Lok Sabha Question No. 3209 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2017-08-03
Subject: Women Sarpanch
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: DHARAM VIRA GANDHI

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3209

TO BE ANSWERED ON 03.08.2017

## WOMEN SARPANCH

## 3209. SHRI DHARAM VIRA:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- a) the number of women Sarpanch in the country, State-wise;
- b) whether any study or survey has been conducted to ascertain the upliftment of women in rural areas, if so, the details thereof; and
- c) the details of the action plan chalked out by the Government for further empowerment of rural women?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI PARSHOTTAM RUPALA)

(a): The representation of women in Panchayats is dynamic and depends on the reservation policy  of  the  State  and  number  of  women  winning  the  elections.  As  per  the  information received from the States/UTs a statement showing state - wise number of women sarpanches in the country is given at Annexure .

(b):  A  nationwide  study  on  Elected  Women  Representatives  (EWRs)  in  Panchayati  Raj Institutions 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 has 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 to mitigate domestic violence.

(c):  Article  243D  of  the  Constitution  ensures  participation  of  women  in  (Panchayati  Raj Institutions (PRIs) by mandating not less than one-third reservation for women in seats and the  offices  of  chairpersons  in  Panchayats.  Morever,  19  States  have  made  provisions  for reservation of one-half of the total number of seats for women in Panchayats. Reservation for women is aimed at empowering women and making Panchayats more gender friendly.  Over the years, there has been substantial increase in the involvement and activities of women in the functioning of panchayats and their development related activities. 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.  Besides, MoPR has been advocating 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.

Annexure referred to in reply to Part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 3209 for 03.08.2017

## State-wise details of women sarpanch

| SL No.   | States/UTs          | Women Sarpanch   |
|----------|---------------------|------------------|
| 1        | Andhra Pradesh      | 6,584            |
| 2        | Assam               | 1,093            |
| 3        | Bihar               | 4,289            |
| 4        | Chandigarh          | 4                |
| 5        | Chhattisgarh        | 5,822            |
| 6        | Dadar Nagar Haveili | 11               |
| 7        | Daman &Diu          | 8                |
| 8        | Goa                 | 79               |
| 9        | Gujarat             | 4,676            |
| 10       | Haryana             | 2,565            |
| 11       | Himachal Pradesh    | 1,631            |
| 12       | Jharkhand           | 2,284            |
| 13       | Karnataka           | 3,011            |
| 14       | Kerala              | 471              |
| 15       | Lakshadweep         | 4                |
| 16       | Madhya Pradesh      | 11,864           |
| 17       | Maharashtra         | 13,960           |
| 18       | Manipur             | 68               |
| 19       | Odisha              | 3,351            |
| 20       | Punjab              | 4,436            |
| 21       | Rajasthan           | 5,121            |
| 22       | Sikkim              | 88               |
| 23       | Tamil Nadu          | 4,289            |
| 24       | Telangana           | 4,600            |
| 25       | Tripura             | 285              |
| 26       | Uttar Pradesh       | 19,992           |
| 27       | Uttarakhand         | 4,007            |
| 28       | West Bengal         | 1,657            |
| Total    | Total               | 1,06,250         |

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