“Ab mai nahi darti kisi se, agar meri baat sahi hai to mai kisi se bhi kah sakti hu, koi kya kar lega” (Now I am not afraid of anyone. I know if I am right no one can do anything wrong to me and I can raise my words in front of anyone) says Amaso bai an illiterate, tribal woman when asked how she feels interacting with higher authorities/officers. Have we ever imagined such a bold statement from an illiterate and tribal woman? Obviously No! But it is true. And this is possible because of the enforcement of Panchayati Raj System with 33 per cent reservation to women including SC and ST.
When Panchayati Raj System with women reservation came into existence the patriarchal society was finding it difficult to adjust to the reality of women occupying positions of power and responsibility. But as there was no option except nominating a woman candidate the male headed society have to select a woman as their representatives. In the initial period of women reservations in panchayat her role was assumed to be merely of a rubber stamp and their husbands used to exercise the real control without giving any space to women. Furthermore, the elected women leaders, like all rural Indian women, have to face grave discrimination on the basis of caste and gender. These women representatives also have to bear the over burden of exertion because of household chores as well as that of panchayats. Additionally, many elected women panchayat members are threatened with or endure violence--they are beaten, raped and murdered. Women risk their lives to become panchayat leaders
In our male dominated society it is easy to hear jokes about the subservient role of several elected women, and some fierce arguments based on this that reservation for women have failed. But in spite of all the odds, revolutionary changes have been observed in the past 15 years. The elected women--now role models to the other women in their communities--are altering the development agenda to address issues critical to village life. They are dealing with the affairs where earlier they could not even dream of intervening. It is clear that women's leadership in panchayats is transforming India.

Amaso bai, an illiterare tribal (Gond) woman, is the sarpanch of Tinsai Panchayat of Harrai block of Chhindwara district. She is the first in her family to hold a public representative’s post. Amaso bai contested the election only because her husband and well wishers promoted her for the same. But now she is known as a good leader in her panchayat and the villagers says that Amaso has done the tasks which even male sarpanch have not done. Now Amaso is confident and all set to contest for sarpanch seat next time on her own. Because of the efforts of Amaso bai now there is not a single day when children of the village are not getting food in school (primary school) or Anganwadi center. To enhance the education level of the Panchayat, Amaso took the initiative to construct middle school edifice and she succeded. The most appealing thing about Amaso was her step to motivate the youth and women of Panchayat to stop the vending and public consumption of liquor. And if anybody is found involved in selling or consuming liquor gram sabha imposes fine on them.

Bhumka pacnhcyat, about 4-5 km from Tinsai Panchayat, is also having a woman leader. Sahwati bai Taram (Gond) is the sarpanch of this panchayat. Sahwati took over the sarpanch’s seat after her husband Anshlal Taram, who has been the sarpanch of the panchayat for the past five years. In 2004, when the sarpanch seat of the panchayat got reserved for tribal woman then Sahwati’s husband promoted her to contest for the post. According to Sahwati being illiterate was the biggest hurdle she has to face during her Sarpanchi. She said, “I learned and practiced for two days to write my name and on the day when I was filling form I kept a rough paper by my side and first write my name on the rough paper then on the nomination form.”

When asked about the most memorable day of her life as a Sarpanch, Sahwati told that the day when she hoisted the Flag for the first time and then gave a speech on mike on 26th January was the most memorable day of her life. When we asked that what is the work that she liked most Sahwati bai said that though she is satisfied with all her works but she likes most that because of her efforts the villages are having well constructed roads, she promoted the panchayat to construct water tanks for cattle and also she promoted for the construction of biogas plants as a result 12 biogas plants are under construction in her panchayat. Further, she added that she wants an Anganwadi bhawan and a pond to be constructed in her Panchayat period. The villagers are also happy with Sahwati’s leadership, they said that due to Sahwati the village is having good roads, good water facilities and the important thing is that now women are also actively participating as well as getting heard in the panchayat meetings.

Like Amaso and Sahwati there are a number of women sarpanch and panch across the villages of India who in spite of being illiterate and from a tribal background have done such tasks in their panchayats which the male leaders have failed to do. These illiterate tribal women have proved that that whatever the circumstances are, if the women are given chance and support, they can prove themselves in any responsibility. Whether it is the role of a homemaker, a mother or a leader of the village a woman can stand in all the roles as a milestone.

If the women were not given the reservation, they would not have found the chance to contest and win the election and prove their caliber as an administrative leader. Now the reservation limit has been increased to 50% in Madhya Pradesh. This step is further going to strengthen the women who constitute 50 % of the population of the State.

Smriti