Balika Panchayat: novel initiative for women empowerment

Kutch district paved way for women empowerment after the district of Gujarat kicked off the country’s first ever girl panchayat, “Balika Panchayat. Earlier, the first meeting of the panchayat was held at Kunaria village, followed by several meetings in Maska, Motagua, and Vadsar villages of the district.

The novel model of the has started functioning in in 5 villages in the Kutch district of Gujarat. The aim of the panchayat is expected to encourage women to take the active participation in politics. 

After witnessing the blossoming of girl’s panchayat, the Ministry of Women and Child Development is eyeing to extend this model of panchayat system throughout the country.

While talking to media, a 20 year old sarpanch of this unique panchayat Urmi Ahir said,“A new initiative has been started in Kutch under Beti Bachao Beti Padhao. The main objective of panchayat is that the girls should move forward in politics. In Balika panchayat, the member is nominated just like Gram panchayat.”

Balika Panchayat is a small group administered by women folk of 11-21 age group. It is an initiative to uplift the involvement of women in social and political development and fight against the social ills persistent in the country.

“Balika Panchayat is a panchayat of girls between the age of 10 and 21 years, whose main objective is that the girls should get their nominations done in the Panchayat’s decision-making process and are active in politics since childhood,” Garba Bharti said. “On Women’s Day, we talked to Union Minister Smriti Irani if this work initiative is taken across India then other girls like us can also perform well. For the last one-year “Balika panchayat” is running in our village,” Urmi Ahir further added.