reinstated and I will be able to start work in the Panchayat. It was only after
this meeting that orders were passed to this effect and I began my work.
Absence of good roads and lack of drinking water were the two major problems
of Tighra Panchayat. I started by getting 12 hand pumps repaired, got 25
sanitation points constructed, installed four 100 ft capacity hand pumps under
‘Jal Abhishek’ (a water conservation program), lobbied and got approval for
construction of school buildings under ‘Sarva Siksha Abhiyaan’ (Campaign for
Universalization of Education) and also undertook the expansion of motorable
roads. In order to solve the problem of migration and to ensure employment to
the fellow villagers, I got 288 job cards made, 25 of them were for women, and
ensured 100 days work for all under NREgS. I also facilitated construction of
two public wells under NREgS as well as the deepening of the village pond.
I got a ‘chaupal’ (open seating cemented space) constructed, where villagers
could sit, talk, share, and relax. A ‘Pravesh Dwaar’ was also built- a big open
gate which proudly says-‘Sunita Adivasi, President, welcomes you to Tighra
Panchayat’. Under the Sanitation Project of the government, I have accepted
a project for 50 households, which will be totally sanitized by building toilets
I attended many training programs including the WLW and a follow-up after
the workshop and have participated in the State-level women’s conference held
in Bhopal twice. On an exposure visit to Panchayats in Rampur Baghelan in
Satna District, I learnt the process of maintaining accounts. I was among the
select few to receive training along with the Panchayat Secretary, to understand
the functioning of the Panchayat system, nuances of preparation of budgets
and maintaining records. This training benefited me the most as it broke many
‘invisible’ barriers between the Panchayat Secretary, and me and has translated
in better work at the ground level.
The biggest challenge that I faced was from a dominant high caste family
which wanted me to put my thumb impression on Panchayat papers and to
leave the rest to them. I protested against this decree and told them that as I
was the President, I was the one who had to evaluate and understand the needs
of my Panchayat. They then threatened me and said that they would tear the