Study on Views of Respondents About Help By Male Members In Pri Works

India is celebrating the 68th anniversary of its independence. So the political participation of Indian women in general and rural women in particular becomes very significant. But in the traditional Indian society, rights are still regarded as ‘unwomanly’ and the traditional attitude also prevents them from participating in rights, even at the grass root level in India. “Participation means direct involvement of masses individually or through representatives. Participation cannot be imposed on the people from above; it should be voluntary and based on the will to participate. People’s participation or involvement can better be understood in terms of participation in decision-making, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of developmental programmes and projects and the most important is the sharing of the benefits of development.” (Mishra, 1995)1. Even after Independence, for a long time the rural women virtually remained unknown to rights due to religion, caste, traditions and the male-domination in panchayat that played a dominant role in the villages, ignoring the interest of women. The prevailing stratification of society, the authoritarian pattern of decision-making, limited channel of communication and the low literacy prevented them from being exposed to rights. After independence, with the introduction of new Panchayati Raj and community development schemes, constitutional provisions were made for the upliftment of women.

Women workers at Grass-root level: a Sociological Study” by Joshi28 primarily pertains to an in-depth sociological analysis of domestic maid servants in the middle and upper class urban society. This interview based analysis presents a fair account of the service conditions and wages, treatment that they get from their employers, social status, aspirations, their own family life and awareness of social welfare schemes launched for the upliftment of women. But is has taken the worker women’s aspects and left as to how they can participate in administrative process of the country and benefit the nation. So the political aspect is totally neglected. Mohanti29, in his article “Panchayati Raj 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act and Women” points out if women are to participate actively and effectively in PRIs then it is necessary to create positive and healthy socio-economic political condition in real sense the reservation of seats in PRIs would empower the women. Shankar30 has edited a book on: “Indian Women Today Tradition Modernity and Challenges”. It is a comprehensive study of Indian women from the beginning of their liberation movement, from social injustice to their equal participation have been discussed in three volumes. Rajeswari31 in an article “Panchayati Raj Institutions and Women” expressed a great need of the involvement of people at the grassroot level for the economic development. He also explains that some power regarding rural development have been transferred to the elected representatives. The provisions related to role of women referred in Panchayati Raj Institutions 1978 and Balwant Raj Mehta Committee Report (1957) have been explained in this article.

This table reveals that 159 (71.00%) respondents say that male members support and help the female while remaining 65 (29.00%) opined that their male counterparts don’t support them and discourage them. Majority 58 (40.84%) of women Panches respond that they get support from male members followed by 40 (28.17%) who get help from male member. While 44 (30.98%) Panches told that they don’t get support and are discouraged by them. At the same level 11 (73.34%) women Sarpanches viewed that they get support and help from male members, 4 (20.00%) believe neither they get support or help from males. At Panchayat Samiti and Zila Parishad level situation is different. At Panchayat Samiti level 44 (74.57%) members and 6(75%) members of Zila Parishad get help and support of male members.

Since most of the women have to go outside in the field for work and they are also supposed to complete the household task, therefore, it is difficult for rural women to manage PRI official work at the same time. For the purpose of getting the response from women leaders regarding official work data are presented in the below table.

This table shows above presents that majority 87 (38.84%) of women leaders respond that PRI work is burdensome while 90 (40.18%) don’t think the PRI work as burdensome 47 (20.98%) give no response on that issue. Similarly at G.P. level, 54 (38.02%) Panches don’t take the PRI work as burdensome while 46 (32.40%) Panches don’t give any response and 42 (29.58%) Panches takes PRI activities as a burdensome. At the same level, 9 (60.00%) Sarpanches are also thinks that PRI work is extra burdensome on them while half of Panchayat Samiti members have some opinion. 06 (75.00%) ZP members take PRI work as burden on them.

So on the basis of above analysis we may conclude that majority of Sarpanch, Panchayat Samiti member and Zila Parishad member think that PRI work is burden for them. People’s Participation is necessary for the success of various programme and policies of Panchayat Raj institutions. Not only the other PRI representative plays a vital rule for the village up-liftman but other community people also have crucial role in village development. For the purpose of study the responses of women PRI leader have been classified in three categories i.e. people’s participate fully, people participate partially and some people disturb due to party rights.

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