It was a very special day for the women of Halasi Tugaon in Bhalki taluk on Saturday. They gathered at the village ground wearing saris of the same colour and design, sang songs, listened to speeches by leaders and served lunch for village residents.
The celebration was in honour of women being elected to all the 16 seats in the gram panchayat. Around 50 per cent of the seats, across all categories, SC, ST, OBC and general quota, are reserved for women. However, nothing in the rule book stops a woman from getting elected from a general seat. Village residents utilised this provision and fielded only women. As many as 12 members were elected unopposed and four chosen on the polling day.
Bhagwant Khuba, MP, who administered the oath of integrity and efficiency to the members, announced that he would adopt the village and develop it as a model gram panchayat. Saroja Jaiwant Ungre, a member, said her priorities would be supply of drinking water and good governance.
Kamalabai Prakash Raje, another member, said she would strive to extend benefits of government schemes to the poor.
Halasi Tugaon now has a 16-member gram panchayat, with all members being women
