SUCCESS STORIES

Women sarpanch fighting against false allegation through the Network

The dalit woman Sarpanch of Mahuvariya Panchayat was constantly harassed by the members of the upper caste,who were against her and they did not want her to do any work. Whenever she wanted to do good work they would start lodging complains against her at the Janpad and district level. Due to this, the district official issued a letter and asked the Sarpanch to stop all the developmental activities in the Panchayat.

The woman Sarpanch met with the officials of the network and informed them of the truth. Officials of the network raised this issue before the CEO Panchayat at the district level and requested him to set up an enquiry against all the complaints lodged against the Sarpanch. They also requested the CEO that a person from network must also be nominated in the Inquiry Committee.

In the inquiry it was found that all the allegations made against the Sarpanch were incorrect.Following which, the district administration withdrew her earlier order and the Sarpanch started the developmental activities in the Panchayat.

Saroj bai raised her voice in the Gram Sabha meeting

Saroj Bai was elected as Sarpanch of Dhamsa village of Bhind district. She belonged to the Scheduled Caste community whereas upper caste people dominate the village. When Saroj Bai got elected, the people of the affluent class got surprised. Due to Prevailing system of 'Parda' Saroj Bai was not allowed to attend the Panchayat. Only her husband along with some male members of the family were allowed to participate.

In the meantime some volunteers of the BRASS visited Dhamsa village and they heard about this problem. They consulted Saroj Bai and intervened in the matter and with the help of some other women of the village and succeeded in raising this issue in the Panchayat. The Panchayat observed that since Saroj bai was illiterate therefore she would not be able to perform her duties. However, some people opposed this observation and requested to the Secretary that Saroj bai should be asked to head the meetings of the Panchayats. In the meantime Saroj Bai was also trying to influence her family members to give her the permission to at least attend the Panchayat.

The initiatives taken by Saroj Bai became a reality when her husband finally agreed to take her in to Panchayat. Initially, her husband would preside over the meetings. However, due to the reintervention of BRASS, Saroj Bai succeeded in her battle and is now performing her duties in a more concrete manner.

Harijan dominated village constructs its own road (SRTT)

Mahuvariya Panchayat has a dalit woman Sarpanch

Value Of Information In Gram Swaraj

Community and Technology (SRTT)

Addressing Water and Sanitation through Governance Structures