Performance of women representatives in Gram Panchayats in Punjab: A case study of Mansa district

Pages: 1701-1706
Ranjit Singh (Department of Public Administration Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)
Ravneet Kaur (Department of Distance Education Punjabi University, Patiala, Punjab)

After 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, Panchayati Raj Institutions became strong and legal bodies containing clauses for ensuring adequate representation to all the sections of the society. But, age old taboos, negative attitude, prevailing thinking and practices in the society had become strong hindrances in the way of women to be empowered. In present paper, an attempt has been made to analyze the level of participation of rural women folk in governance of local areas in Punjab. Thus, serious efforts need to be made to ensure women participation at all levels of governance particularly in the local bodies so as to make these bodies truly representative of local people.