The overall situation of women in rural India is quite pitiful and before the last decade the role of women in the area of rural development, has been very negligible. Even their participation in Panchayati system was near to nil. But today, women’s position is much more different. Due to empowerment of women through reservation in three-stage democracy, reflects slight change in their situation. They are taking stapes towards their involvement in every stage of rural development. Although, it is in infant position but the symptoms shows the cherry blossom of the future.

Democracy changes the thinking of the rural women, as women had the sole role in liquor banning campaign in the states of Manipur, Andhra Pradesh & Haryana. In Manipur, rural women not only campaigned for liquor banning, but also extruded the intoxicated men from the society. They thrashed those drunken; even some times to their family members too. It is Amirdas village in Lohak block of Bhiwani district in Haryana, where villagers decided that in their village only women candidate participate in the Panchayat election. On this, elderly people of the village said that by giving hundred percent governing authorities to the women, we wanted to show the leaders of the country that only dialogues are not enough to change the destiny of the women. Other than Haryana, hundred percent women are also elected in some parts of Uttar Pradesh, Uttaranchal and Himichal Pradesh. Here women fought against the social corruption and faults and they received notable success which became imitable example to follow on. Kesarabai- sarpanch of a village, educated only up to 3rd standard, she raised her voice against the hooligans of the village. Those people then started disturbing her husband and family members. But kesarabai rather than being confused, reported to the police. As a result, a member of hooligan’s family was arrested and Kasarabai got the support of the people in the village. Bhawaribai was Panchayat head of a village Lakhniwal in Chattisgarh state. Her action against the social corruption and hooligans was vanished by the influential people, but her fought against these, set a new example for the rest women of the village.

On the other hand Kesarbai, sarpanch of Sonasawari village in Itarsi took harsh steps against those dissolute fellows and showed them the door of jail. In a village Panchayat in Ujjain a contemporary head of village oppressed Suganabai, a resident of the village and atrociously murdered three son of her. But she did not give up. Moving ahead, she fought against the headman in the Panchayat election and come out victorious with big margin. Even today she bought a tractor and takes care of her agricultural field by her own. One more example of fearlessness set by a tribal sarpanch  Geeta Bai in Khargone district of Madhya Pradesh. No confidence motion brought against her was declares illegitimate by the high court. Court said that no confidence proposal could only be passed when two-third members support it. That win was the result of stannous fight on her part.

Social Science Institute, New Delhi surveyed three Panchayats and their representatives of the Madhya Pradesh. Shri P. Nath in his report he briefed about three women sarpanchs. The first one was sarpanch Gudiya Bai of Pipra village. On the 50th year of independence on 15th August Gudiya Bai hosted the national try colour, but the villagers did not like this and threshed her for this act. She fought for this and said that this is her duty and she completes it successfully. Very next day all the events were appeared in newspapers and Chief Minister announces that now she will not only hosted her village flag but, she will also hosted the district headquarter flag, and she maintained the dignity by doing the same in next year.

Another case study in Haryana revealed that due to reservations of women in Panchayat, a clear new era of revaluation on women empowerment has started. Maximum elected women in Panchayats were illiterate but within few years, they started demanding education for their daughters.

Following the same track, Smt. Koyaledevi, sarpanch of Nimmuchana village of Alwar district of Rajasthan, preceded notice to her own father-in-law and husband because they swallowed Panchayat land illegally. In other incidence, a women sarpanch in Rabri block, pools down the shutters of liquor shop in the village. In Batta-Patti village the women sarpanch solved the problem of water with priority. Sarpanch Sarjubai in Raigarh district took major stapes to eliminate child marriage and to a sufficient extent she got reward of it. Even in some states elected women exhibited demonstration against substandard salary system and shortage of drinking water. But Akata Jayaswal, sarpanch of Amlaha village of Sehore district, draws a new curve of culture and gave new dimension to women in rural area. She already grasped the opportunity of establishing herself as the first hi-tech sarpanch of a Panchayat in the country. Social Science Institute of New Delhi felicitated her as the first hi-tech Sarpanch and also earmarked her as a distinguished lady. Due to her hard work, today her Panchayat is the first computerized Panchayat of the country. United efforts of Radhabai consecutive two time elected sarpanch of Jammunia Tank village, there was a significant increase in participation of women in Gramsabha meetings and that resulted in strengthening the village voices for drinking water, health and education issues. These efforts ultimately helps Jammunia Tank village to be designated as an ideal prototype village. Such achievements have already started showing the glimpses of social transformation of the village.

Anyhow, today, those experts are also forced to reconsider their opinion and consent that women participation in Panchayati Raj is not trustworthy. Even now-a-days strong belief has sprouted that women are more capable of carrying out influential role than men in Panchayat system. This is just an beginning of the women empowerment era. Hopefully, their efforts, even in the early initiation stage will certainly be enough to inscribe a new dialect of future rural political scenario of the country.

Lokendra Singh Kot