Click to play videoNew Delhi: Setting an example of good local self-governance, a village in Gujarat has handed over its administration to a group of 12 educated girls. All the girls were elected unopposed to the Gram Panchayat even before voting took place in December last year.
These girls, all aged between 18 and 23, are at the helm of affairs in Anand district's Siswa village. Although voting for over 10,000 village Panchayats in Gujarat took place in December last year, this village had already been declared a 'Samras' village, one where all members of the Panchayat were elected unopposed. 12 educated girls, aspiring to be teachers, engineers, nurses and IT professionals are now working towards bringing about change.
Hina Patel, Sarpanch Elect, Siswa Village, says, "People have put faith in women and we will do everything possible for the development of this village. We are from diverse backgrounds and it will help."
Villagers bypassed political party affiliations and together elected the girls to run the affairs of the village. This victory procession in the village reflecting public sentiment that this was the way forward. Anand district administration officials are elated and hope this sets a precedent.
DH Trivedi, Mamlatdar (Public Information Officer at the taluka level), says, "This is a very good thing and I hope it sets a precedent in the state. It's very good that educated people, especially women will form the Gram Panchayat team."
The village can now look forward to better times. While a 'Samras' village automatically gets Rs five lakhs on virtue of the unopposed election of its members, the Panchayat can now implement development works worth Rs 50 lakh too.
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