The dirt track running through the Beej neighbourhood across from the Forest Range office in Baijagwada Village Panchayat was a major source of exasperation for locals. Full of potholes, turning into mud when it rained, it was a hazard for all, particularly school-going children and women pedestrians. Baijagwada village falls under the Satvas work location of Kantaphod Pragati Samiti, where the Health and Nutrition Programme coordinates the monthly Hissedari Sabha meetings.[1] When the street’s dilapidated condition came up for discussion at one such meeting, the women members appealed to Mamta Deora, who was conducting the session, for help. Mamta explained that the Village Panchayat was responsible for road construction, and if they wanted their street repaired, they would have to give a written petition to the Sarpanch.

Dilapidated Unpaved Road

Over the last two years, being part of meetings and discussions in the Hissedari Sabha had given the women the confidence to take their issues to the Gram Sabha or Village Council. They had submitted petitions relating to pensions, eligibility certificates, the construction of drains, and so on – and managed to get a range of problems resolved. Now, they agreed to present their demand for a proper, paved road at the Gram Sabha. A petition was drafted with Mamta Deora’s help, on which the women all put their signatures or, in most instances, thumbprints, before submitting it to the[1] Yet days went by and nothing was done, with the Sarpanch ignoring their petition and opinions.

Women presenting application in Panchayat

At the Hissedari Sabha, the women discussed the problem again, and unanimously resolved to visit the Panchayat office to take up the issue directly with the Sarpanch and Secretary. Representatives from their group kept going to the Panchayat office, and after several such follow-ups, some three months after the petition was given, the Panchayat had paving stones delivered to the site – after which work stalled once again. The women discussed this in the Hissedari Sabha and decided on a second petition, which Mamta helped them draft and which they submitted at the Gram Sabha held in January this year.

Laying the road

This time around the women told the Gram Sabha quite clearly, “If our road is still not constructed, we shall take the matter to the Janpad (District-level) Panchayat.” Under pressure, the Sarpanch and Secretary assured the women that the road work would be initiated without delay. When they failed to keep their word, the women kept following up with the Panchayat office. Hissedari Sabha members, accompanied by other women from the area, had to go some three times to speak with the Sarpanch before work on the Beej neighbourhood street was begun at last, in June 2024. Sustained persuasion by the Hissedari Sabha women members had eventually won the day. The construction work was completed in a month, and the people using the road were able to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

Cement Road

Through discussions about their problems at regularly held Hissedari Sabha meetings, women have been figuring out the strategies and methods needed to solve varied problems. Their beginning to participate in the Gram Sabha is of particular significance, and constitutes a success story. After all, the Gram Sabha is the basis of rural self-governance and development, and it is here that local people may exercise their right to be part of discussions on matters of local administration. All Panchayat decisions are taken by the Gram Sabha, and all developmental work is carried out at its direction and under its supervision. Thus, it is only by having a say in the Gram Sabha that a person may play a role in rural development, and in bringing about change.

[1] meetings organised by members of the Self Help Groups (SHGs) to discuss various issues of concern for their villages – such as access to drinking water, PDS shops, toilets, pension schemes, PM Awas Yojana, etc.

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Writing: Karan Bachaniya

Source: Pavan Nayak

Photography: Pavan Nayak

Translation (Hindi to English): Smriti Nevatia

Guidance: Pinky Brahma Choudhary

Page Layout: Roshani Chouhan