Role of Panchayati Raj Institution in Socio Political Empowerment of women A Case Study of HAZARIBAG District in JHARKHAND During Year 2010 to 2016

Abstract

The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 added a new part to the constitution namely Part IX. The Part IX of the constitution covers provisions from Article 243 to 243(O). The main motto behind the enactment of 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act was to strengthen the grassroot governance and use it as tool to empower villages. The empowerment of villages begins with the empowerment of women. Thus, Panchayati Raj was conceptualized as a golden tool to empower women. After the formation of Jharkhand, elections for the Panchayati Raj elections have been held twice in state i.e., in year 2010 and 2015. The Jharkhand Panchayati Raj Act (JPRA) was enacted in 2001. In Hazaribag district we find that with the growing participation of women in different political activities due to the local body elections, there is gradual transformation in the outlook of the society with respect to women. The current chairman of Hazaribag Zila Parishad is a woman. Though there are many milestones of Panchayati Raj with respect to women empowerment but on closer analysis we also find that Panchayati Raj Institution in India is impaired by number of limitations and weaknesses. There is rampant political interference in the functioning of Panchayats. Also, we notice that in the districts like Hazaribag there is lack of political awareness. Many elected women representatives don t have much idea of their own political rights and the kind of power exercised by them. In the current situation more powers and authority need to be devolved to Panchayati Raj setup. Eleventh schedule has enlisted 29 items which can be handed over to panchayats. To encapsulate at last we can say that empowerment of women is a slow but self perpetuating process. Providing women with support systems and opportunities (reservation etc) has the golden potential to put into process a sustainable chain of action in gendered power relations which would allow women to slowly and seedily break the fetters of existing boundaries. newline