Lok Sabha Question No. 3822 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-12-08
Subject: Women Representation in PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: RAHUL RAMESH SHEWALE

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3822

## TO BE ANSWERED ON 08.12.2016

## WOMEN REPRESENTATION IN PRIs

## 3822.  SHRI RAHUL SHEWALE

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- a) whether  the  representation  of  elected  women  in  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions  (PRIs) have increased in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, if so, the details thereof;
- b) the extent to which the issues of drinking water, sanitation and adverse child sex ratio are addressed through the representation of elected women in PRIs across the country;
- c) whether the Government has conducted any study to ascertain the impact of women's representation in PRIs on their socio-economic condition and awareness, if so, the details and outcome thereof; and
- d) the other steps taken by the Government to ensure adequate representation of women in PRIs across the country?

## ANSWER

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

RUPALA)

(a): In terms of Article 243D of the Constitution, not less than one-third seats of total number of  seats  filled  by  direct  election  in  every  panchayat  and  of  the  total  number  of  offices  of chairpersons  in  panchayats  are  reserved  for  Women.  However,  19  states  have  made provisions  for  reservation  of  one-half  seats  of  the  total  number  of  seats  for  women  in Panchayats.  The  representation  of  women  in  Panchayats  is  dynamic  and    depends  on  the reservation policy of state and number of women winning the elections, etc. As such yearwise information on elected women representatives is  not maintained by the Ministry. As per the  information  received  from  the  States/UTs,  there  are  about  14.41  lakh  Elected  Women

Representatives (EWRs) including women sarpanches in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). A statement showing number of EWRs is at Annexe.

(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 that  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. Besides, the issues concerning women and children including achieving the Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs)  related  to  women,  sanitation  and  children  are  likely  to  be  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 reservations for women in seats and of the offices of chairpersons in 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.

*****

## Details of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs)

| S.No.   | States/UTs         | Number of EWRs   |
|---------|--------------------|------------------|
| 1       | Andhra Pradesh     | 78025            |
| 2       | Andaman& Nicobar   | 306              |
| 3       | Arunachal Pradesh  | 3094             |
| 4       | Assam              | 13422            |
| 5       | Bihar              | 63914            |
| 6       | Chhattisgarh       | 87836            |
| 7       | Dadra Nagar Haveli | 47               |
| 8       | Daman &Diu         | 28               |
| 9       | Goa                | 516              |
| 10      | Gujarat            | 43696            |
| 11      | Haryana            | 24876            |
| 12      | Himachal Pradesh   | 14398            |
| 13      | Jammu &Kashmir     | 11169            |
| 14      | Jharkhand          | 32019            |
| 15      | Karnataka          | 50892            |
| 16      | Kerala             | 9185             |
| 17      | Lakshadweep        | 41               |
| 18      | Madhya Pradesh     | 198409           |
| 19      | Maharashtra        | 115519           |
| 20      | Manipur            | 868              |
| 21      | Mizoram            | 564              |
| 22      | Odisha             | 53396            |
| 23      | Pudducherry        | *                |
| 24      | Punjab             | 33609            |
| 25      | Rajasthan          | 70531            |
| 26      | Sikkim             | 549              |
| 27      | Tamil Nadu         | 39975            |
| 28      | Telangana          | 51735            |
| 29      | Tripura            | 4889             |
| 30      | Uttar Pradesh      | 371744           |
| 31      | Uttarakhand        | 36274            |
| 32      | West Bengal        | 29579            |
|         | Total              | 1441105          |

*****