Bhim Singh

Patna, May 21: No husbands please, this is Bihar.

An attempt at women’s empowerment by panchayati raj minister Bhim Singh has yielded results at the grassroots with few husbands tagging along with their panchayat-member wives to official meetings.

Last year, Singh had ordered women panchayat members in Bihar — the first state in the country to reserve 50 per cent of the seats in panchayats for women — to leave their spouses behind when attending official meetings. The minister’s directive had sought to weed out a proxy institution — or personality — called panch patis, or husbands of panchayat members, that has struck deep roots in the male-dominated stretches of the country.

Singh’s mission was a daunting one. A similar order issued by the government in Rajasthan, which too has implemented the 50 per cent quota norm, has failed to click and husbands continue to discharge duties on behalf of their wives.

The interference by men folk reflects the deeper malaise of lack of education and empowerment, although Bihar is not unfamiliar with women running the show on behalf of their husbands. The state was ruled by Rabri Devi for eight years from 1997 after her husband Lalu Prasad resigned following the fodder scam charges and foisted her on the chair.

The 50 per cent quota was one of the first decisions taken by chief minister Nitish Kumar after he came to power in 2005.But many of the women are wives of village leaders who cannot contest the elections owing to the reservation. Some of the elected ladies are unlettered and are forced to depend on others.

A sarpanch has to maintain at least 21 registers, look after around 35 schemes and prepare the below-poverty-line list — tasks not easy for those with little or no formal education. Also, panchayat meetings are often convened by district magistrates far away from the villages, making it difficult for women to travel alone. But, as The Telegraph found out, the directive of the minister is being followed by a good number of woman panchayat members.

Panchayat member Anita Devi (35) of Dinara block in Rohtas district said: “Earlier my husband used to attend meetings on my behalf but ever since the minister issued strict directions, only I go. My self-confidence has increased. I also offer suggestions during the meetings, earlier only my husband spoke.”

“Even block development officers have become strict and do not allow husbands of women panchayat members to attend. I must have attended at least 15 meetings since the direction was issued (in November last year),” Anita said.

Her compatriots from other districts agreed. Rashmi Devi (33) from Koran Sorai panchayat in Dumraon block of Buxar district said: “The direction of Bhim Singh has worked effectively in our block. Now, no woman panchayat member, including me, takes her husband to any official meeting. My husband accompanies me but at the venue, he sits outside the meeting room and waits for me.”

“The time has gone when we were known by our husband’s name. Society is changing and even men have realised that society can become better if equal opportunity is given to women,” said Rashmi.

Meharu Yashmeen (33), a panchayat member of Awapur in Pupri block of Sitamarhi district, said the minister’s directive has meant that she, a graduate, can go about her duties without always turning to her husband for permission.

“In the beginning when I was elected, my husband used to attend the meeting but now things have changed. Earlier there was a misconception that women are not good leaders, which resulted in husbands discharging our duties. But there has been a sea change ever since Nitish Kumar has given 50 per cent reservation to women at the panchayat level. As a graduate woman, I can handle the situation and take decisions, I need not depend on anyone as far as performing my own duties are concerned,” said Yashmeen.

Of course, the change is not total. There are those like Geeta Devi (32) of Jokyari panchayat in Raxaul block of East Champaran district who still allows her husband to do the talking. “My husband takes all decisions and he attends the official meetings on my behalf,” said Geeta.

Officials say Geeta is an exception rather than the rule. Danapur BDO Shobha Agarwal said: “I can openly say that women have now realised the importance of attending the meetings by themselves. It gives them confidence. During the meetings, some of these women come up with excellent suggestions regarding development in their respective panchayats.”

Agarwal said she ensures that the husbands stay away. “During the meetings, I strictly tell the husbands of women panchayat members to stay away. I do not allow them to enter the chamber where meetings are conducted. After all, we are doing all this for women’s empowerment. Unless and until women members don’t attend meetings on their own, how will they learn the functioning?” she said.

Minister Singh said while he was happy that more women are finding their feet, he wanted the percentage of husbands attending meetings to come down to zero. “I am happy that my directive has worked. However, I would still say that the percentage should come down to zero. I want every woman to attend the official meetings by themselves, their husbands should be completely banned from entering the chamber,” he said.

Singh said his department would launch a programme in which all women panchayat members will be imparted training to perform their duties with honesty and integrity. “They should be aware about their rights and responsibility. Only then can women’s empowerment be complete,” he said.

The chief minister today said strict action would be taken if husbands were found attending meetings on behalf of their wives.

“No doubt women’s empowerment is taking place in the state. But I will take strict action if I find any husband attending official meetings on behalf of woman panchayat members,” Nitish said at a book release function.