their male counterparts. Seema Baruah, a young and enthusiastic woman of Amsing is the local ward member, under whose able guidance a road from Narangi to Taltola near Birkuchi was constructed by employing a team of women labourers only. Interestingly this particular work was given to a male member but he refused to do the work starting that the work was not feasible enough but Seema proved him wrong and got the work done! Similarly Parbati Devi, a bright 25 years old Nepali lady Vice-President of Amsing gaon panchayat successfully constructed a Hume pipe culvert at Ashram Basti road which her male counterparts failed to do. Hence it is seen that what women need are opportunities to prove themselves and the Panchayati Raj Institution have given them the chance to excel in their field of work.
Achievement of economic independence is the ground reality for all women from all walks of life. The Panchayati Raj Institution help in the achievement of this goal by making the women aware of the facilities available to them through the various schemes. The women who are at the helm of affairs can also inspire other rural women to become self sufficient and economically independent. Basanti Das the 35 year old President of Chandrapur Anchalik panchayat, (23 kms from Guwahati) involved unemployed educated youths in the construction of a Lower primary School, a cremation ground and several houses under the rural housing schemes of Indira Abaas Yojana (IAY) and Prime Minister Gramin Yojana (PMGY). Moreover she has constituted seven numbers of self-Help Groups (SGH) and four out of these have got revolving fund from the government. Each of these SHG's have got a maximum of 20 members and they take up any activity that are approved by the Block Level banker's Committee in consultation with the Block. For Basanti it is a matter of great pride

that these SGH's are producing several items under handloom, diary and veterinary sectors and are becoming self-sufficient.
Similarly, Kalpana Borah, the soft-spoken and simple Gaon Panchayat President of Amsing Gaon panchayat under Chandrapur Block has motivated many unemployed youths in finding self-employment by forming Self-Help Groups. One such group isthe Batahghuli Sahayak Got and they are engaged in making beautiful handwoven bags and bamboo baskets which are being sold in the market.
Sayeda, Jayanti, Seema, Parvati, Basanti and Kalpana are only some of the changing faces of rural women in Assam. There are more, and hopefully their number will increase as the years go by. However it is to be borne in mind that these changes have come after amny moments of struggle at an organisational as well as individual level. We are well aware that any road to success is strewn with obstacles. And for many women the obstacles at many times comes from a section of their male counterparts who are not still open to the idea of sharing equal power of governance at the womenfolk-an unfotunate fact ingrained in our Indian society. Nevertheless, despite the obstacles and hindrances these women have proved themselves that given the right opportunities accorded by a progressive minded party and government they are capable of achieving excellence in their chosen field of activity.
However it is imperative that more and more women are encouraged to come forward and work for the continued participation in the nation building process. As our Congress President Smt. Sonia Gandhi has very aptly said - "The greatest challenge before us is to train more and more women and equip them with skills to emerge as true agents of change."