Call for Equal Wages in Palli Sabha

Call for Equal Wages in Palli Sabha

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Oxfam India organised a special palli sabha on gender wage equality and role of panchayat at Goudakela village in Kalahandi. The sabha organised along with the Madanpur Rampur (M.Rampur) Panchayat and Oxfam India was presided over by ward member, Kumudini Mahakud. This is a huge step towards ending gender discrimination in the workplace.

A Panchayat is divided into several Wards. Ward Sabha is the smallest administrative unit of the Panchayati Raj system. In Odisha, it is called Palli sabha and it is constituted with all voters of a revenue village. Ward Sabha, is organised in each Ward within a Gram Panchayat.

Despite the constitutional mandate to ensure equal wage for equal work for men and women, women in 7 villages of M.Rampur Panchayat are getting 33 percent and 25 percent less wage than their male counterpart in construction sector and agriculture sector, respectively. The palli sabha was a huge success as women panchayat leaders, caste society leaders, and men acknowledged the issue and passed a resolution to ensure equal wages.

The special palli sabha passed a resolution that the panchayat will organise special palli sabha in all villages under the panchayat and get similar resolutions passed. The panchayat will then organise special Gram Sabha and get the resolution passed to ensure equal wage in all the sectors. Once the resolution is passed in special Gram Sabha, the panchayat will notify it. This will be followed by awareness activities not just among the workers but also with the different employers in the construction and the agriculture sector.

It was also decided that a Women Cell will be set up at the panchayat office to deal with women-related issues. Women can come to the Cell and register their grievances on the 4th of every month. Oxfam India team will be present in the Cell to provide any technical help.

It was also decided that Oxfam India and M.Rampur Panchayat will work together and advocate with Panchayati Raj department at the state level to come up with similar notification for the entire state.

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