Women Development Programmes at Grassroot level

Union Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Dr.C.P.Joshi today informed the Rajya Sabha that with the 50 percent reservation for women at the Panchayati Raj level, there would be increase in number of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) from about 10 lakhs to about 14 lakhs. Most of them would be holding office for the first time with little knowledge, orientation and exposure to their expected functions. Besides, they face multiple deprivations on account of their gender, social bias, house-hold obligation, lower literacy, lack of confidence etc.

Replying to a written question Dr. Joshi said that the Panchayati Raj Ministry has been seized of the importance of training of functionaries/officials of PRIs since its inception. The training to Elected Representatives of PRIs is provided under BRGF capacity building component in the 250 BRGF districts and under the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) in the non BRGF district. In RGSY, some NGOs have also been directly funded on the recommendations of the respective state Govts. for providing training to PRI members.

The training under the above two components covers both male & female representatives of the PRIs. However, in order to address the empowerment of EWRs in a systematic, programmatic manner, this Ministry has launched a new scheme namely Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan(PMEYSA) in September 2007. The objective of this scheme is to knit the EWRs in a network and through group action, empower themselves, so that both their participation and representation on local governance issues improves. This scheme also has a component of sensitization programme which is primarily aimed at enhancing the capacity of the EWRs and EYRs to take up their new responsibilities as local legislators and decision-makers under Panchayati Raj.

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