Lok Sabha Question No. 2991 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-08-04
Subject: Comprehensive Development of Villages
Ministry: PANCHAYATI RAJ
Asked by: GOPAL CHINAYYA SHETTY

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF PANCHAYATI RAJ LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.2991 TO BE ANSWERED ON 04.08.2016

## COMPREHENSIVE DEVELOPMENT OF VILLAGES

## †2991. SHRI GOPAL SHETTY:

Will the Minister of PANCHAYATI RAJ be pleased to state:

- (a) the number of women Sarpanch/Pradhan in the country, State/UT-wise including the role of Government to increase the participation of women in Panchayat;
- (b) whether  any  complaints  has  been  received  from  the  women  Sarpanch/Pradhan  as harassment /non-co-operation; and
- (c) if so, the details thereof and action taken thereon?

## ANSWER

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

(a)    As  per  the  information  received  from  the  States/UTs,  there  are  about  14.41  lakh  Elected Women  Representatives  (EWRs)  including  Women  Sarpanchs  in  Panchayati  Raj  Institutions (PRIs). A statement showing number of Elected Women Representatives as received from the States/UTs is at Annexe-I. Article 243D (4) of the Constitution ensures participation of women in PRIs by mandating one-third reservations for women in seats and 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.

(b) & (c) As 'Panchayat'is a State subject, complaints pertaining to Elected Representatives are handled by the States. Ministry has received one complaint of harassment and non- cooperation from  a  Woman  Sarpanch  of  Chhattisgarh,  which  has  been  forwarded  to  the  Government  of Chhattisgarh for necessary action.

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## Annexe-I

Annexure referred to in reply to part (a) of the Lok Sabha Unstarred Question no 2991 to be answered on 04.08.2016 regarding Comprehensive Development of Villages

| S.No.   | States/UTs         | Total 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                  |
|         |                    | 1441105                |
|         | Total              |                        |

* elections not held