Patna: A teenage girl in eastern Bihar will take charge of her village council for a day on Republic Day,under an initiative aimed at encouraging girls’ participation in grassroots democracy.
On January 26, a student from Godhwa gram panchayat in East Champaran district will assume the role of village head, becoming the first teenager in the area to do so, officials said. She will hoist the national flag, preside over a meeting of the gram sabha and review proposed development plans for the panchayat.
The one-day appointment is designed to build confidence among adolescent girls, familiarise them with democratic processes and promote greater participation of women and girls in local governance. Organisers said the initiative was also intended to inspire other girls in the community to engage more actively in public life.
Applications were invited from girls studying in classes six to nine in schools under the panchayat. More than 50 students applied through an online form before the deadline of January 21.
An examination will be held on January 25, with results announced the same day. Three students will be selected on the basis of their performance. The top-ranked candidate will serve as village head for the day, while the second- and third-ranked students will take part in the gram sabha by offering suggestions and inspecting development plans.
All participants in the initiative will be formally recognised, organisers said, in a bid to ensure the exercise is seen not just as symbolic but as a meaningful step towards greater inclusion in rural governance.
