Lok Sabha Question No. 3618 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-03-23
Subject: Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: SHARAD TRIPATHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOKSABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3618

TO BE ANSWERED ON 23.03.2017

## WOMEN IN PANCHAYATI RAJ INSTITUTIONS

## † 3618. SHRI SHARAD TRIPATHI:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- a) the total number of women representatives elected for Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the country, State/UT-wise including Uttar Pradesh;
- b) whether any study has been conducted regarding qualitative changes in socio-economic condition of women in view of their growing participation in PRIs;
- c) if so, the details and the outcome thereof, State/UT-wise; and
- d) the  strategic  policy  formulated  by  the  Government  to  improve  socio-economic  condition  of women in the country?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

- (a):     As per the information received from the States/UTs, there are about 14.394 lakh Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) including women sarpanches in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). A statement showing number of EWRs, State-wise including Uttar Pradesh is given at Annexure.
- (b) & (c): A nationwide study on EWRs in Panchayats commissioned by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)  was  published  in  2008.  The  study  assessed  the  empowerment  of  EWRs  in  various  aspects, including enhancement of the self-esteem, confidence and decision making abilities of EWRs. The study indicated that the participation of women in Gram Sabhas had increased, and attention was being given to women related issues such as drinking water, sanitation and child-sex ratio. The study reported that EWRs  had  made  efforts  to  encourage  girls'  enrolment  in  schools  and  mitigate  domestic  violence. Besides, the issues concerning women and children, including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) related to women, sanitation and children are given focussed attention with the women taking over leadership at local levels.
- (d): Article 243D of the Constitution ensures participation of women in PRIs by mandating not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. Government has been encouraging increased involvement of the women in the functioning of Panchayats through active participation in the Gram Sabha meetings for preparation  of  Gram  Panchayat  Development  Plans  and  various  schemes  being  implemented  by  the Panchayats. MoPR has also issued advisories to the States to facilitate holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings, enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, and to curb the cases of proxy attendance by relatives of EWRs.

The Ministry of Women & Child Development implements several schemes/programmes such as Swadhar  and  Short  Stay  Home,  Working  Women  Hostels,  Support  to  Training  and  Employment Programme for Women (STEP), Rashtriya Mahila Kosh (RMK), National Mission for Empowerment of Women (NMEW) for the welfare and empowerment of women. Further, the Ministry has also approved Scheme  for  setting  up  Women  Helpline  and  One  Stop  Centre  which  aims  to  facilitate  access  to  an integrated  range  of  services  including  medical  aid,  police  assistance,  legal  aid/case  management, psychosocial counselling, temporary support services to women affected by violence.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no 3618 to be answered on 23.03.2017 regarding 'Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions'

| S.No.   | States/UTs         | Total Number of EWRs   |
|---------|--------------------|------------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh     | 79313                  |
| 2       | Andaman& Nicobar   | 306                    |
| 3       | Arunachal Pradesh  | 657                    |
| 4       | Assam              | 13422                  |
| 5       | Bihar              | 57887                  |
| 6       | Chhattisgarh       | 86980                  |
| 7       | Dadra Nagar Haveli | 47                     |
| 8       | Daman &Diu         | 28                     |
| 9       | Goa                | 516                    |
| 10      | Gujarat            | 43696                  |
| 11      | Haryana            | 29499                  |
| 12      | Himachal Pradesh   | 14313                  |
| 13      | Jammu &Kashmir     | 11169                  |
| 14      | Jharkhand          | 32019                  |
| 15      | Karnataka          | 54087                  |
| 16      | Kerala             | 9500                   |
| 17      | Lakshadweep        | 41                     |
| 18      | Madhya Pradesh     | 198409                 |
| 19      | Maharashtra        | 116625                 |
| 20      | Manipur            | 868                    |
| 21      | Mizoram            | 564                    |
| 22      | Odisha             | 53396                  |
| 23      | Pudducherry        | *                      |
| 24      | Punjab             | 32393                  |
| 25      | Rajasthan          | 70531                  |
| 26      | Sikkim             | 549                    |
| 27      | Tamil Nadu         | 40072                  |
| 28      | Telangana          | 51946                  |
| 29      | Tripura            | 3006                   |
| 30      | Uttar Pradesh      | 371744                 |
| 31      | Uttarakhand        | 36274                  |
| 32      | West Bengal        | 29579                  |
|         | Total              | 1439436                |

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