of training, multiple trips to Jaipur, and other parts of the country before I
gathered the courage to respond to these taunts. I still have not removed my
veil entirely especially when village elders are around but it has been raised.
In the last year, I have taken charge of my Panchayat. My main tasks include
submitting forms for widow pensions, handicapped pensions, requisitions for
hand pumps, requisitions for inclusion on the BPL Lists to the Panchayat
Secretary. I am proudest of the fact that I identified and allocated land for
building a girl’s school in the village. I now am such an active President that I
have all the information related to my Panchayat’s budgets and expenditures
ready on my fingertips!
For example on March 5, 2008, my gram Panchayat Bhavan was buzzing with
activity. The reason: the bi-monthly gram Panchayat meeting had brought all
of Kathkhavdaon’s 17 Ward Members together for the day. On the agenda
was a discussion on what process should be followed in order to photograph
the people listed for employment under the National Rural Employment
guarantee Scheme; the allocation of land for a children’s playground; and the
submission of forms for access to widow pension schemes and BPL lists. I was
chairing the meeting as Kathkhavdaon’s President. My veil was partially lifted;
I sat next to the Panchayat secretary interrupting him on many occasions and
confidently presenting my views to the Panchayat. In one instance, I protested
loudly against a decision the male Ward Members were about to take on the
process of taking photographs for the NREgS. Sitting on my right were my
fellow, female Ward Members. The women Members huddled together to
discuss the options and presented their opinions to me, which I then passed
on to my Panchayat Secretary and other male Members. My transformation is
so complete that I now have taken on the role of mediating between the men
and women members of my Panchayat.
Despite this transition, my task remains a difficult one. My new found
confidence has certainly enabled me to take charge of my Panchayat’s day-to-
day affairs but it has not helped break traditional patriarchal structures that
severely constrain my ability to function effectively. For me, it is all about