: Madhya Pradesh Panchayat polls: Decoding the pink panchayat of Rohna #IndiaNEWS #National By Rakesh Kumar MalviyaNarmadapuram, June 27 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Located eight km from Narmadapuram district

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Madhya Pradesh Panchayat polls: Decoding the pink panchayat of Rohna #IndiaNEWS #National
By Rakesh Kumar MalviyaNarmadapuram, June 27 (IANS/ 101Reporters) Located eight km from Narmadapuram district in Madhya Pradesh is the small village of Rohna. Its 396 households comprise of 1,886 people, including 1,400 voters. Most families here belong to Backward Castes, with some six per cent of the population listed under Scheduled Castes.
Agriculture is the main means of livelihood in Rohna, where 14 families live below the poverty line however, this nondescript village is a matter of pride to its residents.
Social worker Lakshman Singh Rajput proudly told 101Reporters, Our village has no illicit liquor or gambling dens. We are also ahead in agricultural output, with many farmers here into organic farming. Roopsingh Rajput was awarded for his farming efforts. There are many who also breed cattle and produce 2,000l to 2,500l of milk every day.
And now, Rohna is in the news for its decision to elect a pink, all-women panchayat, completely unopposed.
How a pink panchayat emerged in Rohna
Panchayat elections had not been held in Madhya Pradesh for a while, to finally being organised following court intervention. Women were granted 33 per cent reservation, in keeping with the 73rd amendment, though Madhya Pradesh increased womens reservation to 50 per cent, the first state to make this change.
Rajesh Samle, a social worker and local resident whos been working on agriculture and womens empowerment in Rohna as part of the Gram Sewa Samiti, told 101Reporters, When the reservation formalities for the three-tier panchayat elections were completed, our panchayat seats went to the lot of our women. Thats when discussions began about electing an unopposed panchayat for the village, to demonstrate our unity.
As for the candidates, Sharmila Rajput emerged as the front-runner, since she had been active on all village-level issues and had always taken the lead in community matters. Once her name was proposed, there was complete consensus from all quarters.
Sharmila Rajput, the new sarpanch, is 48 years old. She was born in Rohna and was married to Rajendra Singh Rajput from the same village after completing Class 10. Under Sharmila and her all-women panchayat, womens empowerment, education and health have emerged as key developmental issues.
However, the new village chief said she had not imagined ever being part of the village panchayat, let alone leading it.
I wouldnt have contested if the chief minister had not announced the Rs 15 lakh reward for an unopposed election and the sarpanchs seat had not been reserved for women, Sharmila added.
Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chauhan had announced that a women-only gram panchayat would be given Rs 15 lakh for development.

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