GAMUT OF EMPOWERMENT

‘Capacity Building of Elected Women representatives

And Functionaries of Panchayati raj institutions’

Implemented in Ghazipur District of Uttar Pradesh

Keeping in view the barriers and obstacles posed towards women leadership in panchayats a massive project was launched by Sahbhagi Shikshan Kendra, Lucknow along with its partner organization to ‘Capacity Building of Elected Women representatives of Panchayat’ in collaboration with UNDP and Ministry of Panchayati raj. The project is focused in 8 blocks of Ghazipur district of eastern U.P.

The project design is basically focused around orientation and capacity building of women elected representatives of panchayats. In the program approach of capacity building of women elected representatives is being taken up as an important and strong pillar so as to enable women elected representatives to discharge their roles and responsibilities effectively and efficiently so that they can influence decision making process in their respective panchayats and are able to raise their voice for entitlements.

Keeping in view objectives of project program implementation plan for capacity building of women elected representatives were taken up in 2 phases. First Phase, which is voter awareness campaign, launched before panchayat elections and second phase of program launched after panchayat election, which was nomenclature as Panchayati Raj Jagrukta Abhiyan – PraJA. 

The major focus of voter’s awareness campaign was to ensure active participation of women in panchayat elections both as voters as well as candidates so that active and competent women elected representatives are able to come up as leaders in panchayat. The objectives under the campaign was providing active and handholding support to aspiring women candidates, sensitizing male relatives of women elected representatives as well as sensitizing other stakeholders particularly government officers so that they can render their support in election of active and competent women elected representatives. Through this campaign initiatives were taken towards sensitizing women as voter’s as well as candidate so that their increased and effective participation can be ensured. At field level varied activities were conducted so as to achieve desired results perceived through voter’s awareness campaign which include information dissemination through panchayat raths, nomination help camps, voter- candidate dialogue, awareness meetings, workshops and trainings. The programs organized mainly targeted towards active participation of aspiring women candidates.

The effort made by local voluntary organizations towards ensuring women participation in panchayat elections in large number was overwhelming and awesome.

As a result of voter’s awareness program more than 60% of women came up as new leaders in panchayat. The role played by women as SHG members and members of mahila mandals and presence of active women citizen leaders played a pivotal role in sharpening and making women aware about their political rights and play an active and efficient role as panchayat leaders. After successful completion of voter’s awareness campaign a confidence building program was organized for newly elected women leaders so as to make them realize the importance of office to which they have been elected as well as to develop within them the sense of consciousness and responsibility not only being women leader but being a panchayat leader. The occasion provided a forum during which they can once again remember the words of promise they have made to community during campaigning.

Henceforth with successful completion of voter’s awareness campaign and overwhelming results the second phase of the program began. As the major objective of the program is capacity building of elected women representatives as a result of which they are able to influence process of local self- governance. Thus keeping in mind the objective of program as well as giving emphasis on special learning needs of elected women representatives’ strategy of planned intervention towards capacity building was prepared.  

The strategy adopted for capacity building of elected women representatives is build up on four pillars that are Sensitization/ awareness building, structured residential trainings, interface and handholding.  Apart from that exposure visits and sammelans were also organized for representatives so that they are able to discharge their roles and responsibilities effectively. So as to provide technical support to women elected representatives in their course of work interface meetings and workshops were organized with related block and district officials.

The initiative taken towards capacity building of women elected representatives who have for the first time taken up office as panchayat leaders was not only centered around enhancing their awareness and knowledge level but special emphasis was made towards overall personality development of women elected representatives.

In the course of action one day orientation trainings were organized which were merely focused towards introducing the very subject of local self- governance. The orientation training was followed with structured residential training. The residential trainings provided an opportunity to these women to come out of their gestation period. Women’s who have never been out of their periphery were out of their homes for 3 days and 2 nights. After initial hesitation these trainings provided these women an opportunity to express their views and concerns which they have never dared share within their household. They developed a feeling of togetherness when they saw there are other women who are going thorough same process and have same concerns. The repeated rounds of training these women elected representatives went through a phase of metamorphosis and came out with new vigor and dynamism.

The change that came in these women not only in their thoughts and actions but it has very much become part of their personality. The change was very much obvious and was also experienced by their family members, relatives and neighbors. The women elected representatives had immense energy and were eager to do something, take initiatives because they were feeling empowered within themselves as they had the power of knowledge above all they were confident that being elected women representatives what are their responsibilities and how through effective discharge of their duties they can pave they way for development of their village. 

