Women and Panchayati Raj

"The 73rd constitutional amendment act on panchayati raj, reserving seats to women and scheduled castes and tribes have sent waves of enthusiasm and hopes among the weaker sections of Indian Society. Women, in particular, are taking up the challenge and gearing themselves up to enter politics at the lower level in the spirit of self governance as committed citizens. As they do so, they find the need to educate themselves and others, on the general and gender particular issues confronting the local government and the nation, on the functions and methodology of local government, the intricacies of planning and management and the resolution of public and private challenges and tensions. The gaps need to be identified and a set of training aids and inputs specific to the need of panchayati raj institutions built up. In short, the women and other weaker sections need to EMPOWER themselves. Towards this the governmental and quasi-governmental, non-governmental and grassroot groups are getting into action, by way of creating new infrastructure for political education and training. The present volume seeks to meet this urgent imperative if 7.95 lakhs empowered women citizens need to come through proper panchayat elections in the coming few years all over India. It is in the nature of an information directory of training institutions on panchayati raj."