People’s Governance is an ingredient to achieve the UN MDG. It is the basic component for the popularity of democratic practices and the development based on transparency and accountability. In the same manner UPVAN organized a state level event on “Role of Women representatives in Panchayati Raj Governance”. It was a shared attempt to sensitize the rural women committed to development by concluding the grass-roots sharing. They were motivated to prepare a series of demands which was latter on submitted to Minister and Principal Secretary of the State.

In the first day of workshop there was discussion through our penalist on related topics “Panchayati Raj, NREGA and Women” & “Capacity Building of Women Representatives in Panchayati Raj Governence”. Ms. Preeti Srivastava, Programme Associate UPVAN coordinated this programme.

First of all Mr. Awnesh Kumar from SSK Lucknow presented in brief “The status of women representatives in UP Government.” The key points of that presentation were as mentioned below :-

1- Panchayati Raj Institutions in UP
2- Related issues (main) Panchayati Raj in UP; and
3- Life cycle of Panchayats

Day First (24 April 2008)

Workshop started at 10:00 a.m. with inaugural session with the chief guest Dr. Manju Agarwal, Director Amity University Lucknow, who gave directions to the workshop. Mr. K.S. Gopal from Centre For Environmental Concerns, Hyderabad was the Special guest. The session ended with the welcome note of Secretary UPVAN..

Further technical session on issues related to “Panchayati Raj, NREGA and Women”. Started with the presentations from Mr. K.S. Gopal and Dr. Manju Agarwal. In the beginning of this session Ms. Rewa Chaube gave a presentation as Women in Panchayati Raj Governence : satus and direction on behalf of Mahila Samakhya.

After this presentation those women who came from rural areas and representative of panchayats like- Gram Pradhan, Member of Panchayat or Panchayat Secretary shared their experiences related to Govt. officials, villagers and implementation of Govt. schemes and raise their questions also. Penalists gave their views and suggestions to answer them. At last Board member UPVAN Ms. Suneeta Singh gave vote of thanks to honorable panelist.

In the second technical session the subject was “Capacity Building of Women Representatives in Panchayati Raj Governence” . The chairperson of this session was Mr. S.P. Jain from NIRD (Hyderabad). The session started with a presentation on- ‘Capacity Building of Women Representatives in Panchayati Raj’, Ms. Shalini Chaturvedi, (SSK) presented following key points through power point:-

• Panchayati Raj Institutions in UP
• Necessity of capacity building of women representatives
• Challenges related to capacity building of women representatives in Panchayats.
• Power Project - An experience
• Target area of Project
• Strategy for capacity building
• Attention points in capacity building programme.

After this presentation Mahila Gram Pradhans and Panchayat members shared their experiences and hen Mr. S.P. Jain gave his views on capacity building training for women representatives. At last Executive director UPVAN Mr. Diwakar Bhatt gave vote of thanks to honorable panelist

Day Second
Second day of workshop was based on Women in NREGA : Issues and alternatives presented by Mr. Devi Prasad Gupta, State Coordinator NREGA, Mr. K.S. Gopal Director CEC Hyderabad, Mr. Ashok Singh, Director SSK, Lko, Ms. Rehana Rahman, Nav Bharat Samaj Kalyan Samiti, Moradabad and Secretary UPVAN Mr. Janardan Tripathi. This session started with a film on NREGA composed by PRIA Jharkhand. After this film it was declared a open session and invited all participants to raise their questions on related topic and address their demands to be submitted to state government. Thus a charter of demands was prepared and latter on submitted to Minister and Principal Secretary of the State Government.

The Charter of Demands

1- Participation of women in NREGA must be assured.
2- The availability of job card assured to job card holder.
3- Payment of wage should be generated through Bank/Post-office
4- It should be assured that development programmes decided in open meeting of Gram Sabha and participation of women must be increase.
5- Training for social audit involvement of NGOs/ VOs, necessary.
6- In place of Iron, Fiber Tasla should be used by labours.
7- The work given to disabled women, should be according to their strength.
8- Measurement rules in NREGA Act must be revised.
9- The facilities provided in NREG Act must be implemented on workplace.
10- In the context of work distribution widow and shelterless women must be
prioritized.