Women's participation in politics and local governance

Abstract

Where women are honoured there reside the gods' was said by Manu. In India, women have made a considerable progress and have proved themselves by conducting the worldly affairs efficiently and effectively over the periods, but still they are deprived of their rights of equality with men. Their status has deteriorated due to various social, economic, cultural and religious factors. This status of women continued for quite a long time, until some social reformers like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Raja Rammohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati of Arya Samaj and Brahmo Samaj stood against the brutality and the grave injustice which was being done against the women. Child Marriage, Sati Pratha, Pardah, Confinement to home and non-inclusion of females in day to day affairs were the examples of women suppression. Women have not been able to achieve an equal status and equal opportunity for themselves due to various reasons. Their representation in politics and various public offices has remained nominal. Women have contributed equally in the Struggle for Independence. At the advent of Independence, provisions were made for equal status of women in Indian Constitution. On the same lines, the provisions of women reservation in local bodies were made, so that women make their presence felt in local bodies in India and are a part of decision making process at the grass root level. Studies have shown that even after having reservation in local bodies, women are still not active and their husbands or other male relatives are actively involved in using their positions and they are only rubber stamps. The present study strives to find out the reasons behind the meagre representation of woman in political arena. The study has tried to find out the representation of women, their educational background, reason for coming to the public life and avenues wherein they could do better to serve the people of their constituency in a better way. For the present study, Bathinda City has been selected and Bathinda Municipal Corporation (BMC), which is a local governance body, has been chosen. For this purpose, a iv detailed schedule has been prepared to understand the above given aspects from the municipal councillors of BMC. The data collected through the schedules have been analysed and the results have been interpreted. It was observed that women are coming in local governance due to the reservations but are more dependent upon their family members to perform the election and governance related activities