She has carved a niche for herself

In Uttar Pradesh most of the elected women village ‘pradhans’ (panchayat chiefs) are nothing more than dummies and the real authority is exercised by their husbands popularly known as “pradhan patis” (husbands of the pradhans), and fathers or brothers, if they are unmarried. But, 23-year-old Poonam Singh stands out.

Poonam, who is among the youngest women village pradhans in UP, is the panchayat chief of Tatyora village in Bawan block in Hardoi district, takes her own decisions with regard to the development of her village.

A graduate from the University of Lucknow, Poonam, whose father is in government service, could have opted for a career in government or even, as many of her friends must have done, gone on for a degree in teacher’s training and become a teacher. 

But she had something else in mind. “I wanted to do something for rural people. As I hail from a village, I was fully aware of the issues and problems that the people in rural areas had to face. The womenfolk and children faced more problems,” she says.

Since she was a novice, she decided to first train herself and become familiar with the community service for a couple years before taking a plunge in electoral politics. “I worked with the community for some time. It helped me to understand real issues concerning the people and win their trust,’’ Poonam said.

Her work paid rich dividends and in 2015 she was elected pradhan of her village. “The people have reposed their faith in me and I am fully committed to their welfare,’’ she added.

Poonam believes that health, education and the empowerment of  women are issues of governance, which are as important as roads, electricity and water. “Women must have assured income whether it is through small-scale industry, cottage industry or through other welfare programmes,’’ the pradhan said.

She feels that working in a patriarchal mindset has its challenges. People used to say that she would not be able to deliver and would be a failure. “They felt that being a woman I might not be able to do what the men could,” Poonam said. “Some said that I would return to the city as I was accustomed to the life of the big towns since I had studied in Lucknow,” she remarked.

Poonam was not cowed down by threats in the initial stages. “There were problems initially but they were to test my will power. I ignored them and then gradually I started getting people’s love and affection,” she said.

Poonam’s devotion to work and commitment to improving maternal and child healthcare have won accolades from not only the people of her village but also  the women health workers stationed at Bawan Block and district headquarters.

Manju Pathak, an auxiliary nurse midwife in the area for the past 10 years, praised Poonam, saying that she offered unconditional support during village health and nutrition days. “Poonam has been a motivating force for many in the area,” Manju said.

The persuasive skills of Poonam were on display when a particular community in a village had refused to get their children immunised because of myths and misconceptions. “Poonam intervened and spoke to the community on the crucial need for immunisation to improve child health. It made a difference and the community members agreed to get their children immunised,’’ Manju recalled.

Her involvement in other government-sponsored health and welfare programmes has also been praised by many. “She is regular to the meetings where the issues concerning women and child health and other things are discussed,” said another health worker from the area.

There is always a personal touch in Poonam’s work. “When it gets late in the evening, she ensures health workers from far-off areas are dropped home in her private vehicle,” said Manju.

Poonam’s education also helps her serve people better. She assists villagers in filling up different kinds of forms to avail benefits of government schemes. “Poonam is always ready to lend a helping hand. We rely on her and she never disappoints us. She is concerned about our problems whether they are big or small,” says Suman Devi, a resident of the village. The young pradhan gets full support of her family. “My family has always supported me. It is because of their support that I am able to serve the people of the village,” she said.

“I was always for the welfare of the people…I feel that being a pradhan I will be able to serve the people better. Now that the people have entrusted me with this responsibility I am trying to do my best to live up to their expectations,” she said.Poonam has been trying to get a sub-centre established at her village so that the villages in her area can benefit from it.  

“At present the closest sub-centre is in Jogipur area, which is about eight km away and access to it is also very difficult and the area is infested with snakes,’’ she said.Poonam feels that there was an urgent need to change the mindset of  people. “There is nothing women cannot do. There is a need for more educated women to join electoral politics. It will go a long way in changing this mindset,” she feels.

The young pradhan fully realises that she has a long way to go. “There is so much to do in rural areas for women and children. I try to do what I can in may area,” she says with a sense of pride.