Lok Sabha Question No. 2198 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-12-20
Subject: Participation of Women in Panchayati Systems
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Mahabali Singh

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 2198 ANSWERED ON 20.12.2022

## PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN PANCHAYATI SYSTEMS

## †2198. SHRI MAHABALI SINGH:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the  names  of  schemes/programmes  launched  by  the  Government  to  strengthen Panchayati Raj System to improve rural areas of the country;
- (b) whether the Government has taken initiatives to increase participation of women in PRIs and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  made  any  assessment  of  the  impact  of  increasing participation of women in PRIs on the basis of the social and economic conditions; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a) To strengthen the Panchayati Raj System in the country, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is  implementing (i) a Centrally Sponsored Scheme- Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) with major objectives of capacity building and training of the elected representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions and their functionaries with the focus on attainment of Sustainable Development Goals in rural areas and also supplement and compliment the efforts of the State Government in providing infrastructure for functioning of the Panchayats such as construction of Gram Panchayat Bhavans, Computerisation, (ii) Incentivisation of Panchayats, a Central component of RGSA to incentivize the Panchayats in recognition of their good performance in improving  the  delivery  of  public  goods  and  services  and  (iii)  e-Panchayat  Mission  Mode Project for digitization of Panchayats with a view to bringing in efficiency, transparency and accountability in the rural local self-government.

(b) Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides for not less than one-third reservation for women in PRIs 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, 21

States  namely,  Andhra  Pradesh,  Assam,  Bihar,  Chhattisgarh,  Gujarat,  Haryana,  Himachal Pradesh,  Jharkhand,  Karnataka,  Kerala,  Madhya  Pradesh,  Maharashtra,  Odisha,  Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, and 2 UTs namely 'UT of Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu' and 'UT of Lakshadweep' have made provision for 50% reservation for women in PRIs in their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. In respect of remaining Part-IX States/UTs, Constitutional provision, as prescribed in Article 243D, applies.

Further, 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.

(c) No, Sir.

(d)The question does not arise. In view of (c) above.

***