Creating Spaces for Change: Santali Women’s Role in Local Level Politics in Rural India

Abstract

In the small rural village of Madur, in Odisha, eastern India, Mahak Murmu sat in her office patiently listening to Ritu’s problems. Mahak, who was elected for a third term as Sarpanch to Maddur panchayat,1 was very accustomed to hearing the challenges women in the village were facing. Ritu, whose husband had left her for another woman, was trying to find employment so she could feed her three children. Ritu had heard about the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) where the government provides 100 days employment per year per rural household paid at the minimum wage. Mahak explained that to enroll for the scheme, Ritu would need to open a bank account. To do this, she would need to bring two photographs and T250 to the panchayat office, and Mahak would help her open the account. Ritu explained that she did not have ?250 to spare but Mahak responded that she would need to find X250, as NREGS payments are now done by cheque instead of cash to counteract corruption. Ritu left the office, unable to join the government welfare scheme which would help her look after her children.