Journalism of Courage
State election commissions Kranti Jyoti Scheme will help them understand rules pertaining to different schemes
Pune ZP CEO Anil Kawade told Newsline that 2,979 women have been elected to local bodies,including gram panchayat and other committees,across the district and the training was required to ensure that women who have been elected for the first time understand the issues and rules and regulations pertaining to different schemes.
Seven other districts too are under the scheme which is being coordinated by Resource Centre for Support and Development and Nirmala Niketans College of Social Work. The districts are Solapur,Kolhapur,Satara,Nashik,Wardha,Thane and Sindhudurg. Rani Patil,newly elected Sarpanch of Bhuyewadi village of Karveer tehsil,Kolhapur,who was in Pune to attend a training session told Newsline that it was vital to train women who were newly elected to these local bodies.
Patil,a commerce graduate with an MBA and diploma in costing and accounts,said first timers should not be misled by various department officials. It is important that women elected as either gram panchayat members or village sarpanchs are aware about the documents they are signing and the funds they are releasing for developmental works, Patil said.
Bhim Raskar,Coordinator of the Resource Centre for Support and Development,said at least 20,000 women sarpanchs are being trained across all the eight districts.
There are four modules in the training that urges them to read the budget and understand the welfare schemes. Pune ZP Deputy CEO Nandini Ghanekar said it was an important scheme as it helped women understand their role as community leaders.
No takers for Kanya Ratna
Barely 21 families have registered the names of their girls under welfare scheme Kanya Ratna that was launched two years ago by the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) for families belonging to below poverty line. Joint Commissioner and in-charge of Urban Community Development Department D S Mulak said as part of the scheme,Rs 30,000 is invested in UTI for the BPL family who has one girl and Rs 15,000 each if there are two daughters. The girl will receive Rs 2,000 once she passes Class V and Rs 4,000 after passing Class VIII. An amount of Rs 7,500 is earmarked for the girl after she clears SSC examinations and Rs 200 per month is given if she continues with Classes XI and XII. By 18 years,she will receive Rs 1 lakh.
