Women Leaders in Village Panchayats

I was on the Board of Directors in a Cooperative Society before I stood

for election. I am a first time contestant and the seat I contested from was

reserved for women. There were four contestants for this seat and out of 3,300

I obtained 2,500 votes. I am educated up to Class xI and decided to stand

for elections because I wanted to improve the health and sanitation of the

people and Panchayat area, try to solve the drinking water problem and ensure

that community had electrified houses, and the street lights in village were

functional and well maintained.

I would like to enumerate my achievements in the past one and a half years in

office as president of the Panchayat.

The Panchayat has a population of 12,000 with a male population of 7,000

and female population of 5,000. The break up of the Panchayat is: 10,000

OBCs, 1,000 SCs and another 1,000 ST. I give preference to the SC and

ST population because the OBC community is not economically backward.

I give importance to education and educational institutes in my Panchayat.

Moreover, my preference is for health and women’s development.

I have concentrated on the infrastructure development of educational

institutions because I feel that the children in a hilly region should learn

in a safe and enriching environment. With that aim in mind, I facilitated

the allotment of funds for the following infrastructural development: Rs

1,00,000 for the playground in the government High School, Rs.2,00,000

for building a retaining wall in the government Primary School; Rs.7,00,000

for providing drinking water to the government High School, Rs 2,50,000

for the laying of a volley ball court in the government Middle school; and roof

repair of 2 middle schools for Rs. 2 Lakhs. The provision of games and sports

materials cost Rs. 25,000 and the establishment of a Community Library cost

Rs.3,00,000. The Panchayat also provides educational assistance to 100 poor

children every year.

As a woman, I attach importance to the health and dignity of women and the

girl child and believe if their health is looked after the community’s health

B. Rani Devaraj
President
Panchayat: Jakkanarai
Block: Kotagiri
District: The Nilgiris