JK News Today
In a state where a woman Chief Minister like Mehbooba Mufti is leading Jammu and Kashmir, a female Sarpanch in Jammu’s Chatha Panchayat, Gurmeet Kaur, is working tirelessly for her panchayat with a pledge to make the basic pillar of democracy strong.
Q: How you, Gurmeet Kaur, a smart and well-educated lady, joined politics at Panchayat level?
Gurmeet: It all happened by chance. My husband is a Government Employee but very well-connected and politically aware person, When last Panchayat elections were announced, our panchayat remained reserved for women candidates. My husband told me to contest and that was the point where I made my mind for politics at this (Panchayat) level.
Q: Do you have any political background and do you feel happy to be a Sarpanch ?
Gurmeet: No, there is no political background directly, but our family has good connections with many political families and we are politically aware people too. Yes, in my parent’s side, during my studies or even after that I never dreamt of joining politics at all. However, after getting married, it came to my mind many times, when my husband and I discussed political issues. I think literate people should join politics as a profession too. Yes, I am happy to be a Sarpanch and will also contest upcoming Panchayat polls too.
Q: Recently you participated in a National Level Panchayat Programme, What was it?
Gurmeet: The one-day programme was organised in Nov 2017 at New Delhi by the Women and Child Development Department of Union Government led by Minister Incharge, Menaka Gandhi. It is first of such kind of programme at national level in which around 300 women Panchayat members from all the states participated, but from Jammu and Kashmir I was the only Sarpanch.
Q: How was your interaction with Menaka Gandhi and do you think our Panchayats will grow from such programme?
Gurmeet: Mrs Gandhi felt happy that a female Sarpanch from J&K became part of it. The Union Minister Menaka Gandhi also said that we should have raise our voice against dosmetic violence and also aware the rural women folk about it and also develop anganwari centers in the villages. But obvious that such programmes help our panchayats to grow and the main points of the programme were how to monitor our village and panchayat, how to use funds for the development purposes, do work on Independent level.
Q: As a Sarpanch, how you see J&K Panchayti Raj Act and do you want any amendment?
Gurmeet: The government should restore Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj act 1989 in its original form and should implement 73rd amendment of Indian constitution in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
Q: Will you contest the upcoming Panchayat polls and want more women should join politics at Panchayat level?
Gurmeet: Yes, I will contest and preparations have been began. I want and even motivate many literate and smart women to join politics from Panchayat level, which is base of Indian democracy.
