Women Leaders in Village Panchayats

During my tenure, I did several things no other President had done earlier.

Earlier, the Aanganwadi was housed in a mud hut. We passed a proposal and

a centre made of cement was constructed. This is a first. I also met the MLA

and got the Middle School upgraded to Class VIII.

Before becoming the President, I had no knowledge about the Panchayat. Who

are its members? What do they do? However, after becoming the President, I

am proud to do my duties as a public representative. There are six villages in

my Panchayat. Before becoming the President, I had no idea where and when

gram Sabha meetings are held, so I had never ever attended any of them. Now

every one, the whole village is with me. I have a say.

I have never before deeply regretted the fact that I am illiterate as deeply as

I do since I have been elected President. I seek the help of my sister’s son in

reading and writing. Earlier, I hesitated in saying or doing something for the

simple reason that I was illiterate. I feared I might make a mistake. Sometimes

people too would warn me not to sign some fake paper. I would retort that the

person who makes me do something wrong would also be brought to book.

Now, I sign only after understanding any document fully. I seek no one’s help

now. I have learnt to sign my name after becoming the President.

Training workshops have helped immensely in ridding me of the hesitation

born out of my illiteracy. I went to Barmer for a meeting for the first time.

Then I went to Jaipur as well. It was there that I came to know I had the

power to get cement Aanganwadi center built; that I could meet the collector

and the BDO; I could speak my mind even though I am illiterate. Using this

information, I approached the Collector one day. There were only 4 teachers

in the village school, I told him, while the number of students was high. I felt

more teachers were required. I went to the collector with 20 people including

3 women Ward Members. We made our demand together. The work was done

in one go! Two new teachers have now joined.

Earlier, I would go out of the village only to attend a marriage ceremony,

now I go out for getting Panchayat work done. I have a long list of the tasks

Radha Devi
President
Panchayat: Nand
Block: Barmer
District Barmer