What are the provisions available for women participation in governance ?

• Article 15(3) to the Constitution of India empowers state to make special provisions for women.
• This constitutional mandate is recognition of the fact that women in India need to be empowered socially and economically so as to ensure their full participation in social, economic and political activities of the country.
• Article 243D provides the one-third of the total number of seats and offices of the chairpersons in PRIs at each level shall be reserved for women to be allotted by rotation to different constituencies in a Panchayat.
• Although 73rd CA provides only for 1/3rd reservation, as many as 19 states reserved up to 50 percent of seats and offices of chairpersons to women.

What are the challenges before Elected Women Representatives (EWRs)?

• Many EWRs continue to work as rubber stamps for their family members and also at times as proxies for the rural elites.
• Their male workers show insensitivity and often refuse to cooperate and obey the orders.
• Burden of household responsibilities, purdah system and domestic violence negatively affect their functioning as EWRs.
• Hierarchical caste system in rural India makes it difficult for women in SC and ST communities to function independently and effectively.
• Bureaucratic apathy and corruption is rampant which makes these EWRs demotivated and disenchanted from the panchayati raj.
• Community or Khap Panchayats function parallel to panchayats and pressurizes EWRs to act in a particular way.
• Majority of EWRs enter into public life for the first time and do not have enough knowledge and skills to handle affairs of panchayats.
• Policy of reservation for only one term and rotation of reserved seats and posts of chairperson also hinders consolidation of leadership qualities among EWRs as it takes time for them to learn skills of handling and negotiating various conflicting interests in the panchayat.
• Elected representatives in general and in specific EWRs face resistance from community if they want to remove encroachment from panchayat land / properties.
• Many rural households do not want to pay taxes and fees on time while expect panchayats to deliver public services and good in timely fashion.
• Patriarchal mindsets make it difficult for EWRs to freely interact with male functionaries at times when it is required.

What are the initiatives taken by GOI?

• In order to bring about 50 percent reservation for women in Panchayats in all states a Constitution Amendment Bill has been introduced.
• For capacity building of ERs of PRIs, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been making continuous efforts by launching and implementing various schemes like Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
• For effective utilization of 14th Finance Commission recommendations grants, MoPR has developed model guidelines and manual for preparation of holistic participatory gram development plans.
• Self Help Groups have emerged as an important support institution for EWRs and GOI is trying to synchronize EWRs with the best performing SHGs through various schemes.
• MoPR has organized special events like orientation of women Sarpanchs at national level and these events not only serve as opportunity for capacity enhancement but also networking with EWRs of other regions and states.
• All the states and UTs are advised to impress PRIs to ensure the safety of EWRs and female Sarpanchs, particularly those who belongs to the weaker sections of the society.