Women, Empowerment and Panchayati Raj

The empowerment of Rural Women is crucial for the development of rural Bharat. Women's equal participation in decision making is not only a demand for simple justice or democracy but can also be seen as a necessary condition for women's interests to be taken into account. Without the active participation of women perspective at all levels of decision-making the goals of equality, development and peace can not be achieved.

Despite the widespread movement towards democratization in most countries women are largely underrepresented at most levels of government, especially in ministerial and other executive bodies, and have made little progress in attaining political power in legislative bodies or achieving the tartet of 30 pre cent women in positions at decision-making levels.

The book tries to analyze the perceptions and orientations of the women leaders manning the decentralized democracies on various issues pertaining to the new Panchayati Raj system in rural India.

The book will be useful for the policy makers, administrators, scholars and students of political science, public administration, sociology, women studies and rural development and all those connected with the Panchayati Raj system in the country.

Table of Contents:

Women in Political Process
Women in Panchayati Raj
Locale, Methodology and Study Area
Socio-Economic and Political Profile of Women Panchayati Raj Elite
Perceptions and Orientations of Women Panchayati Raj Leadership
Training of Panchayati Raj Functionaries Conclusions