BICHOLIM: In Bicholim taluka 144 women are contesting the elections even as a section of society feels that government should stop salary given to the elected representative.
In all there are 17 panchayats in Bicholim taluka and there will be tug of war during the elections. People in general feel that it is a good trend that women today are coming forward to contest the elections.
“It is good that in a place like Bicholim there are 144 women candidates who are contesting the elections and if this trend continues then in next five years there would be still more women who would contest the elections,” Vidhyadhar Raut claimed.
But there is a section of society that believes that women are contesting not to bring about development but because there is reservation and that they would get income after becoming panch or sarpanch.
“Most of the women who are contesting have very little exposure to active social life. They are not coming forward because they want to do some social work but just because there is reservatioin.” Ex panch of Mulgao, Tulshidas Parab stated.
“Most of those who contest are also housewives and government gives monthly salary to panch and sarpanch. This seems to be the only reason, so many of them have come forward to contest the elections. After all Rs 5000 that they get might make some difference in the running of the household affairs. This reservation and salary should be totally stopped.”
Suresh Bayekar also had the same opinion and said that even if the woman gets elected it is their husband who runs the panchayat affairs. “Most of the time these women are idle and it is the husbands who takes the decisions. They are puppets and the person who rules in the village is their husband.” Bayekar stated.
In Bicholim there are five panchayats including Van-Maulinguem-Kudchire; Narve, Menkure, Pali and Navelim where the post of sarpanch has been reserved for women. In panchayats including Mulgao, Pilgao, Sal, Shirgao, Surla and Velgaum the post of deputy sarpanch has been reserved for women. In Karapur-Sarvan panchayat there are 21 women candidates who are contesting the elections.
