STATE ELECTION COMMISSION

MAHARASHTRA

Savitribai Phule

(1831-1897)

KRANTIJYOTI

Socio Political Empowerment

of Women Councilors in Local Self Bodies

for Effective Decision Making and Governance

Rational

State Election Commission is saddled with the responsibility of conduct of local bodies elections in free and fair manner.

Constitution of India provides reservation to the extent of one third seats for women.

Rational…….(continue)

It is observed that many a times the women candidates don’t come forward freely of their own in these elections and many a times due to socio-political constraints and reasons there is back seat driving during the elections by some persons which not only vitiates the election processes but also defeats the constitutional mandate regarding free and fair conduct of elections.

To address this undesirable situation and to take corrective actions for ensuring the fulfillment of the constitutional provisions not only letter but in spirit, our commission has decided to embark upon an innovative project for socio-political empowerment of women Councilors of local self bodies for effective decision making and governance.

It is expected that these empowered women councilors would become role models and in turn instill confidence in aspiring women candidates in the ensuing elections. 

Rational…….(continue)

Goal:To empower women councilors in Local Self

Government for being ideal people’s representatives.

Objectives: Self Esteem and personality Development Sensitivity towards rural social issues Active participation in governance of local self

bodies

Selected Districts:Thane, Sindhudurga, Nashik, Pune, Sataara, Kolhapur, Solapur, Nanded, Amarawati, Wardha

State Level50 Core Trainers

District Level500 District Trainers

Taluka Level 20,000 women Councilors

Three Tier Training structure

Handholding programme

• Trained mentors and hand holders will conduct monthly follow-up meetings with women councilors in non-formal atmosphere at local level.

• Support and guidance by the mentors/handholders in day-to-day functioning of the women councilors.

• Help-line at district level to address immediate concerns and to provide help in emergencies.

CONTENTS FOR TRAINING

1) ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

2) PROVISIONS OF ACTS AND RULES

3) BUDGETING

4) PERSONALITY DEVELOPMENT

5) SUPERSTITIONS AND SOCIAL BARRIERS

6) ROLE MODELS AND SUCCESS STORIES

7) LOCAL ISSUES

Characteristics of the Project

Based on the positive feedback and evaluation of a pilot project conducted in Selu Taluka of Wardha District.

An innovative project of the State Election Commission in collaboration with government institutions and non-government organizations

Cadre of committed and expert trainers from state to village level

Compilation and creation of resource material for trainers to impart through knowledge of the subject.

Characteristics of the Project (Continue)

• Thrust on use of creative media like songs, games, role-plays, and demonstrations in the training of women councilors instead of heavy literature

• Emphasis on actual governance of Village Panchayat, Social issues and personality development

• Programme to change patriarchal mentality of both women and men

Characteristics of the Project …(Continue)

• Organization of non-residential de-centralized workshops at village level considering the social constrains of women councilors to attend residential

centralized training programme.

• Inspiration by success stories of effective women councilors.

• Regular follow up and handholding program after the training

PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE

ADMINISTRATIVE EFFICIENCY

GENDER EQUALITY

LEADERSHIP

SELF CONFIDENCE

CAPACITY BUILDING

TRAINING IMPACT

SOCIAL BENEFITS OF THE PROJECT FEMALE GENDER CHILD DOWRY BLIND

FEOTICIDE EQUALITY MARRIAGE FAITH

WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

RESPONSIBILITES OF CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

(A) PRE-TRAINING : Identifiation of efficient local non-governmental organisations and

sponsors Identification of four core trainers at district level, 30 to 40 trainers at

taluka level Compilation & publication of information and governmental policies

booklet for taluka level trainees.

(B) DURING TRAINING : To Organisation and implementation of project at district level Establishment of Help Centre at district level To make available project fund under government policies and DPDC To utilise the project fund in appropriate manner To distribute “Government policies information booklet” & Project

Information Booklet to taluka level trainees

(C) POST TRAINING : To evaluate the trainees To compile the success stories of trainees To publish these success stories

FUNCTIONS OF TRAINERS

CORE TRAINERS To plan the programme and coordinate with the

Collector / CEO To identify the TOT at taluka level To evaluate the ability & efficiency of TOT team To schedule the timetable of TOT at taluka level To organize the training at district level

TRAINERS

To train the women councillors at taluka / PHC level, as per the training received from district level

Progress of the Project …..

  A first training Programme held on 8th January 2010 at Thane

Training for all Women Councilors of Selu Taluka from Wardha district from 19th April to 22nd April where 266 participants were trained

A small evaluation study is been conducted of the training programme.

On 12th November, a meeting was organized with Collectors, Chief Executive Officers from districts, College of Social Work Nirmala Niketan, Resource and Support Center for Development, Symbiosis (SIBM), UNICEF, UNIFEM and other organizations. Based on encouraging feedback and positive response of the previous trainings, it was decided to launch the project in selected 10 districts.

 From 14th to 16th December, state level training workshop for District Coordinators and Core Trainers was organized at Pune. The workshop was attended by total 50 participants from all the 10 project districts. On 3rd January 2011, Birth Anniversary of Savitribai Phule celebrated in all the ten project districts. Public meetings, programs in Zilla Parishad were organized. Awareness about the project was done on this occasion.  On 10th and 11th January, the project was presented by the KRANTIJYOTI team at a workshop with Ms. Varsha Gaikawaad, State Minister, Women and Child Welfare and Chirpersons of Child Welfare Committees from 11 districts at Yashada, Pune.

Progress of the Project

Progress of the Project

 On 8th March public meetings were held in all the project districts to bring awareness about the project on the occasion of International Women’s Day.

From  28th March to 30th March, Training of Trainers from Sindhidurga district was successfully organized as a second stage of the project in Kudal, Dist. Sindhudurga

From 14th to 16th December, state level training workshop for District Coordinators and Core Trainers was organized at Pune. The workshop was attended by total 50 participants from all the 10 project districts.

Progress of the Project

District Satara

On 3rd January 2011, Birth Anniversary of Savitribai Phule celebrated in all the ten project districts. Public meetings, programs in Zilla Parishad were organized. Awareness about the project was done on this occasion.

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District Satara

District Sindhudurg

District Solapur

District Solapur

District Wardha

District Wardha

On 10th and 11th January, the project was presented by the KRANTIJYOTI team at a workshop with Ms. Varsha Gaikawaad, State Minister, Women and Child Welfare and Chirpersons of Child Welfare Committees from 11 districts at Yashada, Pune.

•Training of Trainers Workshop was organised at Kudal in Sindhidurga District from 27th to 30th March 2011.

Hon. Neela Satyanarayan, State Election Commissioner and Hon. Chand Goel, Additional Chief Secretary of Sate Election Commission were present of the last day of the training. They reviewed the process and guided the trainers.

A press Conference was conducted after the training workshop at Sindhudurga

Future Steps ……

• Situational analysis for decision making and participation in governance will be conducted before training.

• Training of Trainers will start in the first week of April

• Training of Women Councilors will start from last week of April

• Handholding programme will start form first week of May

• Ongoing documentation, review and evaluation of the women councilors will start from last week of April.

• Documentation will be done after 6 months to asses impact of the training.

Thank You