but to bring people together and find a solution through dialogue and mutual understanding,” Khunt said.

He added, “If an issue can be resolved through discussion at the community level, there is no reason for it to continue for years and damage relationships. Samadhan Panch will work with impartiality and confidentiality to help people find a mutually acceptable way forward.”

The committee will accept applications from 10 am to 5 pm and hold meetings every Monday from 4 pm onwards. The number of working days may be increased if the volume of cases requires it.

Trust’s Wider Social Initiatives

The formation of Samadhan Panch comes as part of the trust’s broader community-service activities through the Smt M M Kheni Bhavan.

According to the trust, the venue has hosted 14,783 social events, while more than ₹10.50 crore has been distributed under its Education Fund Assistance Scheme to 1,571 beneficiaries.

More than 1,400 students have benefited from its UPSC/GPSC training centre, with over 250 subsequently entering government service. Its reading room has served more than 8,312 students, while over 44,847 people have received assistance through the Government Scheme Guidance Centre.

The trust also said 7,346 marriages have been solemnised through Arya Samaj rituals and 3,857 women have received training through its Skill Development Centre.

Khunt said Samadhan Panch would extend this service-oriented approach to conflict resolution.

“Unity becomes stronger when people listen to each other. Our effort will be to protect relationships while finding practical solutions to disputes,” he said.