Undeterred by threats and encouraged by the support from everyone including
the federation, I feel my most courageous move came at the August 15 gram
Sabha when the President arrived accompanied by her sons but not her
husband. Seizing the moment, I gave my President a talking too. I asked her
why she did not hold Panchayat meetings in front of the entire gram Sabha.
I also asked her why she allowed her husband to take over the Panchayat and
why she did not speak up. The President’s sons tried to stand up for their
mother but I stood up to them as well.
The matter was resolved, in September 2007, when a new BDO was appointed
to Chaksu Block. On discovering the problems in Rupadikala Panchayat, he
immediately intervened and pressured the President (and her husband) into
holding regular Panchayat meetings.
I get the courage to stand up to my President, her husband, and the other Ward
Members at the gram Sabha because of my husband’s encouragement. When
I was elected Ward Member, my husband told me I must not hesitate to speak
in the Panchayat meetings. He encouraged me to go to meetings and did not
try to stop me even after receiving threats to my life. Family support makes all
the difference between a capable EWR and a weak one. My President does not
speak in meetings because her husband does not let her speak... in fact after
all the drama, she has now entirely stopped coming to meetings.