Women Leaders in Village Panchayats

My political career began in 2000 when I was elected, uncontested on a

reserved seat, to represent Ward no. 4 of Navai gram Panchayat. My elevation

to politics was a consequence of political alliance amongst the leaders of the

Brahman, Bhairva (SC) and Meena (ST) castes in my Ward. All 3 are Congress

party supporters who formed an alliance for the 2000 election. I emerged

as their consensus candidate. I was known in my village to be a strong and

articulate woman. As my husband is a simple man, he pays little attention

to the household. He is a goatherd and often disappears for days to graze his

goats. From a very young age, I was forced to take charge of the household.

I had to learn to be strong. This strength caught the attention of the local

leaders who approached me and asked me to stand as their candidate for my

Ward. On being asked, I readily agreed.

Once elected, I busied myself with implementing small-scale development

works in my village. I was grateful to the SC community for supporting me and

ensured that benefits from local development funds reached the community.

During my first term as a Ward Member, I installed hand pumps in the SC

areas, I got a CC road constructed in the Ward, and submitted forms for

widow pensions to the President. The President was elected because of the

same political alliance and actively supported my work.

My ability to perform as a Ward Member was also greatly enhanced by

my interaction with THP-CECODECON. I participated in Panchayat

trainings, which taught me to speak in public, write petitions, and ask the

right questions at Panchayat meetings. I learnt about health and education

programs, about widow pensions and other government Schemes. Most

of all it made me aware of the role I could play in the development of

my village. Although I have only studied up to Class III, I soon became

Vice President of the Village Development Committee (VDC). I also

mobilized 18 women in my Ward to set up a SHg. I was elected President

of the SHg.

My hard work paid off in 2005, when the President seat in Navai Panchayat

was declared reserved under the ST- women’s quota. My supporters mobilized

Kamala Devi Meena
Ward Member
Panchayat: Niwai
Block: Niwai
District: Tonk