Challenges of Women in Panchayati Raj Institution A Sociological Study of Saran District in Bihar

Abstract

The present sociological study is about challenges faced by women in Panchayati Raj Institution newlineof Saran district in Bihar. The Panchayati Raj is a grass root level political system which works newlineas an important instrument in the process of democratic decentralization, found mainly in south newlineAsian countries. Panchayati Raj Institution is a very effective instrument in the process of newlinedeveloping power to lower level or providing power to the people at grassroot level for newlinedemocratic decentralization through people s active participation. The approbation of the 73rd newlineamendment by the Parliament in 1992 had a great revolutionary potential to create appropriate newlinedemocracy at the grassroots village level. The purpose behind 73rd Constitutional Amendment newlinewas to ensure political opportunities to the underprivileged section of the society such as newlinescheduled caste, scheduled tribes and women. newlineReview of literature based on previous studies highlight that there is no specific study based on newlinechallenges faced by women of Bihar in Panchayati Raj Institution. Works on challenges of newlinewomen in Panchayati Raj Institution have chiefly been done from political and economic angle. newlineThis study explores the challenges of women representative in PRI from social angle. The newlineresearch on women participation in Panchayati Raj is essential not only for policymakers but also newlinefor academician and researcher. It becomes imperative to convert the collected information into newlinean indicator which can be appropriate for policy intervention. In this way the present study is newlinehelpful for academic, policy makers, NGOs, etc. for understanding the grassroots realities of newlinewomen representative. newlineThe principal objectives of this study are to understand the various socio-economic factors which newlineaffect the political representation of women, to explore and analyze the fundamental challenges newlineand problems women face in discharging their duties as members of Panchayati Raj Institution newlineand to understand the process of change among women in the changing scenario of the power newlinestruct