Aiyar calls for empowering women panchayat representatives

Patiala, July 17 (UNI) Union Panchayati Raj Minister Mani Shankar Aiyar today stressed the need to empower women in panchayats, saying they remained deprived of their rights at some places in spite of reservation.

Inaugurating a two-day conference on Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan here, he, however, expressed satisfaction over 42 per cent representation of women in Panchayats in the country and said that in many states elected women representatives in villages were enlightened and working freely.

He said ''Bharat Nirman'' was possible mainly through Panchayati Raj institutions and without the contribution of women representatives in Panchayats the objective of nation building is incomplete.

Throwing light on the objective of Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan, Mr Aiyar said that it is an effort to promote the campaign of National Commission for Women, 'Chalo Gaon Ki Ore', as for the success of other important missions rural development is a must. For this, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has joined hands with state Governments to run such campaigns in every state, he added.

He expressed firm belief that women panches/sarpanches participating in the conference would reach some logical conclusion on the draft of demand charter and the recommendations would later be included in Government's policy on panchayats.

The Minister, appreciating Punjab Government's efforts for improvement of Panchayati Raj Institutions during the last six months, said he wished to see the state at number one status in the country.

Speaking on the need for strengthening rural economy, he said that Rural Development Ministry is planning to open Rural Business Hubs (RBH) in villages, linking women self-help groups through panchayats so that these self-help groups could get good earnings through their rural enterprises.

There is a plan to set up 9 state level RBH Councils and Punjab has already set up State Rural Business Council, he informed.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Girija Vyas, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, said that the objective of this campaign, which is a sequel to 'Chalo Gaon Ki Ore' is to empower and enlighten the women panchayat representatives about their rights and capability as sensitization of women is a must for development.

She said that if women representatives are empowered they could play a great role in fighting against injustice with women like female foeticide, dowry deaths, harassment of women, violence against women etc.

Speaking on the Gender discrimination, she called upon the women panches/sarpenches to work fearlessly without any pressure from their male counterparts. Dr Vyas also stressed upon introducing the subject of 'Gender Education' in the curriculum of schools and colleges.

Earlier Mrs Parneet Kaur, MP, in her welcome address asked the women panchayat representatives to work independently and face any kind of challenge.

Punjab Panchayati Raj Minister Lal Singh elaborated the Punjab Governments programmes in respect of PRIs and said the State government has planned to give training to all the women panches/sarpanches upto December 31, 2006.

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