The feeling of togetherness and the close bonding developed amongst women elected representatives during residential trainings laid the foundation stone of network of women elected representatives. The network has women pradhan and panchayat members as the member.

The network of women elected representatives was facilitated with the objective of initiating dialogue between women elected representatives so that they can act as pressure group and can pave way for formulation of strategies and programs which have more onuses towards women development. As well as they are able to raise women issues at various forums through their network. The network, which started at very smaller pace with passage of time, has grown more prominent and has very extensive reach. In intervened blocks network of elected women representatives is in a very strong and confident position. Now the overall membership of network has reached to landmark figures, which are now approximately around 400 women elected representatives.

Today these women elected representatives as a collective strength are taking strong initiatives towards various social and women related issues particularly alcoholism, violence against women etc at block level.

The efficient, strong and vibrant network at block level paved way for formation of district level network of women elected representatives. District level network is the assimilated form of block level network and has a composite membership of 40 women elected representatives. The district level network is working on more holistic issues such as mid-day meal, primary education, Ration card, and non- availability of panchayat secretaries.

So as to facilitate effective functioning of field level network at village level social infrastructures were created which included Panchayat Information Centers and Citizen Leaders.

Panchayat Information Center is a place, which is enrich with the collection of information on various social issues as well as updated information on ongoing government schemes.

The activities at panchayat information centre are not merely reduced to information dissemination but to a great extent it works as a centre, which is hub of activities. Thus amongst various activities one of the major activity includes functional literacy for women elected representatives so that they have at least understanding of the hindi alphabets and are able to identify themselves which enables women elected representatives to write their names as well as read important messages regarding government programs schemes published in newspaper or in the IEC material being disseminated to them. The arrangement for running these classes are being done by involving adolescent girls of the village who due to some or the other circumstances have left schools. Apart from this at some information centers stitching classes for adolescent girls are also functional where as at some panchayat information centers effective and function balwaries can be observed.

Managers of panchayat information centers have come up as an extended hand of women elected representatives as they along with village pradhan and panchayat members extend their support in discussions with gram sabha members on various local issues and concerns.

Thus as a result of active presence of panchayat information center in village vicinity has resulted in establishing it image as village common place which is actively visited by members of community of all caste, class and segment. The panchayat information centre provides a forum where members of gram sabha, village pradhan and members of panchayat all of them come together share their views and discuss on various important issues coming up in panchayat.

With the view to provide impetus to women leadership in the intervened area identification of citizen leaders is being done. In form of citizen leaders active women members from community are identified who have ability to lead their village. Being citizen leaders these women are taking various important responsibilities and initiatives on their own. To mention few it includes facilitating process of formation of community based organizations as well as organizing and strengthening process of community based monitoring. Through this program it has been observed that these citizen leaders are working hand in hand with women elected representatives of their panchayats and are bringing remarkable change in the political and social situation of their village as well as community. To support the situation there are numerous successful examples like organizing open meetings of gram sabha, in which citizen leaders have played an active role in information dissemination and environment building.

With an objective of building gender friendly atmosphere for women elected representatives so that they are able to work efficiently and exercise their power effectively. Keep this in view a strategy was developed to involve and build strong relationship with government officials, media, and academia and male relatives of women elected representatives. Regular orientation programs were organized for them so that they are able to provide helping hands to women elected representatives in fulfilling their responsibility. The intensive relationship build up with the stakeholders facilitated the process of building up of healthy work environment and are able to fulfill their roles and responsibility effectively.

After 2 years of intensive effort and regular orientation / residential trainings women elected representatives have come up forcefully and strongly. They are moving ahead towards fulfilling their responsibility and in these endeavor women elected representatives are deriving strength from the network, which is having its strong presence both at block as well as district level. Today these women elected representatives have immense confidence and are full of energy; they are giving strong voice to their thoughts. They are moving ahead on road of struggle and success with full confidence and zeal.

After coming up in flying colors and registering their victory in panchayat elections these women representatives have not seen backward. They have handled their responsibilities well although lots of speculations were made underestimating their capabilities and skills. Efforts were made towards limiting the growth of women elected representatives by labeling them as dummy candidate, numerous hurdles were erected in their path but women representatives were too courageous to move ahead by crossing these hurdles. These women representatives are sufficient enough to tackle any sort of injustice collectively and are able to discharge their new responsibilities systematically and effectively.

Today it would not be an exaggeration to say that these women representatives are like new bird that has developed wings and is eager to soar high in sky and is trying hard to reach beyond horizon.

Team