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Decentralization and Community Governance in India - A Gender Perspective

Explore the constitutional guarantee of political representation in India and its impact on women's empowerment. This article delves into the context of high economic growth, persisting gender inequality, and measures such as statutory political representation and livelihood mission. Discover the strength and challenges faced by women in grassroots leadership roles and the need for a holistic perspective.

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Decentralization and Community Governance in India - A Gender Perspective

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  1. Decentralization and Community Governance in India - A Gender Perspective BidyutMohanty Head, Women’s Studies Institute of Social Sciences. New Delhi bidyutmohanty@issin.org

  2. CONSTITUTIONAL GUARANTEE OF POLITICAL REPRESENTATION – the Indian path of women’s empowerment, its capacity and limits • The context : High rate of economic growth– 7 to 9 per cent- Make in India programme with the image of Lion replacing the Elephant- • but high magnitude of poverty and inequality – class, caste, ethnic, gender, region. Our focus on persisting gender inequality, sexual violence. • Two Important measures : statutory political representation and policy of livelihood mission • My argument: Major initiatives with significant effects, but still inadequate because of preoccupation with economic growth and lack of a holistic perspective

  3. Women’s representation in local bodies • 73rd Constitution Amendment 1993 statutory representation of not less than 33% women in rural government councils – both as members and leaders – ( now 50% in many States of India) • one million elected women with five year term • at least two million contestants • Twenty five years of grass-roots political experience- catalysts for many new currents of change- but patriarchy largely persists • While the draft law on quota in Parliament and State Assemblies still being debated

  4. Livelihood Mission • Multiple programmesaggregated • Micro-credit Programme with Self Help Groups – experience of twenty five years : Mixed results • Bank/government gives small loans to a group of homogenous women having bond through social capital and traditional skill to start micro enterprises such as bee keeping, goat raising paddy husking etc. • In terms of numbers at least one million women Self Help Group members have been formed • Thus altogether almost 16 million women are interacting in the public arena . In a way it has created a silent revolution.

  5. Strength and Challenges. • Women come from different back ground, so not homogenous. • Hence some women emerge as real grassroots leaders. • But others succumb to the social and family pressure and remain invisible. • In spite of being leaders, they are subjected to various types of violence including sex selected abortions.

  6. Some signs of hope, but a long way to go • In many places, a synergy between panchayat women leaders and members of micro credit groups have taken place. Women’s Collectives have been formed. • In those places, women panchayat leaders are coming forward to take active role in panchayat. • Going up to take up higher roles in politics;Many women leaders in Indian politics • But three absences: • powerful political organization of women, • land rights – productive resources, • weak challenge to patriarchal culture

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