Women in Panchayats: The History, the Perspective and the Background

Viji N. R.*, Sheela Edward G.**
* Department of History, Government Arts College (Autonomous), Kumbakonam, Tamil Nadu, India.
** Department of History, TBML College, Porayar, Tamil Nadu, India.
Periodicity:May - August'2024
DOI : https://doi.org/10.26634/jhss.4.2.20491

Abstract

Women play a key role in India's Panchayat Raj System by serving as Panchayat members and chairpersons. The primary reason for including women in the system was to engage them in national administration and progress. The United Nations (UN) adopted the Convention on Women's Political Rights in 1952 and has organized four World Conferences on Women, the fourth of which was held in Beijing in 1995. This conference declared that women's equal participation in decision-making is not only a requirement for justice and democracy but also essential for ensuring their well-being is taken into account. It also stated that women must have at least a 30% share of decision-making positions. However, the participation of women in politics and public life in India remains woefully low. There is a significant gap between men and women in political activities beyond voting. Women's involvement at higher levels of governance is notably lower compared to their participation at the lower levels. In the domestic sphere, women's leadership and administrative skills are quietly acknowledged, yet they are not given space in the public arena. While other marginalized communities, such as Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, received reservations in Parliament and State Legislative Assemblies, women were not initially granted any reservation in the Constitution of India, which limited their political empowerment.

Keywords

73rd Amendment, Naya Panchayat Act 1983, Jawahar Rozgar Yojana, Zhadgar of Maharashtra, Obstacles for Women in Panchayats.

How to Cite this Article?

Viji, N. R., and Edward, G. S. (2024). Women in Panchayats: The History, the Perspective and the Background. i-manager’s Journal on Humanities & Social Sciences, 4(2), 9-15. https://doi.org/10.26634/jhss.4.2.20491

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