Male kin representing women members of PRIs illegal: SDM

Taking a strong view of the women office-bearers of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) being represented by their husbands, fathers-in-law and other male members of their families, Meham Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Mukund Tanwar has asked the women office-bearers to personally represent their positions.

In an official statement, the SDM has categorically stated that the practice of women members and heads of PRIs being represented by the male members of their families was illegal and inappropriate.

"It is commonly seen that the women chairpersons and members of municipal committees, women panches and sarpanches of village panchayats and women chairpersons and members of panchayat samitis, block samitis and zila parishad etc are represented by their husbands or other male members of their families, which is inappropriate and unlawful.

“The women representatives elected by the residents should represent their positions themselves and get the concerns of their electors addressed by personally visiting government offices," the SDM maintained.

After the instructions issued by the SDM, the secretary of the Meham Municipal Committee has also issued a communique, stating that the women representatives should be personally present at government offices to get the concerns of their electors addressed.

Sources maintained that during the visits to different villages to review arrangements for drainage of accumulated rainwater, the administrative officials found that the women sarpanches, panches and PRI members were represented by their husbands or fathers-in-law in the field.

"The women members of PRIs even mention the mobile phone numbers of their husbands or fathers-in-law at their official signboards as well as in official WhatsApp groups," the sources pointed out.

Whether the SDM's instructions succeed in making a plausible and positive impact on the prevailing practice, however, remains to be seen, observe sources.

The SDM's instructions have been welcomed by the PRI members and office-bearers.

Basant Girdhar, the vice-chairman of the Meham Municipal Committee, stated that it was a step in the right direction.

"We often see that the male family members of women office-bearers attend the House meetings and visit government offices on their behalf. This defeats the purpose of reserving PRI seats for women. We hope the situation changes following the directions of the SDM. The effect should be seen at the upcoming meeting of the Municipal Committee slated to be held on September 18," said Girdhar.