Despite a reservation of 33 per cent in panchayats, the women pradhans of UP still have a long way to go. The Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj is trying to ascertain the fate of former women pradhans. Research reveals that most of these women, recognised at state and national levels, are not remembered as pradhans by their village folks. For them, away from power means away from limelight too.

A talk with over two dozen former women pradhans from across the state reveals that despite having held seats of power in villages, they are yet to achieve political recognition. Nirmala Devi (46) of Saharanpur, who during her tenure was awarded with the Nirmal Gram award for ensuring cleanliness in her village, now works as a daily labourer.

Says Nirmala Devi, “When the new pradhan was elected, my days were over. The new pradhan is the daughter-in-law of a former pradhan, a member of a political party. She is called purane pradhan ji ki bahuriya and not a pradhan.”