Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan Gujarat A network of Organizations working on the issue of women and Governance.

Genesis Fourth World Women’s conference, Beijing 1994 WGWI-G: an informal association of NGOs 73 rd -74 th Constitutional Amendment Acts 33% reservations for women & other marginalized communities in local governments Panchayat women’s Fair in 1997 by organizations working on issues of women More than 1200 EWRs participated Need for a permanent forum for EWRs Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan - emerged as an Network MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Fourth World Women’s conference, Beijing 1994

WGWI-G: an informal association of NGOs

73 rd -74 th Constitutional Amendment Acts

33% reservations for women & other marginalized communities in local governments

Panchayat women’s Fair in 1997 by organizations working on issues of women

More than 1200 EWRs participated

Need for a permanent forum for EWRs

Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan - emerged as an Network

MSA Vision – Mission To address the broader concerns of women’s movement in Gujarat by nurturing value based and gender sensitive local, women’s leadership in governance MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

To address the broader concerns of women’s movement in Gujarat by

nurturing value based and

gender sensitive

local, women’s leadership

in governance

Strategies and Programmes Direct Outreach Programmes Panchayat Mahila Manch Panchayat Information Centers Demonstration model - inter and intra state. Network Support Programme Campaigns Research and Advocacy Trainings and Capacity Building Communication Material / Publication MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Direct Outreach Programmes

Panchayat Mahila Manch

Panchayat Information Centers

Demonstration model - inter and intra state.

Network Support Programme

Campaigns

Research and Advocacy

Trainings and Capacity Building

Communication Material / Publication

PRI Initiative by MSA Panchayat Mahila Manch – a platform for Elected Women Representative (EWRs) Panchayat Information Center – PIC Samras Scheme – An analytical study MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Panchayat Mahila Manch – a platform for Elected Women Representative (EWRs)

Panchayat Information Center – PIC

Samras Scheme – An analytical study

Panchayat Mahila Manch Manch - an elected women’s forum at the taluka, districts and state level. Objectives of Panchayat Mahila Manch Engage the EWRs in bringing women’s good and effective governance at local level Raise the issues and concerns of the EWRs. give a legitimate political voice to the development issues of marginalized women MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Manch - an elected women’s forum at the taluka, districts and state level.

Objectives of Panchayat Mahila Manch

Engage the EWRs in bringing women’s good and effective governance at local level

Raise the issues and concerns of the EWRs.

give a legitimate political voice to the development issues of marginalized women

Processes for Formation of Panchayat Mahila Manch Reaching out to EWRs at Taluka level With the support of former manch women, local NGOs and Taluka administration. Taluka manch formation Meeting of EWRs at taluka panchayat Relevance of taluka manch Formation of taluka committee District level Manch Election and Formation of district manch committee comprising of all taluka committee Formation of rules and norms for district manch MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Reaching out to EWRs at Taluka level

With the support of former manch women, local NGOs and Taluka administration.

Taluka manch formation

Meeting of EWRs at taluka panchayat

Relevance of taluka manch

Formation of taluka committee

District level Manch

Election and Formation of district manch committee

comprising of all taluka committee

Formation of rules and norms for district manch

Panchayat Mahila Manch in Gujarat Three district level manchs – Dahod , Panchmahal and Sabarkantha. In Surendranagar district manch is in formation. Total 4 districts and 26 taluka Manchs are supported with necessary inputs and trainings. The “Manchs” initiated in the other districts including Kutch and Bhavnagar by member organization. Spreading over the concept in other state Astha Sansthan , Rajsthan MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Three district level manchs – Dahod , Panchmahal and Sabarkantha.

In Surendranagar district manch is in formation.

Total 4 districts and 26 taluka

Manchs are supported with necessary inputs and trainings.

The “Manchs” initiated in the other districts including Kutch and Bhavnagar by member organization.

Spreading over the concept in other state

Astha Sansthan , Rajsthan

Activities Undertaken by PMM Gramsabha Campaign Meetings and dialogue with local administration. “ Swapanu Mahila Raj nu” – A district level event by the Manchs to communicate the local and policy Advocacy issues to local administration Fact finding and monitoring in the cases of problem faced by EWRs Participated in the PEVAC - 2006 MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Gramsabha Campaign

Meetings and dialogue with local administration.

