2012 Rakshak Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Project Status Report Name: Shreya Som Institute:...

2012 Rakshak Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

Project Status ReportName: Shreya Som

Institute: CLC,DU

Mentor Name: Prof Nishiganda Bhuyan

Institute: IIM C

Presentation Date: 27.7.2012


Project Title

Effects of women reservation in Panchayats : Realities, Myths, Learnings & Suggestions

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Contents

Project Overview

What is the project about?

Goals and Objectives

Scope of the project

Your approach towards the project

Field visits and Mentor Discussion

Key Findings

Results and Discussions

Recommendations, their scope and Flow chart (Strategy) for Implementation

Suggestions for future work

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Project Overview

What is the project about?

Project Topic: Effects of women reservation in Panchayats – realities, myths , learnings and suggestions.

As the name suggests it deals with the detailed study of the Panchayati Raj System in India starting from the ancient times till their proper evolution in modern times and also the evolving role of women from ancient to modern times

The report of various committees institutionalizing the Panchayti Raj System and their suggestions with regard to special reservation of these women in local bodies, & Finally the 73rd amendment to theConstitution

Field studies and literature survey to know the real scenario of these reservations and suggest improvements in the same.


Goals and Objectives

The objective of the project is to find out the impact of these reservations, the role of women before and after the provision of reservations, current status and plausible solutions and improvements

To study the actual law passed, government policies and loopholes in the same

To study the factors acting as impediments for the implementation of policies

To study the need for reservation for women

To study the obstacles and hurdles faced by women when such reservation policies are put into use

To study the various capacity building measures by Government and NGOs to effectively execute such government policies

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Scope of the project

Understand whether there is any need for such reservation policies

Understand if the Elected Women Representatives are really the decision making bodies in these Panchayats or are mere token representatives

Analyse the literacy rate amongst women in villages and if the lack of same becomes a setback in the performance of their role in the Panchayats

Understand if education of women will pose a solution to the problem or a change in the attitude and perception of women is more important

Understand the evolution of empowered woman representatives and whether in the process they are empowering other women in their area

Study the administrative set ups outside India and the role of women in the same

Study whether increase in quantitative reservation ensures qualitative results

Formulate suggestions to overcome such problems which will lead to effective implementation

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Approach Towards the Project

Read up on literature pertaining to the background of Panchayati Raj Systems

Read up on literature pertaining to the need for reservation for women

Look up on statistical data

Field visits & interviews

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Key Findings

When reservations were first introduced women were merely “proxy” candidates giving rise to concepts like “pati pradhans” & “Sarpanch Patis”

The presence in meetings were low and often even if they were present were rarely allowed to raise any issues in the meetings

But gradually women started to raise their voice and started acting on their own refusing to act as dummy candidates

Women’s choice of developmental work differed from men as they concentrated more on improving things related to women like water, child and women healthcare, building roads etc

The caste of the candidates also mattered while developmental work

Experience and response of women members were not uniform throughout India

A survey carried out by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and AC Nielson in 2008 found out that Majority of the EWRs perceived an enhancement in in their personal effectiveness and image after being elected

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What does government statistics say?

(i) Four-fifths of all the representatives got elected from reserved seats and reservation emerged as an important motivator (43%) for contesting the first election. Prior association with any form of politics was low, and for most women the act of contesting the first election signaled their entry into active politics.

(ii) 95% EWRs felt that they could freely raise issues during Gram Sabha meetings.

(iii) A sizeable proportion of Elected Women Representatives perceived an enhancement in their self-esteem (79%), confidence (81%) and decision-making abilities (74%). Also becoming a Pradhans or Ward Member augments respect within the family (67%) as well as in the community at large (82%) as more attention is paid to them when they take up local issues with the concerned officials.

(iv) Two-third of the elected representatives reported that their interaction with line Departments and parallel bodies had increased progressively over time.

(v) 60% women representatives mentioned that they did not experience gender-based discrimination in the Panchayats and being ignored.

(vi) Female representatives reported getting recognition from their peers and community for the work done by them.

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Capacity Building measures by Government

Creation of self help groups under Swarnajayanti Gram Swarojgar Yojana (SGSY) . Under the Livelihoods Improvement Project in Himalayas, women self-help group members in Uttarakhand were even elected as gram pradhans (heads of the local governments at the village or small town level) in 170 out of 669 panchayats in villages. In those operations, the country programme evaluation also found unequivocal advances in the self-confidence and assertiveness of self-help group members.

