Model Answer
0 min readIntroduction
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992, which mandated the establishment of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) across India, marked a significant turning point in rural governance. A cornerstone of this amendment was the provision for reservation of seats for women at all levels of PRIs – one-third of the total number of seats. This was a deliberate attempt to address the historical marginalization of women in decision-making processes and to foster their empowerment. While the intention was laudable, the actual impact of PRIs on the empowerment of rural women has been a complex and multifaceted phenomenon, requiring a detailed examination of its successes, limitations, and ongoing challenges.
Pre-PRI Scenario: Marginalization of Rural Women
Prior to the 73rd Amendment, rural women faced significant barriers to participation in governance. These included:
- Social Norms: Deeply entrenched patriarchal norms restricted women’s mobility, access to education, and participation in public life.
- Economic Dependence: Limited economic opportunities and dependence on male family members hindered their ability to exercise agency.
- Lack of Political Representation: Women were severely underrepresented in local governance structures, leading to their voices being unheard.
Provisions for Women’s Representation in PRIs
The 73rd Amendment Act mandated:
- Reservation: At least one-third of the seats at all levels of PRIs (village, intermediate, and district) were reserved for women.
- Rotation of Seats: Reservation was to be rotated among constituencies to ensure wider representation.
- Reservation for SC/ST Women: Within the reserved seats for women, further reservation was provided for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
Some states have gone beyond the constitutional mandate, providing for even higher reservation percentages for women, such as 50% in Bihar, Haryana, and others.
Impact of PRIs on Women’s Empowerment
Political Empowerment
The reservation policy has led to a significant increase in the number of women in PRIs. As of 2021, over 1.3 million elected women representatives are serving in PRIs across India (Ministry of Panchayati Raj data, knowledge cutoff 2024). This increased representation has:
- Enhanced Political Awareness: Women representatives have become role models and have raised political awareness among other women in their communities.
- Shift in Priorities: Studies suggest that women representatives prioritize issues such as water supply, sanitation, education, and healthcare, which directly impact the lives of women and children.
- Increased Participation in Decision-Making: Women’s presence in PRIs has led to more inclusive decision-making processes.
Economic Empowerment
PRIs have facilitated economic empowerment of women through:
- Self-Help Groups (SHGs): PRIs have actively promoted the formation and functioning of SHGs, providing women with access to credit, training, and market linkages.
- Employment Opportunities: PRIs have created employment opportunities for women through various schemes such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA).
- Access to Resources: Women representatives have advocated for better access to land, credit, and other resources for women farmers.
Social Empowerment
PRIs have contributed to social empowerment by:
- Challenging Social Norms: Women representatives have challenged traditional patriarchal norms and promoted gender equality.
- Increased Access to Education: Women representatives have prioritized education for girls and advocated for better school infrastructure.
- Improved Health Outcomes: Women representatives have focused on improving access to healthcare services, particularly for women and children.
Challenges Faced by Women Representatives
Despite the positive impacts, women representatives in PRIs face several challenges:
- Lack of Education and Training: Many women representatives lack formal education and training, hindering their ability to effectively perform their duties.
- Dominance of Male Family Members: In many cases, women representatives are influenced or controlled by their husbands or other male family members.
- Limited Financial Resources: PRIs often lack adequate financial resources, limiting their ability to implement development programs.
- Social Discrimination: Women representatives continue to face social discrimination and harassment.
Addressing the Challenges and Way Forward
To further enhance the empowerment of rural women through PRIs, the following measures are needed:
- Capacity Building: Providing comprehensive training and capacity-building programs for women representatives.
- Financial Support: Increasing the financial resources available to PRIs.
- Awareness Campaigns: Conducting awareness campaigns to challenge patriarchal norms and promote gender equality.
- Strengthening SHGs: Providing continued support to SHGs to enhance their economic viability.
- Mentorship Programs: Establishing mentorship programs to support women representatives.
Conclusion
The Panchayati Raj Institutions have undoubtedly played a crucial role in the empowerment of rural women in India, particularly through the mandated reservation policy. While significant progress has been made in terms of political representation and increased participation in decision-making, challenges related to education, social norms, and financial resources persist. Addressing these challenges through targeted interventions and sustained efforts is essential to unlock the full potential of PRIs as agents of transformative change for rural women and to achieve true gender equality at the grassroots level.
Answer Length
This is a comprehensive model answer for learning purposes and may exceed the word limit. In the exam, always adhere to the prescribed word count.