Women in the Political Arena

Holding their ground firmly, despite political pressure to withdraw from the political arena, the women of Samnapur block, Dindori district, set an example by fielding, supporting and canvassing for their representative in the local elections because they know that having a position in the government will help them realize their dreams for a better tomorrow

W ith the panchayat elections of 2015 in view, villages are alive with speeches and promises of a ‘better tomorrow’ and ‘a happily ever after’ ending. From earlier experience, the villagers know that the sincerity of these promises vanishes just like the trail of dust that rises and settles after the candidates have sped past their narrow village lanes. Dropti, a member of the Rani Durgawati Tejaswini Mahila Sangh (RDTMS) says, “The gap between how policies are made and the manner in which information regarding these is disseminated to the common person is appalling.”

Playing an important and active role in the Federation these past few years has given her the opportunity to engage with government officials on various occasions; in interactions with them, her experience has been varied. She realizes that there is so much information available in the block as well as the district that is meant for the ordinary villager but is not being passed on to them. New schemes are issued regularly by the government; however, they rarely reach the people they are meant for.

Dropti understands that these schemes do not reach the people because there are no proper channels for dissemination of this information and that there are no ‘linkages’ that allow access to these channels. This problem exists at all levels—from the district to the block, the block to the panchayat, the panchayat to the gram sabha, and from the gram sabha to the citizens.