Rajasthan: Interference by kin to cost woman sarpanch her job

JAIPUR: The panchayati raj department in Rajasthan has issued an order stating that if any interference by a husband or relatives is noticed in the functioning of a woman public representative (sarpanch) or is seen to be performing her duties, without objection from her, then strict action would be taken against her under Section 38 of the Panchayati Raj Act, leading to her suspension or removal.Action will be taken against the husband/relatives also.
The order states that government officials found encouraging such interference too shall be punished.
“It has been brought to the notice of the state government that in a few cases in panchayati raj bodies, instead of the elected woman representative (sarpanch), her husband, relatives, someone closely related or any other person is performing her office duties or participating in a meeting directly/indirectly or interfering in her work,” read a letter written to the collectors, chief executive officers of zila parishads and block development officers (BDOs) by Rajeshwar Singh, ACS, rural development and panchayati raj department. “Such an act falls in the category of misconduct in discharging one’s duty and incapability by the elected member/office-bearer. If such a case is found in any of the panchayati raj institutions, action will be taken against the woman member/office-bearer concerned under Section 38 of the Panchayati Raj Act, (leading to her suspension or removal),” it added.
It also asked district-level officers to take action against the elected member and the employees/officials as per directions and inform the department. Meanwhile, a panchayati raj official said, “If she doesn’t resist or objects to such an action by her husband or relatives, only then will action be taken against her. However, if she is under pressure from the husband/relatives, she can lodge a written complaint with the police or the higher authorities of the department.”
“This order is very biased. With the kind of male dominance that we have, to punish and criminalise an act for which the woman doesn’t have complete agency, is horrifying. We all know violence is used against women many a time to get things done. So, instead of counselling her, taking action against the woman is ridiculous. The government should end patriarchy before doing this,” said Kavita Srivastava of People’s Union for Civil Liberties.
“Also, men are all the time taking all kinds of support. Why no action against them? Public consultation should have happened. What warranted such an order should have been shared. Instead of promoting and nurturing women’s autonomy, they are using punishment. This is harsh and an attempt to weaken women within the institution by putting the entire onus on her. This will be misused and the stick will be used to manipulate her,” she added.