(a) the number of women elected as representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), State/UT-wise;
(b) whether the participation of women under PRI is increasing and if so, the details thereof; and
(c) the strategy adopted by the Government to improve women''s socio-economic condition enhancing their participation in PRI?
THE MINISTER OF PANCHAYATI RAJ
(SHRI NARENDRA SINGH TOMAR)
(a) A statement showing number of women elected as representatives, State/UT-wise is given at Annexure I.
(b) Article 243D of the Constitution ensures participation of women in PRIs by mandating not less than one-third reservation for women out of total number of seats to be filled by direct election and number of offices of chairpersons of Panchayats. As per the information available with the Ministry, 20 States such as Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chattisgarh, Gujarat, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and West Bengal, have made provisions of 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) in their respective State Panchayati Raj Act. A statement showing the number of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in PRIs from year 2015 is attached as Annexure II.
(c) Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been implementing scheme for the capacity building of Panchayat Stakeholders including Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) of Panchayats. The Government on 24/04/2018, on the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day launched the restructured Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) for implementation from 01.04.2018 to 31.03.2022 with the primary aim of strengthening Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) by way of capacity building and training (CB&T) for their Elected Representatives (ERs), including EWRs, for achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) with the priority to aspirational districts and cluster under Mission Antodaya. The scheme has programmatic focus for basic orientation training within six months and refresher training within two years of ERs including EWRs. RGSA also focuses on Self Help Group (SHG)-PRI convergence to ensure effective community mobilisation and greater women participation in social and economic activities. Under the scheme funds are provided to States/UTs on the basis of Annual Action Plan (AAP) containing various activities for strengthening of panchayats including CB&T to ERs /EWRs as approved by Central Empowered Committee of RGSA.
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