Capacity Building of Elected Women Representatives and Functionaries of Panchayati Raj Institutions by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR), Government of India and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) India, from 2003 -2008.

Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA) launched during the 11th Five Year Plan

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Yojana (RGSY) ( Directed at ER as a whole)

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Key Findings (Field Visits)

The menace of “proxy” candidates is rampant in the villages around Kanpur. The authorities are fully conversant with the situation but they are nothing but helpless observers

Its only women who have a strong financial and educational background act on their as Mahila pradhans or whose husbands are engaged in meaningful employment themselves

The status of other women in villages has been the same despite having a woman as the pradhan. However, there are exceptions but nothing extra ordinary. The developmental work is limited to constructing roads and nalas.The only women oriented activity undertaken is facilitating pension to widows

In some villages , the attitude towards women has not changed much

The villagers are also very reluctant and suffer from a sense of ennui to change the situation fearing social boycott

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Comparative study of administrative systems of Sri Lanka,India,Pakistan,Nepal,Bangladesh

Statutory Rights

All have statutory right to equality and all have signed CEDAW

All except Sri Lanka have a quota of reserved seats for women in local govt.

Bangladesh has a quota for women in the civil service

National and local Policies and Progs

Some local govts provide training / orientation programmes to increase women’s participation;

Pakistan has a Local Government Plan 2000 for devolving power.

Role of NGOs

NGOs in all countries have taken strong role in advocating women’s involvement

Training

Provided by NGOs, political parties and training institutions; e.g. All India Inst. Of Local Self-government; Pakistan’s Aurat Foundation has initiated ‘Citizen’s Campaign for Women’s Representation in Local Government’; and Nepal has an Urban Development Training Centre

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Comparative study of administrative systems of China, Vietnam, Australia and New Zealand

Statutory Rights

All have basic laws on political and civil rights. All have signed CEDAW.

National policies and programmes

All have nat. progs eg: China – a Prog. For the Development of Chinese women;

Vietnam – Politburo document has goal to increase numbers of women; Japan – Basic Law for a Gender-Equal Society encourages women’s participation;

Australia and NZ – Women’s Affairs at central govt. level

Local policies and programmes

Aust. & NZ – legislation requires consultation/ encourages participation.

Some provinces in China have set targets for the number of women

Role of NGOs

NGOs strong in all countries, eg All China Women’s Fed.; Vietnam –Nat. Committee for the Advancement of Women; Japan – League of Women Voters and the Ichikawa Fusae Memorial Assoc; Aust. and NZ –

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Local Government System

In Vietnam more women successful in elections (26%) than in appointed positions (6%)

In NZ and Australia - longer time of voting and ability to stand for office has eventually led to more women being elected.

Direct election for mayors in NZ – a factor in more women mayors being elected.

Quotas

Not favoured in this area. Some preference for ‘merit based’ system. Some voluntary targets have been set.

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Data On Representation of women (2008)

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37.00%

33.00%

18.00%

12.00%

WomenOthersSCST


Results and Discussions

The survey conducted in 2008 showed a bright and positive picture regarding the EWRs . However, more needs to be studied about the efficacy of such tall claims

Concerted efforts by Media and capacity building efforts by Govt and NGOs played a big role in motivating the women

However, women still face hurdles while political participation and taking part in private as well public decision making exercises

Since women already have a substantial representation in all the 3 tiers whether there is further need to increase the reservation from !/3rd to ½ of the total no of seats

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Reccomendations

Minimum educational qualification of the Candidates should be there

Not only minimum but also maximum age qualification for contesting should be there

Strict checking during filing of nomination papers to weed out dummy candidates

Strict and regular monitoring like surprise visits to the villages should be undertaken by the authorities to curb Proxy candidature and ensure that women candidates act on their own

More effective capacity building measures and better awareness has to be undertaken by the government in collaboration with NGOs and adequate training to be given both pre and post elections. The Ministry of Panchayti Raj has already initiated some schemes for the same.

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Awareness of how women can use local government

Funds to help women run for election

Best practice models

Measurements of the impacts of all policies and programmes on women and men

Gender awareness workshops. Citizen awareness of gender, politics and human rights

Self-reliance, self-confidence courses for girls and young women and their potential for decision-making positions in schools

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Questions????

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2012 Rakshak Foundation. All Rights Reserved. Project Status Report Name: Shreya Som Institute:...

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