The Changing pattern of Tribal women representation in Panchayati Raj

Abstract

Panchayati Raj Institutions have always been considered as a means to good governance and 73rd Constitutional Amendment was effected in the hope that it would lead to better governance and provide political space to the disadvantaged sections of the society like Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and Women. newlineA developing democracy like India needs wider participation of the people irrespective of caste, colour, creed, sex etc. in its political process. In order to provide this opportunity, the system of democratic decentralization through Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) has long been introduced in our country. As the women constitute a very sizeable portion of the total population of India, their participation at grass root politics is so essential to make the democratic governance more successful. newlineLiving in remote forests and hill regions, the tribal people of India have remained unrecognized and ignored, and suffered a long neglect and isolation all through the centuries. Speaking over 150 languages and 225 subsidiary languages, the tribals are scattered along the length and breadth of India from the Himalayas to the Indian Ocean and from the Arabian Sea to the Eastern Frontiers. newlineIn Odisha, women constitute a very little bit less than 50 percent of the state s total population. Despite some favorable traditional values and customs and emergence of powerful women personalities, the position of the women is not very rosy. Their socio-economic status is, however, relatively low and they are discriminated in all walks of life. newline newline