The President filed a case against me, allegedly for a bribe of Rs. 50,000.
Hearing of this, the other Ward Members advised me to contest the charge.
Hence, I along with some of the other Ward Members went to the Police
Station and filed a case of harassment against the President. The matter came
to the attention of the DM who summoned to us his office. After discussing
the matter over with the two of us, the magistrate was convinced of my case
and assured me his full cooperation.
I have participated in different training programmes organized by The Hunger
Project -Abhiyan. I attended the WLW in 2007, where I learned about my
rights and the mechanisms to run the Panchayat.
After participating in different training programs, I have become more familiar
with the different aspects of Panchayati Raj. I have gained confidence and
become more aware of my rights. I am eager to attend such programmes.
On one hand, I feel strong; but on the other hand, I am little worried, as the
Ward Members in the Panchayat are not united. Some of them gang up with
the President to get their work done by any means. This has created a gap
among the Ward Members. I face non-cooperation from the President but I
do not give up easily. The Panchayat Secretary has been supportive and has
helped me facilitate the distribution of 300 ration cards, helped four people
avail Rs.5000 each under the MAY, helped ten people build houses under the
IAY, linked ten people to the OAP Scheme and campaigned for Pulse Polio.
I have applied for providing certificates to the handicapped to avail of travel
benefits and for the construction of drains & brick roads and installation of
solar lights.
I have a mission - to help people access all the Schemes available for them.
I want the marginalized communities to avail the maximum benefit from
government Schemes. I wish to reduce corruption in the bureaucracy. I have
put up with lots of hardships, but do not mind facing them again for bettering
the future of my people. Nevertheless, to do so, I need a helping hand, which
would provide me that instrument to fight against inequality.