Lok Sabha Question No. 337 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-17
Subject: Women Representatives in PRIs
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Rahul Gandhi, Pratima Mondal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO-*337

ANSWERED ON-17.03.2020

## WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PRIS

## *337. SHRI RAHUL GANDHI:

SHRIMATI PRATIMA MONDAL:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the percentage of elected women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the country, State/UT-wise;
- (b) the details of elected representatives, Panchayat functionaries and other stakeholders trained under various training and capacity building programmes along with the funds allocated and utilized during the last three years, State-wise;
- (c) whether the Ministry evaluates and monitors the impact of the training and capacity building interventions;
- (d) if so, the details thereof;
- (e)  whether  any  study  has  been  conducted  by  the  Government  regarding  qualitative  changes through  the  increasing  participation  of  women  in  PRIs,  if  so,  the  details  and  the  outcome thereof, State/UT-wise; and
- (f) the strategy formulated by the Government to improve the socio-economic condition of women in the country?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ (SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)

- (a) to (f) A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *337 ANSWERED ON 17.03.2020 REGARDING WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PRIs.

- (a)  A  statement  showing  the  percentage  of  elected  women  representatives  in  Panchayati  Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the country, State/Union Territory-wise is given at Annexure I .
- (b)  The  details  of  Elected  Representatives,  Panchayat  Functionaries  and  other  stakeholders  of panchayats trained across States/Union Territories during last three years are given in AnnexureII . The details of funds released and utilized during last three years, State/Union Territory-wise are given at Annexure-III .
- (c) & (d) Panchayat, being 'Local Government', is a State subject and part of State list of Seventh Schedule of Constitution of India. Mandate for setting up of Panchayats is provided by Article 243 in Part IX of the Constitution of India. Accordingly, the Panchayats are setup and operated through the  respective  State  Panchayati  Raj  Acts.  However,  Ministry  of  Panchayati  Raj  has  been supplementing the efforts of States/Union Territories for strengthening of PRIs by way of capacity building of Elected Representatives and Panchayat Functionaries to improve their functioning and effectiveness and make them self-reliant. Under the Scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, Ministry provides financial support to States/Union Territories for Training Needs Assessment, evaluation of capacity building and training activities. Further, States/Union Territories have been advised  to  take  up  activities  such  as  consultation  with  Elected  Representatives,  Panchayat Functionaries  and  other  stakeholders,  assessment  of  trainer,  impact  assessment  of  training programmes etc. before preparation of Capacity Building and Training  plan under the Annual Action Plan for seeking financial support under the Scheme from Ministry.
- (e) A nationwide study on Elected Women Representatives in Panchayats commissioned by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj was published in year 2008. The study assessed the empowerment of Elected  Women Representatives  in  various  aspects  including  enhancement  of  the  self-esteem, confidence and their decision making abilities. 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  Elected  Women Representatives have made efforts to encourage girls' enrolment in schools and mitigate domestic violence.
- (f) 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. As per the information available with the Ministry,  20  States  such  as  Andhra  Pradesh,  Assam,  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 provisions of 50% reservation for women in PRIs in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. Government has been encouraging increased involvement of 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. This Ministry 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, allocation of Panchayat funds for women centric activities, combating the evil of women trafficking, female foeticide, child marriage etc.

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Starred Question No. *337 answered on 17.03.2020.

Percentage of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the country, State/Union Territory-wise

