I am 35 years old and have studied up to Class x. I have two sons. I became the President
of the Hensua gram Panchayat after a no-confidence motion was passed against the
previous (male) President, who had completed two years of his tenure. I was selected as
President because I had read the Assam Panchayat Act thoroughly. I was the Panchayat
Vice President earlier, and was an active member of Congress and Chief Secretary of the
Local Mahila Committee. After being elected to the Panchayat, I underwent training
held by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA). I also attended the Women’s
Leadership Workshop conducted by The Hunger Project-NEST. This workshop helped
me gain confidence to carry forward my work as the Panchayat President.Poverty, floods, transport and communication, poor electricity, safe drinking water and
unemployment are some of the problems that the Panchayat faces. In order to solve these
problems, I talked to the concerned government Departments and the local Minister
of the Legislative Assembly (MLA), to release funds allocated to the village under the
various Schemes.I see to it that Panchayat meetings are held regularly. While implementing various
development schemes in the village, I give preference to women and BPL families. Till
date, I have facilitated the construction of eight roads, two sub-centres, one library,
two school boundary walls, two bus shelters, four public urinals, a cremation ground,
two cultural halls, a temple, a playground and more. Two Lower Primary Schools
and three Namghars (a community prayer hall) have been repaired. Other individual
benefits, distributed under my supervision include 65 IAY houses, 100 latrine plates, 17
cooking gases, sanction of ten widow pensions, 40 medical grants, 87 BPL ration cards,
distribution of yarn to 50 women, and ten beneficiaries for the Kalpataru Scheme, etc. I
have also helped establish three women’s SHgs.I personally helped identify a group of 16 girls among the BPL families for training in
nursing, without any government help. By levying taxes on the tea garden estate, I have
managed to give salaries to the Ward Members.During my short tenure in the Panchayat as President, I have been able to do a lot for
my village, but still, I feel that there is a lot to be done. Therefore, I plan to contest the
next elections.Dolly Saikia
President
Panchayat: Hensua
Block: Kathalguri
District: golaghat