2025, Vol. 7, Issue 11, Part A

Author(s): Sunita Kumari and Rakesh Kumar

Abstract: In the era of globalization, liberalization, democratic decentralization, and women's empowerment, the nation-building process depends on the participation of women at all levels. The Indian Constitution states that men and women are equal citizens of the country. The 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendment Acts created a specific political space for women in grassroots institutions with the aim of increasing their representation in the process of creating the nation, as strong female leadership is essential to integrating them into the mainstream of development. Despite the fact that women have some reservations in local bodies under the current political structure, some have abused this, using women as rubber stamps. Women are significantly underrepresented in public and electoral entities, mostly due to the systemic obstacles imposed by patriarchy, a pervasive cultural norm in the nation. As of September 2021, government data indicated that at least 18 states had over 50% of elected women in Panchayati Raj Institutions and Urban Local Bodies, including Uttarakhand, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Odisha, Kerala, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Manipur, Telangana, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Madhya Pradesh. These 18 states, including Gujarat and Kerala, have implemented legislation mandating a 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Uttarakhand has the highest percentage of female PRI lawmakers at 56.02%. According to the Constitution (106th Amendment) Act, 2023, women are entitled to one-third of all seats in the Lok Sabha, State legislative assemblies, and the Legislative Assembly of the National Capital Territory of Delhi, including those reserved for SCs and STs.

DOI: 10.33545/26646021.2025.v7.i11a.734

Pages: 07-10 | Views: 73 | Downloads: 18

Download Full Article: Click Here