| State / UTs              | Total PRI Representatives   | Total EWRs   | %of EWRs   |
|--------------------------|-----------------------------|--------------|------------|
| Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 858                         | 306          | 35.66%     |
| Andhra Pradesh           | 156050                      | 78,025       | 50.00%     |
| Arunachal Pradesh        | 9383                        | 3,658        | 38.99%     |
| Assam                    | 26754                       | 14,609       | 54.60%     |
| Bihar                    | 136573                      | 71,046       | 52.02%     |
| Chhattisgarh             | 170465                      | 93,392       | 54.79%     |
| Dadra &Nagar Haveli      | 147                         | 47           | 31.97%     |
| Daman &Diu               | 192                         | 92           | 47.92%     |
| Goa                      | 1555                        | 571          | 36.72%     |
| Gujarat                  | 144080                      | 71,988       | 49.96%     |
| Haryana                  | 70035                       | 29,499       | 42.12%     |
| Himachal Pradesh         | 28723                       | 14,398       | 50.13%     |
| Jammu &Kashmir           | 39850                       | 13,224       | 33.18%     |
| Jharkhand                | 59638                       | 30,757       | 51.57%     |
| Karnataka                | 101954                      | 51,030       | 50.05%     |
| Kerala                   | 18372                       | 9,630        | 52.42%     |
| Ladakh                   | NA                          | NA           | NA         |
| Lakshadweep              | 110                         | 41           | 37.27%     |
| Madhya Pradesh           | 392981                      | 196490       | 50.00%     |
| Maharashtra              | 240635                      | 128677       | 53.47%     |
| Manipur                  | 1736                        | 880          | 50.69%     |
| Odisha                   | 107487                      | 56,627       | 52.68%     |
| Puducherry               | NA                          | NA           | NA         |
| Punjab                   | 100312                      | 41,922       | 41.79%     |
| Rajasthan                | 126271                      | 64,802       | 51.32%     |
| Sikkim                   | 1153                        | 580          | 50.30%     |
| Tamil Nadu               | 106450                      | 56,407       | 52.99%     |
| Telangana                | 103468                      | 52,096       | 50.35%     |
| Tripura                  | 6646                        | 3,006        | 45.23%     |
| Uttar Pradesh            | 913417                      | 304538       | 33.34%     |
| Uttarakhand              | 62796                       | 35,177       | 56.02%     |
| West Bengal              | 59229                       | 30,458       | 51.42%     |
| Total                    | 3187320                     | 1453973      | 45.62%     |

NA- Not Available

Annexure  referred  to  in  Part  (b)  of  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  *337  for  answer  on 17.03.2020.

Details of Elected Representatives, Panchayat Functionaries and other stakeholders of panchayats trained across States/Union Territories during last three years

| SL .No.   | State/ UTs              | 2016-17   | 2017-18   | 2018-19   |
|-----------|-------------------------|-----------|-----------|-----------|
|           | Andaman &Nicobar Island | 35        | 0         | *         |
|           | Andhra Pradesh          | 174240    | 1083659   | 376451    |
|           | Arunachal Pradesh       | 7701      | 0         | *         |
|           | Assam                   | 402029    | 152525    | 322528    |
|           | Bihar                   | 251906    | 0         | 0         |
|           | Chhattisgarh            | 191713    | 291257    | 292025    |
|           | Dadra And Nagar Haveli  | -         | -         | 0         |
|           | Daman And Diu           | -         | -         | 0         |
|           | Goa                     | 176       | 4329      | 1704      |
|           | Gujarat                 | 321206    | 71078     | 543094    |
|           | Haryana                 | 52878     | 66856     | 35293     |
|           | Himachal Pradesh        | 0         | 0         | 7303      |
|           | Jammu &Kashmir          | 94        | 0         | 102540    |
|           | Jharkhand               | 86499     | 134924    | 7000      |
|           | Karnataka               | 218760    | 252294    | 301375    |
|           | Kerala                  | 25900     | 39416     | 109057    |
|           | Madhya Pradesh          | 236999    | 391155    | 260356    |
|           | Maharashtra             | 652145    | 1204606   | 80703     |
|           | Manipur                 | 10033     | 25758     | *         |
|           | Meghalaya               | -         | -         | 0         |
|           | Mizoram                 | 4957      | 9068      | 171       |
|           | Nagaland                | -         | -         | 8253      |
|           | Odisha                  | 105494    | 41795     | 16329     |
|           | Punjab                  | 70971     | 32500     | 59196     |
|           | Rajasthan               | 146524    | 37097     | 122077    |
|           | Sikkim                  | 6049      | 4857      | 15166     |
|           | Tamil Nadu              | 481       | 324873    | *         |
|           | Telangana               | 123046    | 378930    | 169078    |
|           | Tripura                 | 23374     | 20344     | 15910     |
|           | Uttar Pradesh           | 614       | 298895    | 268968    |
|           | Uttarakhand             | 1562      | 30789     | *         |
|           | West Bengal             | 322114    | 473063    | 412064    |
|           | Total                   | 3437500   | 5370068   | 3526641   |

