Lok Sabha Question No. 2137 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-08
Subject: Women Sarpanch
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2137 TO BE ANSWERED ON 08/03/2018

## Women Sarpanch

## †2137. SHRI SANJAY HARIBHAU JADHAV:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of female sarpanch in Maharashtra;
- (b) whether any study or survey has been conducted to ensure upliftment of women in the rural areas during the last two years;
- (c) if so, the details thereof; and
- (d) the details of any action plan under consideration of the Government for the empowerment of rural women?

## ANSWER

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

- (a) As informed by Government of Maharashtra the number of female sarpanch in the state is about 14,364.

(b)  &  (c)  Many  studies  touching  upon  the  various  aspects  of  rural  women  including  their upliftment  and  empowerment  have  been  conducted  by  different  organisations.  A  nationwide study on 'Elected Women Representatives (EWR) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)' was commissioned  by  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  (MoPR).  The  study  has  observed  that  the reservations  have  provided  opportunities  for  women  to  come  up  in  the  mainstream,  provides them with a platform to interact, participate in deliberation and development and enhance their contribution and played a significant role in getting substantial number of women representatives elected from the reserved seats. Reservation has facilitated the first entry into political system for many of the elected representatives.

(d)    The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act is an institutional mechanism, which has created space for rural women in grass root political system, to increase their participation in decision making process by reserving not less than one-third seats for them at each tier of the Panchayat. Twenty  States viz. Assam,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat,  Himachal  Pradesh, Jharkhand,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Punjab,  Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal have made provision for reservation of fifty per cent seats for women in Panchayats at all levels in the respective States. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has issued advisories from time to time to State/ UT Governments for the empowerment of rural women by ensuring their presence and participation in  Panchayats.  Besides,  MoPR  has  also  been  focussing  on  improving  the  capacity  of  Elected Women Representatives of Panchayats under its schemes.

Many  flagships  programmes  and  centrally  sponsored  schemes  like  Beti  Bachao  Beti  Padhao, Pradhan  Mantri  Matru  Vandana  Yojana  (PMVVY),  UJJAWALA,  SWADHAR,  Support  to Training  and  Employment  Programme  for  Women  (STEP)  etc.  are  being  implemented  by different  Ministries  of  the  Government  of  India  for  women  upliftment  and  empowerment. Besides,  other  Government  schemes/programmes  of  rural  development  like  Mahatma  Gandhi National  Rural  Employment  Guarantee  Act  (MGNREGA),  Pradhan  Mantri  Awas  Yojana (PMAY), Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY- NRLM) etc. have  contributed  significantly  in  the  upliftment  of  rural  women.  DAY-  NRLM  has  been implemented across  the  country  in  a  mission  mode  with  the  objective  of  organizing  the  rural poor women into Self Help Groups (SHGs), and continuously nurturing and supporting them to take up economic activities till they attain appreciable increase in incomes over a period of time to  improve  their  quality  of  life  and  come  out  of  abject  poverty.  The  implementation  of  the programme, has started in 4429 blocks of 581 districts. During the year 2017-18, 5.87 lakh Self Help  Groups  have  been  promoted.  Rs.  412.15  crore  was  disbursed  to  3.2  lakh  SHGs  as Revolving Fund (RF) and Rs. 650.48 crore to 1.3 lakh SHGs and their federation as Community Investment Fund (CIF). Moreover, MoPR has approved annual action plans for 25 States and one Union  Territory  for  the  capacity  building  of  Panchayati  Raj  institutions  including  Elected Women representatives.

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