Women Leaders in Village Panchayats

I am 40 years old and have been educated till Class VII. I was elected

in August 2005. My husband is a government employee. My father-in-law

was the Police Patil for the village, but he resigned from his job so that he

had time to look after his agricultural activities. I have two children. My

son is pursuing his Diploma in Electronics and my younger daughter is in

Class xII.

I was not involved politics before I became President. I was an ordinary

homemaker, and even after being elected as President, I continue to perform

all household responsibilities. I cook food for my family, wash clothes, clean

utensils, and work hard at the paddy fields, doing all the things that I used

to do the years before. Kolakewadi is a big Panchayat and we have many

responsibilities, so the additional responsibility is tough on me, but I think we

are doing well.

Contesting elections was not a part of any political aspiration, but it was

proposed by my hamlet that I should go for it. Due to my family’s backing, I

made up my mind to take active part in the elections. I was elected among the

new gram Panchayat (gP) body of 11 members. I had no clue that I would

be elected as the President by the new body, as there was no reservation for the

post of President. It was an open post and anyone could have been President,

but I was suggested for the post. When my name was suggested, another group

nominated another woman, but I finally managed to secure huge support, win

the election, and accept responsibilities of the President. I was very proud at

that moment. I was the first member in my family to enter the gP, as well as

the first lady in my village to become the President.

After I was appointed as the President, I received a congratulatory letter from

Parivartan, and was invited to a training conducted by THP-Parivartan. I

attended the first training and decided to attend it regularly, since the first one

helped me understand the terms that I had always wanted to learn.

After realising the importance of Mahila gram Sabhas in the training, I also

organised the same trainings in my village. This was the first time that a

woman led and attended. gram Sabha took place in my village. I met women

Sarita Shivaji Nigade
President
Panchayat: Kolakewadi
Block: Chiplun
District: Ratnagiri