## Annexure  referred  to  Part  (b)  of  the  Lok  Sabha  Starred  Question  No.  *337  for  answer  on 17.03.2020.

Details of funds released and utilized during last three years, State/Union Territory-wise (Rs in Crore)

| Sl. No.   | State/ Union Territory   | Funds Released   | Funds Released   | Total Funds Utilized(2012-13   | Fund Released   | Funds Utilized   |
|-----------|--------------------------|------------------|------------------|--------------------------------|-----------------|------------------|
| Sl. No.   | State/ Union Territory   | 2016-17          | 2017-18          | to 2017-18)                    | 2018-19         | 2018-19          |
| 1.        | Andhra Pradesh           | 91.61            | 81.35            | 241.81                         | 67.69           | 65.75            |
| 2.        | Andaman &Nicobar Islands | 0.17             | 6.75             | 3.64                           | 0               | 0                |
| 3.        | Arunachal Pradesh        | 0.59             | 3.59             | 18.15                          | 33.19           | 15.68            |
| 4.        | Assam                    | 49.08            | 27.59            | 109.32                         | 39.21           | 33.51            |
| 5.        | Bihar                    | 0                | 0                | 18.01                          | 4.25            | 24.04            |
| 6.        | Chhattisgarh             | 42.62            | 33.21            | 110.9                          | 7.24            | 13.13            |
| 7.        | Dadra &Nagar Haveli      | *                | *                | *                              | *               | *                |
| 8.        | Daman &Diu               | *                | *                | *                              | *               | 0.12             |
| 9.        | Goa                      | 1.38             | 0.21             | 0.86                           | 0               | 0.36             |
| 10.       | Gujarat                  | 33.38            | 0                | 36.03                          | 0               | 0                |
| 11.       | Haryana                  | 11.37            | 10.55            | 38.67                          | 6.99            | 0                |
| 12.       | Himachal Pradesh         | 1.4              | 0                | 37.19                          | 17.26           | 8.11             |
| 13.       | Jammu &Kashmir           | 0                | 0                | 0.00                           | 25.06           | 16               |
| 14.       | Jharkhand                | 20.9             | 47.16            | 106.14                         | 4.49            | 0                |
| 15.       | Karnataka                | 15.08            | 41.08            | 102.57                         | 0               | 0                |
| 16.       | Kerala                   | 8.55             | 23.36            | 43.8                           | 7.68            | 14.43            |
| 17.       | Lakshadweep              | *                | *                | *                              | *               | *                |
| 18.       | Madhya Pradesh           | 55.45            | 30.25            | 174.18                         | 62.79           | 54.98            |
| 19.       | Maharashtra              | 21.17            | 44.53            | 155.5                          | 11.54           | 10.08            |
| 20.       | Manipur                  | 9.82             | 6.52             | 28.75                          | 9.25            | 9.26             |
| 21.       | Meghalaya                | 0                | 0                | 0                              | 4.44            | 0.15             |
| 22.       | Mizoram                  | 9.2              | 10.1             | 21.83                          | 9.9             | 7.7              |
| 23.       | Nagaland                 | 0                | 0                | 0                              | 7.89            | 7.87             |
| 24.       | Odisha                   | 25.06            | 32.9             | 93.09                          | 0               | 19.99            |
| 25.       | Pudducherry              | *                | *                | *                              | *               | *                |
| 26.       | Punjab                   | 11               | 8.26             | 32.82                          | 29.68           | 0                |
| 27.       | Rajasthan                | 22.27            | 13.72            | 69.56                          | 25.57           | 0                |
| 28.       | Sikkim                   | 2.33             | 5.35             | 16.98                          | 5.08            | 4.01             |
| 29.       | Tamil Nadu               | 27.32            | 36.83            | 151.41                         | 57.6            | 16.93            |
| 30.       | Telangana                | 43.38            | 16.84            | 90.81                          | 0               | 19.1             |
| 31.       | Tripura                  | 8.3              | 1.21             | 17.46                          | 2.77            | 5.96             |
| 32.       | Uttar Pradesh            | 39.87            | 84.07            | 136.87                         | 57.14           | 27.82            |
| 33.       | Uttarakhand              | 13.21            | 7.82             | 44.17                          | 33.05           | 31.67            |
| 34.       | West Bengal              | 21.86            | 48.44            | 109.04                         | 54.94           | 54.61            |
|           | Total                    | 586.37           | 621.69           | 2009.56                        | 584.7           | 461.26           |