Now, more say for women in panchayats

Kiran Prajapati, one of the 4000-odd women sarpanchs in Bihar, fought the panchayat elections last year from her village Dudhaela in Saran district and won by more than 100 votes.

No one from her family had held a public office and after her appointment she has tried to be hands on. So does this mean more power to women?

"I feel that as woman sarpanchs, we are very much in control because we have a greater grasp of issues. We can also get work done faster," Kiran said.

In a way Kiran is the face of a reform implemented by the Bihar government three years ago --  50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats. This is a model the Centre says it will now follow. But will such measures, aimed at empowering women, actually make a difference on the ground? The issue may still be debatable, but women in Kiran's village say it's a good move.

"It is much easier to deal with women sarpanchs; we don't feel shy," said Amarchiya Devi, a resident of the Dudhaela village.

Of the 8,000 sarpanchs in Bihar half are women, something Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is taking pride in.

"The Centre is only implementing what Bihar thought of three years ago. Bihar has become the pioneer; what Bihar thinks today, the country will think tomorrow. It is an important step towards the empowerment of women," Nitish said.

And people like Kiran will be hoping that translates into development on the ground.