Participation of Women in Panchayati Raj System
As per information available, the following States have made legal provision for 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions: Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Kerala, Maharashtra, Orissa, Rajasthan, Tripura and Uttarakhand.
Under Article 243D (4) of the Constitution of India, not less than 1/3rd of the seats of Chairpersons of District Panchayats shall be reserved for women. The State of Panchayats Report 2008-09 sponsored by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj shows that in 2010 the percentage of women members in District Panchayats was 35.80%. However, the figures of percentage of women Chairpersons of District Panchayats is not available separately.
A Nation wide study on Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) commissioned by Ministry of Panchayati Raj in 2007-08 had concluded that the earlier notions of women being mere proxies for male relatives have gradually ceded space to the recognition that given the opportunity to participate in the political system, women are as capable as their male counterparts. EWRs have used their office not only to mainstream gender issues but also to address the developmental needs of the community as a whole and also issues such as health, sanitation, early childhood care, drinking water etc., that have a special impact on the lives of women.
The above information was given by the Minister of Panchayati Raj Shri V. Kishore Chandra Deo in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.
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