New Delhi, Mar 20: If there is any remarkable phenomenon happening in distant villages of the country, it is women's rise to empowerment. More than one million young and middle-aged women are participating in governance providing examples of clean and efficient administration.
In a situation where the rate of development is lower
than that of urban centres, women in villages across the
country are found to be changing the rules in the traditional
male dominated society.
"People in western countries are saying that there is a
revolution taking place in rural India with over one million
women participating in functioning of local bodies and
panchayats. No where else in the world such mass participation
of women in running administration can be seen," says Rita
Sarin, country director, the hunger project, an international
project working to end hunger and poverty across the globe.
Take the case of Muni Devi Tomar, an upper caste sarpanch
from Murena district in Madhya Pradesh. Her decision to
contest the panchayat election was supported by her husband
and other members of her ward. She has already carried out
many development works such as construction of a new primary
school and a road and installation of hand pumps.
The story of Shanti Lata Nair is similar, a panchayat
sarpanch from Angul district in Orissa. Despite resistance
from other members of her village, Shanti continues to pursue
developmental plans vigorously.
Bureau Report
