WUNRN
INDIA
WOMEN'S FEATURE SERVICE
India - New Delhi
Photo:
Panchayat meeting in progress at Karisunda Gram Panchayat Office, West Bengal
(Credit: Soma Mitra\WFS)
India:
Bankura District of West Bengal
ALL
WOMEN COUNCIL
Community
Development Successes
By
Soma Mitra Mukherjee
Bankura (Women's Feature Service) - A unique 'gram panchayat' (village council)
in Bankura District of West Bengal has all the makings of becoming a case study
for management schools and is certainly a benchmark for what the electorate
should seek in the forthcoming 'panchayat' elections. And the fact that this
unique 15-member council constitutes just women is not its only distinction.
'Shakti', or power, is worshipped in the form of Goddess Durga all across
Bengal but a visit to the Karisunda Gram Panchayat office in Bankura district
of West Bengal will help explain what women power is all about.
The 22 villages falling under the panchayat's jurisdiction have achieved 100
per cent sanitation. "Toilets have been constructed in all the 3,511
houses in these villages. We have sensitised the families on the need to use
the facilities and we do routine checks to ensure that the villagers are
following proper sanitation measures," says Aparna Malik, 29, a panchayat
member from Karisunda village. The pride of having achieved 'Nirmal Gram'
status for ensuring hundred per cent sanitation in Karisunda is reflected on
all the 15 faces.
(The Nirmal Gram Puraskar is conferred upon a district under the Total
Sanitation Campaign [TSC] for having achieved total sanitation coverage, within
a fixed timeframe, for all homes and schools; and for having eradicated the
practice of open defecation. It is the only rural sanitation programme of the
Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India.)
"When the CPI (M) decided to make this a model gram 'panchayat' with women
members, it was a test for us," says 'panchayat pradhan' (village council
head), Syed Manowar Jahan Begum, 46, from Karisunda village. "We were
given tickets to contest on the recommendation of the villagers. They knew us
well. They knew we were committed to community development. Most of us were
elected uncontested. Even the three members of the Panchayat Samiti here are
women," she states.
Rita Chandra, 47, a 'panchayat' member from Bodo Govindpur village, points out
that before winning the election in 2003, all of them were ordinary housewives,
although many had worked extensively in community programmes. "From pulse
polio drives to immunisation for pregnant women; from participation in
Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Swayam Siddha Groups to actively implementing
projects for the Integrated Child Development Scheme (ICDS), we have done it
all. Our election to the gram panchayat was merely recognition of that
work," she says.
These women do not have the advantages of a good education or family wealth.
Most of them are uneducated but they are all literate. Kajol Majhi, 30, from
Fadilpur village, who is the deputy panchayat pradhan (chief); and Gouri
Ruhidas, 32, from Karisunda village, have never been to school. But they talk
confidently of the work undertaken by the 'panchayat'.
"We have spent Rs 17,519,572 - out of a total allocation of Rs
22,838,478.60 (US$1 = Rs 40) - during the five years of office for community
development. We have repaired 47 kilometres of 'murram' (mud-boulder) roads and
built nine kilometres of new 'murram' roads across the 'panchayat' area. We
have built 'pucca' (permanent) buildings for all the 15 primary schools here,
set up 14 literacy centres, and have constructed four ICDS centres. Work is
going on in another three," reports a proud Majhi.
While Majhi concentrated on infrastructural achievements, Gouri Ruhidas is more
into advocacy. "We have worked hard to reduce school dropout rates. We set
up an example by ensuring that our own children go to schools from the
beginning. We are also trying hard to increase institutional deliveries - we
sensitise families expecting babies to go to hospital. The number of home
deliveries in unhygienic conditions and through ignorant attendants has
definitely come down now," she says.
The women diligently pursued the district administration to adequately staff
the two medical sub-centres in the area. This was a priority for them as the
nearest hospital is about nine kilometres away. They have made ingenious use of
their office space as well. "We ensure that a homoeopath and an MBBS
doctor sit in our office premises twice weekly, and dispense free medical
treatment to the villagers," reveals Malina Pal, 32, a panchayat member from
Sanpura village.
With immense glee, Pal adds, "Don't doubt our business sense either. We
are raising money for the 'panchayat' by renting out the ground floor of the
office to the land and revenue department. Why do 'panchayat' members who are
supposed to work in the field need so much office space, anyway? This way, the
place is bringing in earnings for more development work."
But, it's not just goodwill of the villagers that has kept these women in
power. They are also well versed in the cut and thrust of politics. Some of
them come from families who have been in politics for generations, while others
have learnt the ropes. "My husband works for Coal India as a clerk in
Kolkata. However, when women got reservation, he encouraged me to enter politics.
I had the base through my social work and I became a party worker. This year, I
have set my targets higher. I am contesting for the Panchayat Samiti,"
says Jahan Begum, 46, who has studied till Class XII.
Krishna Bhattacharya, 41, a higher secondary passed member from Paharpur
village, was, however, brought up in a family devoted to politics. From her
father to six siblings, including three elder married sisters, everybody is a
committed party worker. "I have not married. I am devoted to the party and
my social work," she says. Kanchan Dey, 31, from Bodo Govindpur is the
most educated of the lot. This graduate says she married her husband, Mahadev
Dey, because he was a party worker. Her parents were none too keen on the
alliance. "But I felt that a party worker was after all working for the
common man, so wasn't that a good thing? Anyway, I am in active politics as
well as community development with his full support," says this mother of
a seven-year-old.
Interestingly, even though panchayat elections are around the corner no one,
apart from Jahan Begum, is contesting. The party has not given them tickets
this time round as the CPI (M) generally changes its candidates at the
panchayat level after one term. But isn't that unfair? "Of course not,"
says Chandra vehemently, "We were working towards community development
for 15 to 20 years before we became 'gram panchayat' members for these last
five years. Now, we will just continue our work as it had been for many years.
The party is giving an opportunity to new candidates as a matter of policy
after the success we've had. We are happy to help and support them." And
displaying amazing unity and loyalty, all the women are campaigning for their
party colleagues now.
The women admit that in their tryst with power for five years they have gained
in confidence, become more knowledgeable and learnt not to pick fights but give
in for the bigger cause. "We are not afraid of returning home late now.
Family members no longer caution us. They know we can take care of ourselves.
Our strength is not physical, it's moral. All the people here know us, love us.
They recognise the positive results of our efforts. They know we have not
cheated or become corrupt. None of them will think of harming us. If anyone
faces any difficulties, the others will rush to her aid. The Rs 40 monthly
honorarium we get as 'panchayat' members is insignificant. It's the respect
we've earned within the community that is our real gain," declares Kanchan
Dey.
The women 'panchayat' members of Karisunda have certainly packed a punch. When
it comes to accountability, they offer a lesson or two to politicians
everywhere.
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