Norwegian Royal couple to grace convocation of women panchayat leaders

190 elected women panchayat representatives from four states are to receive their first degrees on completion of a formal course in effective leadership at a high profile convocation in New Delhi on November 2, 2006. These women are elected representatives and participants at Aagaz Academies, a programme of the Aagaz Foundation, an institution that helps women emerge as effective leaders in their constituencies for ending hunger, poverty and injustice. Norway’s Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will grace the ceremony to be held at the Crafts Museum at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi. Mr. Manishankar Aiyar, the Union Minister for Panchayati Raj, Government of India will be the chief guest for the event and will present the degrees. “I have now become a tigress” declares Vimalbai Sonavane, a non literate scheduled caste ward panch from gram panchayat Lon-Pirache, district Jalgaon, Maharashtra. “I attended the panchayat meetings routinely, drank tea, ate biscuits but was a silent member” says Lakshmamma, another non literate, schedule caste vice-president of gram panchayat Thyamagondlu, district Bangalore, Karnataka. “ But the Aagaz Academy transformed me. I can feel the difference. I now consult the secretary and after seeking clarifications, I make informed decisions. I have a better understanding of the ward sabha and the gram sabha meetings”, she explains. Both the women are graduates of the Aagaz Foundation, an initiative of the The Hunger Project (THP) in India. Aagaz Foundation’s primary focus is to strengthen women’s leadership in the Panchayati Raj system. A majority of these women graduates belong to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes and have never been to school. In the year-long learning process they are taught everything from how to handle a mobile phone to how to take control of development in their community. The first batch of 190 women graduates has attended Aagaz Academies in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. These academies are hosted by local NGO’s who share the same strategic vision and are headed by an anchor who manages the entire learning process. “The course begins by helping the women realize their abilities to transform social conditions”, says Rita Sarin, chief functionary, Aagaz Foundation. “Once they become self-aware, it is easy to build skills for functioning effectively in a panchayat’. The women participants learn to discover not just the power within themselves, but also the powers of a community thinking and working together. During the course of the year, the women develop skills for effective communication, decision-making and public speaking, apart from gaining a deeper understanding of the Panchayat Act and government schemes. They learn about class, caste and religious identities and how they impact a women’s role as a leader. “Discrimination based on caste should cease.” says Sakunbai, a fresh graduate of the Aagaz Academy. She put her lessons into practice by refusing to budge from her seat when influential upper castes men of her village pronounced that Dalits should sit separately at a community feast. Aagaz Academy graduates have prevented the misuse of funds, raised their voice against corruption and injustice, and evicted liquor vends from their villages. “The training has thoroughly spoilt me, I ask too many questions!” says Rajjobai Raikwar, a ward panch from Hoshangabad in Madhya Pradesh, laughing heartily. Along with the process of learning, women leaders get an opportunity to make friends, share their problems, and enthuse and inspire one another. The Aagaz Academies are committed to engage with women leaders for their entire tenure of five years. The next Aagaz Academy is planned in Bihar where local government elections have just been concluded. The Prince and Princess of Norway Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit will interact with these women during the convocation. The Royal couple who take keen interest in developmental issues are on a week long visit to India. “We are a small country. We need the outside world. We are entering into a partnership where we feel both sides will gain experiences. Experiences we, together, could also provide to other parts of the world”, says H.E. Mr. Jon Westborg, Ambassador of Norway. The convocation ceremony is being held to celebrate the graduation of these 191 leaders who have completed one year of learning and training. Another 400 elected women leaders have enrolled in the academies and will be the next batch of learners. All the 600 elected leaders would be in New Delhi from 31st October to 2nd November to participate in the first Convocation event of the National Aagaz Academy. The women have been invited to tea with the President at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. For further assistance do feel free to contact: Rommel Shunmugam Mobile: 9811468461 Email: write2rommel@gmail.com Rajesh Mall Mobile: 9868010263

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