Entering the public arena for the first time in 2007, I was elected uncontested
as a Ward Member. On election, the people in my Ward gave a proposal to
build a road and dig a tube well in the Ward. However, the present President,
wife of the previous President (as the seat was reserved for women in 2007)
did not heed the requests, opinions, or proposals of us Ward members. She
acts as a proxy of her husband and is more interested in pursuing the agenda
set by him. As I was new to official matters, at first I was a silent observer at
the Panchayat meetings. Nevertheless, after attending the WLW organized by
THP-People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), I learnt about the practical details of
the PRI system and the roles and responsibilities of Panchayat representatives.
It helped me immensely and I was emboldened and began to voice my opinions
freely in the subsequent Panchayat meetings.I gathered the support of the other Ward Members, and together we demanded
the construction of the road and tube-well. However, the President ignored
our proposal and passed a separate proposal for the construction of a Kalyan
Mandap (community hall) with Panchayat funds. This hall was to be built
on land owned by the President, which adjoined a portion of government
land. We believed that this site was chosen because later she could claim the
government property as her own and use it for personal gain. Opposing this,
all Ward Members, male and female, decided not to go to the Panchayat
meetings and organized a separate meeting. We presented a memorandum
to the President that the more essential works in each Ward should be
completed before the building of the Kalyan Mandap. The President had to
give in to our demands and got the proposal passed. The construction of the
road has started now.I realize that it was my silence and ignorance, which led the President to
exploit me. Now that I am suitably informed, nothing can stop me from
ensuring development of my area. As people in the coastal areas of Orissa are
rather conservative, not many elected women representatives have the courage
to join public life and voice their opinions. THP’s Leadership Workshops have
helped in making us women representatives realize the importance of our roles
in local self-governance.Latika Parida
Ward Member
Panchayat: Balianta
Block: Balianta
District: Khurdha