5 March 2012

THE PANCHAYAT RAJ SYSTEM

Mahatma Gandhi advocated for the Panchayati Raj system, a decentralized form of government where each village is responsible for its own affairs, as the foundation of India's political system. His term for such a vision was "Gram Swaraj" or village self-governance. The Panchayati Raj system was subsequently adopted by state governments during the 1950s and 1960s and legislation was accordingly passed to establish Panchayats in various states.   

In 1993, more than 45 years after India obtained independence, the constitution was amended to potentially realise Gandhi's dreams of “Gram Swaraj”. India’s Seventy- Fourth Amendment Act of 1992 (Amendment Act) contains provisions for devolution of powers and responsibilities to the Panchayats. In terms of the Amendment Act, the Panchayats are given certain powers and responsibilities that enable them to function as self governing institutions. These powers and authorities include the preparation of plans for economic development and social justice.  The Panchayats receive funding from three sources, namely, from local body grants, as recommended by the Central Finance Commission; centrally-sponsored schemes; and state governments on the recommendations of the State Finance Commissions. 

Of particular importance, the Amendment Act further mandates that one-third of all Panchayat seats and one-third of all Panchayat presidencies be reserved for women. Currently, more than fifteen years after the Amendment Act, in excess of two million rural women have sat at the local government decision-making table and because women are traditionally responsible for meeting their families' basic needs, their contribution to local government has been crucial. Women's leadership in Panchayats is transforming India. These elected women, who have now become role models to the other women in their communities, are altering the development agenda to address issues critical to village life and rural women. Through the Panchayat Raj system women throughout India are ensuring, amongst other things, that roads are repaired, electricity is brought to their villages, schools are built, latrines installed, medical services are available, water sources are made safe and local savings groups are formed. 

To have even greater impact, especially when dealing with bureaucratic obstacles, these women form federations with other elected women representatives. The federations provide mutual support and rally thousands of elected women to demand policy change on a larger scale. In addition, having women as at least one-third of all local elected representatives has begun to transform gender relations and call into question the deeply entrenched patriarchal system. Old prejudices are dissolving and new partnerships between women and men are developing.  

At the same time, forces of opposition are plentiful as these women leaders, like all rural Indian women, face cradle to grave discrimination.  Elected women representatives are often perceived as puppets of men. Additionally, far too many elected women Panchayat members are sometimes threatened with and even endure violence. As such some Indian women risk their lives to become Panchayat leaders. 

References:

Indian Panchayat Raj. Available from www.panchayats.in. [Accessed 5 March 2012].

Two Million and Counting: Indian Women Participate in their Local Government. Available from www.imow.org [Accessed 5 March 2012].