Women Leaders in Village Panchayats

I come from Chibbora, a Dalit dominated village where the literacy rate for

women is about 30 percent. The general caste composes about 20 percent of

the village population. While girls from these families go to study, those from

the Dalit families cannot. Of those that have studied, they have not studied

beyond the Primary or the Middle level. A Middle School was set up in the

village about 28 years ago. For further studies, the children have to go to other

villages. While this is easy for boys, the girls do not have such opportunities.

While I never had a chance to study, I will not allow this to be the case with

other girls in my village and I have actively campaigned in the administration,

sponsoring a ‘school chalo’ programme.

I am conscious about matters related to education and health for children

especially the girl child and believe that while the daughter of a rich man is

respected, the daughter of a poor man is not. I want girls from poor families

to live a life of dignity as well.

Earlier two villages, Chibbora and Bela belonged to the same Panchayat.

Due to the caste composition of the two villages, it always happened that any

programme approved for Chibbora would go to Bela, which is situated only

five kms away. Even the High School operational there was originally approved

for Chibbora. The same goes for the community Health Centre. However,

even though the two have now split and belong to different Panchayats, Bela

has a Patel women representative who belongs to an influential family. Due

to this, projects approved for Chibbora are still being carried out in Bela!

Further, the Primary Health Centre meant for Chibbora was built in Bela

without my approval or prior information. This is despite the fact that the

people my villages are in dire need of a Health Centre. Many villagers have

died due to lack of medical facilities in the vicinity. Many people cannot travel

as far as Bela and even meetings with the District Collector have been futile.

Once the Health Centre was taken away, right from under our noses, many

people asked me to do something. Consequently, a gram Sabha was convened

where it was decided the President would go and meet the Chief Minister

(CM). Though I cannot read or write myself, with the help of the villagers, I

Dayawati Saket
President
Panchayat: Chibbora
Block: Rampur Baghelan
District: Satna