Lok Sabha Question No. 3026 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2023-08-08
Subject: Elected Women Representatives
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: Geetha Viswanath Vanga

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3026

ANSWERED ON-08.08.2023

## ELECTED WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES

## 3026. SHRIMATI VANGA GEETHA VISWANATH:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the percentage of Panchayati Raj seats reserved for women that are vacant in States with 50 percent reservation for women for the fiscal years 2019-20, 2020-21 and 202122, State-wise;
- (b) the number of Elected Women Representatives in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Andhra Pradesh during the said period;
- (c) there has been a dip in the number of Elected Women Representatives in PRIs postcovid;
- (d) if so, the details thereof, State-wise; and
- (e) whether the Government has taken any steps apart from 1/3 reservation of seats  to improve  the  participation  of  women  in  PRIs  and  address  the  issue  of  tokenistic representation, if so, the details thereof and if not the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

## THE MINISTER OF STATE FOR PANCHAYATI RAJ

## (SHRI KAPIL MORESHWAR PATIL)

(a), (c) and (d) In terms of Article 243D of the Constitution of India, reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) is to be provided through the respective State Panchayati Raj Acts. Since it is in the purview of State Legislature, details relating to seats vacant in PRIs or dip in the number of elected women representatives are not maintained by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj.

(b) Elections to Panchayats in State of Andhra Pradesh were held in 2014 and their tenure ended  in  2019.  Though  State  Election  Commission  issued  notification  in  March  2020  for conduct  of  Panchayats  elections,  election  process  had  to  be  stopped  due  to  COVID-19 pandemic situation. There were no elected Panchayats during 2019-20 to 2020-21. Elections to PRIs were conducted by the State in April, 2021. Accordingly,  details of elected women representatives in PRIs of Andhra Pradesh in 2021-22 are as under-

| Name of the office of Panchayati Raj Institutions   |   Total number of seats |   Number of seats elections withhold |   Number of seats Elections held |   Number of women representative elected |
|-----------------------------------------------------|-------------------------|--------------------------------------|----------------------------------|------------------------------------------|
| Zila Parishad Territorial Constituency              |                     660 |                                    8 |                              652 |                                      353 |
| Mandal Parishad Territorial Constituency            |                   10047 |                                  344 |                             9703 |                                     5670 |
| Sarpanch Gram Panchayat                             |                   13371 |                                  274 |                            13097 |                                     7434 |
| Ward member Gram Panchayat                          |                  134057 |                                 3095 |                           130962 |                                    72177 |
| Total                                               |                  158135 |                                 3721 |                           154414 |                                    85634 |

(e) 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.

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