Elected women PRIs share experience with media

Odisha Sun Times Bureau

Bhubaneswar: Mar 19:

Elected women representatives of Balianta and Bhubaneswar Block of Khurdha district shared their trials and tribulations while discharging their duties with media persons at an interactive programme here on Wednesday.

The interaction was organised by People’s Cultural Centre (PECUC), ALIVA Women Panchayat Functionaries’ Federation, in collaboration with The Hunger Project (THP), at the Red Cross Bhavan here.

Narrating her experience as an elected panchayat functionary, Kakarudrapur ward member Ashamani Sahu said the ICDS centre and the MDM in the local school were now functioning properly after constant monitoring of their activities.

She, however, regretted that funds meant for repair of a crucial connecting road, damaged during Cyclone Phailin, in one village were diverted to another village without any justification.

Ward Member, Pratapasasana, Pratima Mohanty narrated how she counselled an alcoholic husband and persuaded him to give up liquor, saving his marriage, which was on the rocks, in the process. “The couple is now living happily together,” she said.

Sulochona Bhoi, Sarpanch, Pratap Sasan Panchayat, shared her experience of taking up plantation on wasteland, ending violence against women and anti liquor campaign in the panchayat.

Nirupama Parida, Ward Member, Darutheng, said the menace of country liquor in her village, which frequently led to domestic violence, had been controlled to a large extent after the women in the village agitated against the sale and consumption of liquor.

Among others, members of Aliva EWR Federation Archana Sahu, Subasini Behera, Mina Kandi, Sanjukta Parida, Manika Das etc said despite being elected representatives, they had very poor knowledge about government schemes and programmes and their roles and responsibilities earlier.

After involvement in various activities, training programmes organised by PECUC, they are now taking their own decisions and taking the lead in providing benefits like Old Age Pension, Disable Pension, Widow Pension, Job Card, MDM Monitoring, ICDS Monitoring, IAY, to eligible beneficiaries.

Mrs. Anuradha Mohanty, Executive Director, PECUC presided over  the interaction in which more than 30 representatives of the print and electronic media participated. Sunanda Biswal, Upama Mohanty and Pradipta Beura helped organize the programme.