Muzaffarpur (Bihar): Thirty-two-year old Sanjay Kumar is fast learning the tricks of becoming an able homemaker.
Till yesterday, he was a politician with immense clout locally. Today, Sanjay takes care of the kids and does the household chores, while his wife goes out campaigning for the coming panchayat election where she contests for the post of Mukhiya.
If you think women are a deprived lot in Bihar, think twice, because the trend is changing. The panchayat elections have brought about women's empowerment.
50 per cent reservation for women in Bihar panchayat elections is the reason behind this role reversal.
Says Sanjay, "She goes for campaigning early morning everyday. I on the other hand wake up the children, get them ready for school and cook the food. I guess that is something that I have to do."
For Sanjay's wife Reena Devi, campaigning is no cake walk. She leaves home early morning and spends the whole day mobilizing her vote bank. Her busy schedule leaves no time for family but Sanjay's efforts have made life easier for her, and she acknowledges that.
"I am campaigning for the post of the Panchayat Mukhiya. I don't like the fact that my husband has to do all the work at home but we don't have much of a choice in the matter," says she.
According to another resident of Muzaffarpur, Ram Iqbal Sah, whose wife is also contesting the Panchayat elections, "My wife goes for her election campaign every day so I have to do all the work at home."
This swapping of role is a pleasant and welcome change. It gives women an opportunity to share the limelight with their male counterparts.
(With inputs from Prabhakar Kumar)
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