Women Participation in Panchayati Raj: Analysis with emphasis on the state

of Rajasthan

Society can only reach the heights of development if its two parts i.e. men and women work
parallel in the system. The role of women has always been remarkable in the Indian history.
They have also come forward in the arena of Panchayati raj and have showcased their skills in
this field. The author in this paper wants to highlight the role of women in the Panchayati Raj
system of Rajasthan. The author begins by discussing the working of Panchayats in the state of
Rajasthan. The empirical part of the paper highlights the history of the women participation in
the Panchayats. It also discusses the major changes brought by women in the working of
Panchayats and their jurisdiction that paved a way to the increasing attraction of women in the
working and enhanced the women participation at the grass root level of governance. The paper
also looks into various schemes and provisions formed by the legislature in order to maintain the
women participation in the field and the actual implementation of such laws in Rajasthan. The
paper concludes by focusing on the remaining drawbacks in the arena and suggestions that might
help to bring efficiency by finding recourse to the existing shortfalls in the women participation
in the Rajasthan Panchayati system.