“ Swapanu Mahila Raj nu” – A district level event by the Manchs to communicate the local and policy Advocacy issues to local administration

Fact finding and monitoring in the cases of problem faced by EWRs

Participated in the PEVAC - 2006

Learning and Experience from PMM Manchs as a platform for EWRs to talk and voice their concerns. Manchs gives a direction and energy to the capabilities of the EWRs Sense of solidarity felt by manch members. Manchs have successfully communicated the administrative and policy level problems at three tiers Consideration to this issues by administration MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Manchs as a platform for EWRs to talk and voice their concerns.

Manchs gives a direction and energy to the capabilities of the EWRs

Sense of solidarity felt by manch members.

Manchs have successfully communicated the administrative and policy level problems at three tiers

Consideration to this issues by administration

Panchayat Information Centers An innovative strategy to fulfill the information need of the women leaders. PIC were located at taluka level Operated by the women sarpanch with the assistance from the local NGO Information provided on – Panchayati Raj, Govt. schemes, administrative procedures, legal information Successful undertaking of the cases of transferring land ownership and ration card. MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

An innovative strategy to fulfill the information need of the women leaders.

PIC were located at taluka level

Operated by the women sarpanch with the assistance from the local NGO

Information provided on – Panchayati Raj, Govt. schemes, administrative procedures, legal information

Successful undertaking of the cases of transferring land ownership and ration card.

Contd.. Consideration by the Administration and women leaders. A thought of having PIC at every taluka level panchayat was raised up by local administration at Kutch. Some PIC are continued by the member organization. MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Consideration by the Administration and women leaders.

A thought of having PIC at every taluka level panchayat was raised up by local administration at Kutch.

Some PIC are continued by the member organization.

Samras Scheme and its impact on Democratization process. An Analytical Study MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Samras Scheme and its impact on Democratization process.

An Analytical Study

Need for the Study ‘ Samras Yojana’ of GOG Implemented during 2006 PRI elections. motivational grant to the villages that choose for Uncontested Election. Compare to last terms, in 2006 hike in the grant amount and other benefits, Strategy formulated to gain maximum Samras village MSA undertook PEVAC during 2006 Panchayat Election Cases of coercion and forced inclusion under Samras Yojana noticed MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

‘ Samras Yojana’ of GOG Implemented during 2006 PRI elections.

motivational grant to the villages that choose for Uncontested Election.

Compare to last terms, in 2006 hike in the grant amount and other benefits,

Strategy formulated to gain maximum Samras village

MSA undertook PEVAC during 2006 Panchayat Election

Cases of coercion and forced inclusion under Samras Yojana noticed

Major Findings of the Study Main reason for opting Samras village is the financial intensive provided under the scheme. low revenue earning capacity of Panchayat increases in their financial dependency on government Non representative and non participatory process Denies for women and marginalized participation in the political affairs of their village MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Main reason for opting Samras village is the financial intensive provided under the scheme.

low revenue earning capacity of Panchayat

increases in their financial dependency on government

Non representative and non participatory process

Denies for women and marginalized participation in the political affairs of their village

Samras Findings Contd… Creation of 44 Mahila Samras Panchayat with the intention ‘for monetary gain’ No participation of women Kept unaware about their selection. It increases Bureaucrats control over the Panchayat by a forced inclusion Interference of MP & MLA Discrimination between the election held villages and Samras villages. MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Creation of 44 Mahila Samras Panchayat with the intention ‘for monetary gain’

No participation of women

Kept unaware about their selection.

It increases Bureaucrats control over the Panchayat by a forced inclusion

Interference of MP & MLA

Discrimination between the election held villages and Samras villages.

Thank you Your suggestion and feedback will be adding in our capacity and strengthen our working towards engendering governance. Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan 22, Heena Park Society, Near Shyamal Row House -5 Kenyug Cross Roads, Satellite, Ahmedabad – 15 Tele fax – 079 26610447, Email Id - mahilaswarajabhiyan@gmail.com MAHILA SWARAJ ABHIYAN Presented by - Avani Rawal

Thank you

Your suggestion and feedback will be adding in our capacity and strengthen our working towards

engendering governance.

Mahila Swaraj Abhiyan

22, Heena Park Society, Near Shyamal Row House -5

Kenyug Cross Roads, Satellite,

Ahmedabad – 15

Tele fax – 079 26610447, Email Id - mahilaswarajabhiyan@gmail.com