The women of Andhra's panchayats

The revolutionary decision by the cabinet to clear 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats is creating waves in rural India, as the debate on the Women's Reservation Bill in Parliament continues.

In Charlapalli village of Nalgonda district in Andhra Pradesh, villagers say they feel free to walk into Mangamma's home any time of the day. Inside, it looks more like a humble office. Kausalya has come in to ask the village sarpanch to intervene in a dispute with a neighbour over water from the street tap, so it does not become a police case.

Mother of four, Mangamma, at 40, has spent 15 years in public service, first as a ward member, upsarpanch and a sarpanch now for the last three years. She believes without reservation, this journey of empowerment would not have happened.

"Without reservation, women won't come forward. They can't because men dominate in politics. Even when the wife is elected, often the man still remote-controls her," she says.

Villagers, especially the women, say Mangamma is one among them, so it's easier to approach her.

Another village woman, Kausalya, says, "Woman-to-woman, it is easier to approach. Because she moves with us socially.''

Others think that women are not only more focused and dependable, but they are also more progressive.

 "Women understand issues concerning family and children and will try to develop the village. Men won't focus on this like women do. They simply indulge in liquor and politics,'' says Anjaiah.

Rajamma believes women are more concerned about problems. "Was Indira Gandhi not a great leader? Was she not a woman? We prefer women to men because women are more concerned about our issues. They know more about our problems,'' she says.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating. This village with a woman sarpanch says if not anything else, having a woman sarpanch means less liquor and less corruption in politics.