Multiple Marginalities: A Study of Participation of Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in Arunachal Pradesh

Abstract

This article examines the context and implications of increasing participation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in Arunachal Pradesh. The key question that is addressed is whether inclusion of women in grassroots-level governance expands the scope for a more inclusive governance. The findings of the study suggest that the mere representation of women in decentralised governance is not enough to bring any qualitative change in local politics so far as inclusiveness is concerned. In the presence of multiple marginalities and multiple forms of exclusion, positive discrimination in one domain has not been able to create a ripple effect in addressing other forms of exclusion. With all its potential as an agent of change, women’s reservation in PRIs remains firmly anchored in the patriarchal politics of identity. The study finds that reservation for women in PRIs, although an important step towards gender equality, has failed to create the ground for a more inclusive form of grassroots governance.

Can Reservation Ensure Women’s Participation in Local Governance: A Study Among Tiwas

“…In fact, the reservation of seats that lead to women’s representation in the formal structure of governance alone could not empower the women to articulate and challenge gendered structures of inequality (Williams et al, 2015). The situation is worst, particularly in the case of tribal women (Mishra, 2018; Nagarajappa & Chidananda, 2019; Naik et al, 2020; Sukumar et al, 2019). So according to them, numbers of several factors are associated with less effectiveness of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, which includes existing patriarchy (Agnihotri & Singh, 2014; Sukumar et al, 2019), family background (Mishra, 2018; Nagarajappa & Chidananda, 2019), lack of education and training (Agnihotri & Singh, 2014; Mohapatra, 2016; Nagarajappa & Chidananda, 2019) and rigid tradition (Nagarajappa & Chidananda, 2019).…”

“…‘Inclusive governance can be defined as inclusion of the poor, women and the marginal sections of the society in the governance process so that it is transparent, accountable, equitable and participatory’ (Mishra, 2018, p. 559). Although its preamble, directive principles, fundamental rights and duties, the Constitution of India ensure gender equality.…”

“…They considered the 73rd constitutional amendment a milestone for bringing several social changes through legal measures in the local self-governing institutions. However, although several of these studies show that representation of women in rural local self-governance structures has enhanced the power of women within society and community, some other studies (Mishra, 2018; Nagarajappa & Chidananda, 2019; Naik et al, 2020; Sukumar et al, 2019; Thampi & Kawlra, 2019) have found that policy of reservation does not easily assure women’s effective political participation or political representation. ‘This is because of the “social embeddedness of policy” in local contexts’ (Kalaramadam, 2018, p. 1).…”