Quota helping Bihar village woman sarpanch

Muzzafarpur: Far away from the debate over women's quota, a woman sarpanch in Bihar solves all disputes without the need of interference by police or the courts.

The sarpanch Kiran Kumari is busy writing her own success story. She is a first time sarpanch, thanks to the 50 per cent reservation for women in Bihar's panchayats.

Over the last three years no one from her Raghai panchayat has registered any case with the police or courts. It's her panchayat court which resolves all local disputes.

"If there is a small dispute in the village then no one goes to the police or court. We resolve the dispute with the help of the panchayat and the villagers," says Kiran Kumari

It's not been easy for Kiran though. When women's reservation was announced she was pitched straight from the kitchen to the panchayat office.

"I found it a little difficult to move out of my home and take up the responsibility. The daughter and daughter-in-law of my family never used to come out of the house, but now I am traveling all over the village. There was some initial problems. But now people help me in the work," she says.

Kiran's court comprises panchayat members and senior citizens of the villages and has earned the trust of the villagers.

"No dispute from the village goes to the courts of the police," says Nyay Mitra (help for justice volunteer) Ashok Kumar Sahi.

"I was building my house. But my relative Ram Lakhan started creating problems that I am building my house on his land. I went to the panchayat. Now the case has been settled," says a villager Ram Jiwan Sahni.

Despite lack of education, social, financial or family backing, Kiran today stands as proud role model of wonders that women reservation can do for women.

(With inputs from Manitosh Kumar)

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