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Gender | Dalit woman sarpanch emerges as poster girl for gender issues

Dalit woman sarpanch emerges as poster girl for gender issues

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published Published on Jan 5, 2012   modified Modified on May 28, 2014

-The Hindu

 

Has addressed issues of sex selection, infant-maternal mortality, child health

A Dalit woman sarpanch elected to an unreserved seat in Bikaner district of Rajasthan has successfully brought gender issues to the mainstream development discourse with the help of a Jaipur-based advocacy group. She has addressed the crucial subjects of sex selection, infant and maternal mortality and reproductive and child health by focusing on gender fostering.

Tara Devi, elected as Sarpanch of Samerdha Nosera village panchayat of Khajuwala block in Bikaner district in February 2010, is now a household name in the region thanks to her dedication to the cause of protecting the girl child. She has also provided inspiration to the marginalised Dalit communities.

Situated 113 km away from Bikaner, Samerdha Nosera is among 20 village panchayats in the district included by Sangam Matri Mission Sansthan in a project for “Strengthening Gender Response of Panchayats in Rajasthan” (SGRPR). The Society for Participatory Research in Asia (PRIA) has initiated the ambitious project in several districts of the State.

The gender-specific data collected under the SGRPR show that the major reasons for decline in child sex ratio are inadequate health facilities and negligence towards the female newborn. A survey in Samerdha Nosera revealed a ratio of 57:35 between home and institutional deliveries, indicating that women did not find the latter attractive.

The remote village does not have easy connectivity with the urban surroundings, while the lack of basic amenities earlier made the conditions worse in the region. PRIA State coordinator Krishan Tyagi said here that the advocacy group approached the village panchayat and the village health and sanitation committee (VHSC) to improve the situation and organised orientation and capacity building meetings for the panchayat members.

During the orientation meetings, Tara Devi emerged as a leader bringing about positive changes in her village during the past ten years when she was elected Sarpanch twice. By joining the SGRPR, she has got the crucial handholding support for her work.

Mr. Tyagi said the Sarpanch has successfully utilised her knowledge by promoting and fostering Gram Sabha on gender issues. She has also received support from the women's community-based organisations of the region and is mobilising the villagers with the support of these groups to participate in the Gram Sabha meetings.

Tara Devi's sustained efforts made an impact on the local community and facilitated the process to incorporate gender issues into the agenda of deliberations for planning. She also started regular inspections of the local health sub-centre — earlier devoid of proper infrastructure and medicines — and constructed its new building by involving the VHSC members.

In another significant step, Tara Devi improved the conditions at the anganwadi centre and made arrangements for water and power supply. Mr. Tyagi said the Sarpanch visits the centre regularly and checks the quality of food served to children. She has also taken steps to enhance the standard of girls' education in the village and improve arrangements for drinking water.

Tara Devi is also very active in organising VHSC meetings for development of the annual health plan and utilised the untied grant of Rs.10,000. She is working for betterment of Dalit and Muslim communities and constantly tackling new challenges.

Depicting her concern over immunisation and health check-ups of pregnant women, Tara Devi makes arrangements for delivery of women at the community health centre and has organised several blood donation camps. She has invested Rs.47.15 lakh in Indira Awas Yojana and spent Rs.3.85 crore on construction works in the village.

As a result of Tara Devi's efforts, the child sex ratio has significantly improved in Samerdha Nosera with a recent survey revealing the figures of 1,014 females against 982 males. The instances of maternal and infant mortality have come to an end and there is no case of girl child dropout from schools.

Mr. Tyagi affirmed that the emphasis of SGRPR on encouraging women Panchayati Raj representatives had led to the emergence of a popular leader like Tara Devi. “We need to trust the abilities of women belonging to marginalised communities and give them a little support and opportunity,” he said, adding that a big difference could be made in this manner to rural development.
 

The Hindu, 5 January, 2012, http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/article2775991.ece


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