I am second time sitting women Sarpanch in Gaya District of Bihar. People often talk about Sarpanch Pati or Mukhiya Pati Culture in general and that seems to be true in many cases in Panchayati Raj System in India so true in the case of Bihar too. 

What is Sarpanch Pati culture? 

Even when the elected representative as a Sarpanch or Mukhiya is a woman, she is not given full liberty to execute her responsibilities. In most cases the dominant male in her family( husband, father in law, brother or brother in law) officiates public meetings on her behalf. This completely undermines her power to bring about much needed changes in the way decisions are made. This is my fight against years of patriarchy. We have to end this unfair dominance by men.

The Government is putting loads of efforts in women representation at Panchayat level and Bihar was the first state to put 50 % reservation to women in Panchayati Raj institution. However less participation by women political leaders in day-to-day work activity and no specific training for women leaders prevent them from working efficiently. That space is occupied by the prominent male from their family unofficially. 

I have witnessed many Sarpnach Pati/ Mukhiya Pati sitting in official meetings too which weakens the learning possibilities of women political leaders. Though Govt has several times issued directives on not to involve any non-elected persons in official meetings but in practice, it goes in vain. Not only in official meetings they should not be allowed to have or participative in the process of governance on behalf of them. If govt. employees will not promote this culture it would be easier and out of compulsion too their presence will provide women political leaders to learn and be empowered. 

Bihar govt. has reserved 50% seats for women in Three Tier Panchayti Raj system. So it's important to provide them capacity-building training on a regular basis so that they are not empowered and limited till winning the elections only, but in real become influential Political Leaders. 

I urge Bihar govt. to pass distinctive directives to Govt. employees not to promote or entertain any non-elected person on behalf of elected female political leaders. If found so govt. employees should be penalised for doing so. This compromises the elected representative's right to dignity and right for free expression, both granted to her by the Indian Constitution.

I request that you sign my petition so that this reservation for women political leaders are not confined to winning the election but also to their daily working life and govt. employees can help in creating the ecosystem work on their own.

#NotoSarpanchPatiCulture

(Image Credit: Patrika.com)