MARGINALIZED WOMEN IN GRAMA PANCHAYAT GOVERNANCE (AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON ELECTED WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PRAKASAM DISTRICT OF ANDHRA PRADESH)

An attempt is made to understand in a comparative perspective, the various dynamics involved in the functioning of marginalized women in panchayat raj in the context of reservations provided to these categories under 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992. The reservation has been initiated in the country in the back-drop of illiteracy, male dominance, and caste predominance, deep-rooted cultural beliefs and values. The scholars in different studies pointed out that the reservation for marginalized women has not been made remarkable in roads in realizing the democratization of village governance. A large number of under-privileged women have been got elected to all tiers of PRI's through reservation. However, the quality of participation of women members in these PRI's is not satisfactory. Actually, how far they are effective in decision making are a pertinent question and how far the Schedule caste (SC) and Schedule Tribe (ST) women participate in the PRI's. The Study explored the role of reservation, awareness of Grama Panchayat, powers and functions and decision making with regard to the functions of S.C and S.T marginalized women panchayat members at grass roots grama panchayat governance. It also indicates pertinent observations regarding the limited and restricted political space given marginalized elected women in Grama panchayat politics. The present study is undertaken in the developed and under-developed mandals of( prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh in India) elected women of disadvantaged groups from political local body of Grama Panchayat. Besides, it also suggests suitable measures towards policy formulation for ensuring effective participation of marginalized women.