Women Are No Longer Mere Spectators, But Powerful Partners in Village Decisions: HIRD Director Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan
Today's Panchayats are not limited solely to development works; they are also actively engaged in providing women with security, dignity, and self-reliance. When women's participation in Panchayats increases, the social environment of the village also moves in a positive direction. These sentiments were expressed by Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD), while addressing the audience during the 'Ram Ram Haryana' program.
Girish Saini
May 11, 2026 08:43
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Nilokheri, May 11, 2026: Today's Panchayats are not limited solely to development works; they are also actively engaged in providing women with security, dignity, and self-reliance. When women's participation in Panchayats increases, the social environment of the village also moves in a positive direction. These sentiments were expressed by Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan, Director of the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD), while addressing the audience during the 'Ram Ram Haryana' program.
The program featured detailed discussions on topics such as women-friendly Gram Panchayats, women's participation in Gram Sabhas, and community cooperation in rural development. During the event, Kavita Chaudhary, the Sarpanch of Gram Panchayat Boonga (Barwala, Panchkula), was present as the Chief Guest.
Describing the increasing presence of women in Gram Sabhas as a sign of strengthening democracy, Dr. Virender Singh Chauhan noted that in villages led by a female Sarpanch, women's participation in the Gram Sabha naturally increases. Women are no longer mere listeners; they are now playing an active role in decisions related to village development.
Appreciating the 'Ram Ram Haryana' program, Director Dr. Chauhan stated that this platform serves to disseminate positive stories from villages, highlight public participation, and showcase social changes to the masses. He added that such programs are giving a new identity to rural culture, the functioning of Panchayats, and the transformations taking place within society.
The Chief Guest, Sarpanch Kavita Chaudhary, remarked that the government's provision of a 50 percent reservation for women in Panchayat elections is a historic step toward women's empowerment, for which she expressed her gratitude to the government. She asserted that only a woman can truly understand the problems faced by other women, and driven by this very spirit, her Panchayat is continuously working toward the welfare of women and girls.
She highlighted that every necessary facility has been made available for school-going girls. Self-Help Groups have been established within the village, witnessing a steady increase in women's participation. Furthermore, to ensure the safety and security of women, surveillance cameras have been installed at various locations throughout the village.
During the event, Assistant Professor Sandeep Kumar from the HIRD, Senior Advisor Gurbinder Singh from the National Institute of Rural Development, Advisor Neelam Chhikara from the State Panchayat Resource Center, Pritam Yadav from Apna Radio 91.2 FM, Bharat Sopori from Radio Vitasta 90 FM Ambala, Manish from Radio Aravali, and Ved from FM Bharti were present, alongside other dignitaries.
