06-04-2008, 06:46 PM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Dalit woman is sarpanch of Punjab village
4 Jun 2008, 0103 hrs IST,I P Singh,TNN
PHULL: A 21-year-old Dalit girl has become sarpanch of this village in Kapurthala district in the recently-held panchayat polls. Sukhi had not imagined, even in her wildest dreams â engrossed as she was in household chores and stitching to help her family make ends meet â that she would one day head the village.
In fact, mother Piar Kaur was to contest the election but after her voter's card was lost, she had to shelve the plan. Sukhi's father Sucha Ram, a mason who had returned from Dubai some time back, was determined that somebody from the family contest the election and that was when Sukhi entered the fray.
As the seat was reserved for an SC woman candidate and she happened to fulfil the requirements, there was no looking back.
"I also wanted to be active in social life but could not get a chance," Sukhi said, while adding that destiny gave her the opportunity and villagers also supported her wholeheartedly.
If the lost card of her mother forced the candidature on her, it was a margin of a mere four votes over her nearest candidate in the election that helped her become a rare example of sarpanch at such a young age.
"I want all-round development of my village and want my village to be ahead of others," she said, shyly referring to a day when she might be married by adding, "I wish villagers remember me after I leave this village."
Harvinder Singh, a village resident who actively supported her, said, "Though we are satisfied that all five candidates of our party won, more importantly, it is a matter of pride that our village has probably the youngest woman sarpanch. Being young and fresh in public life, she would be working without biases and would be having more development-oriented approach than getting embroiled in petty issues."
"It can boost the morale of other girls in the village," felt another villager Sukhwinder Singh.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/D...how/3097485.cms<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If it was already reserved, then what other caste woman will win?
4 Jun 2008, 0103 hrs IST,I P Singh,TNN
PHULL: A 21-year-old Dalit girl has become sarpanch of this village in Kapurthala district in the recently-held panchayat polls. Sukhi had not imagined, even in her wildest dreams â engrossed as she was in household chores and stitching to help her family make ends meet â that she would one day head the village.
In fact, mother Piar Kaur was to contest the election but after her voter's card was lost, she had to shelve the plan. Sukhi's father Sucha Ram, a mason who had returned from Dubai some time back, was determined that somebody from the family contest the election and that was when Sukhi entered the fray.
As the seat was reserved for an SC woman candidate and she happened to fulfil the requirements, there was no looking back.
"I also wanted to be active in social life but could not get a chance," Sukhi said, while adding that destiny gave her the opportunity and villagers also supported her wholeheartedly.
If the lost card of her mother forced the candidature on her, it was a margin of a mere four votes over her nearest candidate in the election that helped her become a rare example of sarpanch at such a young age.
"I want all-round development of my village and want my village to be ahead of others," she said, shyly referring to a day when she might be married by adding, "I wish villagers remember me after I leave this village."
Harvinder Singh, a village resident who actively supported her, said, "Though we are satisfied that all five candidates of our party won, more importantly, it is a matter of pride that our village has probably the youngest woman sarpanch. Being young and fresh in public life, she would be working without biases and would be having more development-oriented approach than getting embroiled in petty issues."
"It can boost the morale of other girls in the village," felt another villager Sukhwinder Singh.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/D...how/3097485.cms<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
If it was already reserved, then what other caste woman will win?