Women power: This district scores perfect six

The authorities in Bundi just can’t stop smiling. It is for the first time ever that the Superintendent of Police, District Collector...

The authorities in Bundi just can’t stop smiling. It is for the first time ever that the Superintendent of Police, District Collector, District Judge, the local MLA , Chairman of the District Krishi Upaj Mandi and even the Chairman of the municipality are all women. Having formed a “women army”, this small district of Rajasthan, more famous for its step wells, has become a perfect example of women empowerment.

Not surprising, Bundi, situated in the south-east of Rajasthan, is the first to claim such an achievement. At present, the only male holding a district-level charge is the zilla pramukh.

“I came to know about this just before I came to Bundi on Saturday. It feels nice to know that women are now doing so well that they together can form a complete team,” says SP Lata Manoj Kumar, the latest one to join the group.

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Though, Nisha Gupta, the District Judge, has been transferred, she will stay on in Bundi till April 13. Even if it is for a short while, the district will continue to bask in the glory of being the only one in the state and probably the country, to achieve this distinction.

“It is definitely a thing to be proud of. At a time when women empowerment is given so much importance, an achievement like this is quite admirable,” says Bundi MLA Mamta Sharma, the only woman MLA from Congress.

Incidentally, this development has left such an impact here that the villagers are using it is as an instrument to spread social awareness even in the remotest corners of the district. Teachers and social activists are also trying to convince parents to send their daughters to schools.

Gajender Singh Solanki, a government teacher in Karwar, a small village in Bundi, who is also part of the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, states that this will help their cause. “Even the most conservative people get impressed when we tell them that out local politician, collector, judge, SP are all sahibas. We relate this to the fact that Rajasthan itself is one of the few states where the chief minister, governor and the Assembly Speaker, are all women. This gives most parents a chance to dream about a good future for their daughters,” adds Solanki.

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Says Rajender Maheswari, a lecturer in Bundi Government College, “With a woman SP taking charge, Bundi has been taken over by women. We take pride in this and discuss it even with our female students, encouraging them to move ahead in life.” As much as it has surprised the local people, it has surprised the authorities as well.

“It is unheard of. And I am quite proud to be part of this so called ‘women army’. Though I would like to add that our posts should not be made to sound gender-oriented,” says Mughda Sinha, District Collector, agreeing that this has made a huge difference here.