Deal with elected members instead of proxies, officials told

part 5

Geetanjali Gayatri

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, May 5

To involve elected women representatives of panchayats in the process of decision-making, the Haryana Panchayat and Development Department is organising a five-day training programme for them in batches while field officers have especially been asked to deal with the newly elected representatives instead of their “proxies”.

Aware that women representatives shy away from discharging their duties, Additional Chief Secretary, Development and Panchayats Department, said that a special training programme aimed at educating them about their duties was underway.

“Elected representatives of the panchayats are undergoing this five-day training programme in batches where they are expected to stay in the hostel and family members are not allowed to accompany them. We have been very particular about allowing only the representatives to attend the programme that educates them on how to proceed with work since most of them are first-timers,” she said.

Also, this programme is being jointly organised for all representatives together instead of holding it separately for men and women. Officials maintain that this interaction, too, has helped the participants develop confidence and move around freely in groups.

Sources said that while the training of all representatives would be completed by August, the department would regularly undertake more such programmes involving their working in the panchayts.

Besides this, sources maintained that the field staff had been conveyed that “proxy” representatives should be discouraged in government dealings and the presence of elected members should be insisted upon.

“The idea essentially is that the women representatives, who are reduced to signing machines by men who generally take over responsibility after elections, get a chance to become familiar with government working. If officials insist on dealing with the elected representatives instead of the ‘proxies’, these women will be forced to come out of their homes. This will gradually empower them while instilling confidence that they, too, can discharge their duties,” sources maintained.

Despite a record number of educated women making it to the panchayats as elected representatives in the elections held earlier this year, most of them continue to stay away the responsibility their posts come with even as the men take over the reins. The government, while introduced the minimum educational qualifications for candidates, said that it would go a long way in bringing about improved working and empowering women.