Training on Mahila Gram Sabhas (Women’s gram sabha) in CFR villages

A training session on ‘Steps towards conducting Mahila Gram Sabhas (Women’s Gram Sabhas)’ was held on the 30th November 2025, in Mundapal (Bastar, Chhattisgarh). The training brought together around twenty four women gram sabha members with keen interest in women’s leadership from two villages namely, Mundapal and Ghatkawali. The participants included the gram sabha President, and the Panchayat Secretary of Ghatkawali village, the Auxillary Nurse Midwife (ANM/ Mitanin) from Mundapal, and other representatives. 

The training introduced the concept of Mahila Gram Sabhas under the PESA rules of Chhattisgarh, outlining the pre-liminary steps to conduct the meetings, and highlighting women’s role in gram sabha-based decision-making. Over the course of three-hours, participants engaged with these ideas through interactive games, videos, and a detailed presentation on PESA provisions for Mahila Gram Sabhas. Practical examples illustrated the issues Mahila Gram Sabhas can collectively address. A step-by-step guide was introduced on setting up rules for conducting meetings, mobilizing women gram sabha members, and dividing responsibilities to ensure regular and effective meetings. 

By the end of the session, the participants decided to initiate the Mahila Gram Sabhas in the month of December. The first meetings will focus on enlisting key issues for collective action from women’s perspective. In large villages like Ghatkawali, the participants were advised to hold gram sabhas at the ‘para’ level (i.e. at ward level) on a monthly basis, while at the Panchayat level on a bi-monthly basis to ensure inclusivity. 

The training was facilitated by Laxmi Manjhi and Anuja Date and supported by Anubhav Shori, Bansingh Mourya, Kamlesh Kashyap and Hritik Bhatnagar from the ATREE team.