PANCHAYATI RAJ AND EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN IN INDIA

ABSTRACT

India after attainment of independence, granted the right to franchise to all her adult population irrespective of caste, creed, religion and sex. No country can progress if the ?fty percent of its population remains alienated from political activities and vis-a-vis con?ned themselves to the household drudgery and kitchen. It is true that reservation for women in Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) have opened up huge vistas for their empowerment. The political scenario is changing at grass root level i.e., panchayati raj institutions having 33 per cent of women reservation which will increase up to 50 percent in future in the country. The present study was an effort to assess the role of Panchayats in participation as well as empowerment of women and also suggest some effective measures to achieve that goal. The present study reveals that some of the southern and western states are far more advanced than the northern and some of the eastern states. Bihar, otherwise not so impressive on other parameters, has provided for 50% reservation for women in PRIs and has given a huge impetus to their empowerment