Political Empowerment of Women through Panchayati Raj Institutions in India

Abstract

Participation of women in the political field and in various decision-making bodies is an important tool for empowerment. The participation of women at all levels of governance structures is the highest need of this hour for women’s actual empowerment. Women’s political empowerment, usually viewed as political involvement in government or elections which is essential to give women a voice in the policies that affect their lives. Political participation of women in India has been neglected even since independence. Political system and decision making process in seen clearly in the changes incorporated in the Panchayati Raj Institution. The objective of bringing improvement in the socio-economic condition of women could be successful only by taking suitable initiatives and measures for empowering them. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment in 1992 gave them not less than one-third reservations in the PRIs at all the levels.  This has been enhanced to 50 percent in some of the states in the recent years. Women’s participation has been increasing rapidly but it is not satisfactory. This paper examines the political empowerment of Women with special reference to Panchayati Raj Institutions in India and analyses the reasons for women’s low level of participation and make suggestions for their effective participation of women at grassroots level in India.