Introduction The marginalisation of women in all levels of politics and decision-making structures is an enduring challenge globally. [1] Gender quotas, which were consolidated in the 1970s and have been adopted by over 130 countries since, have proved to be an effective method for increasing women’s participation in politics, which is a key to strengthening democracy, achieving gender equality, and delivering on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). [2] Quotas have increased the political representation, voice, and agenda-setting power of women; countries with quotas for women in governance institutions report increased spending in public health, food security, subsidised education, and increased provision of services to female constituents. [3] India was among the early adopters of gender quotas at the level of local government. The 73 rd and 74 th Constitutional Amendment Acts, which came into effect in 1993, reserved one-third of electoral seats for women in rural areas, or Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), and in Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) or municipalities. Thirty years later, there are today over 1.45 million elected women representatives in rural and urban local bodies in India; and the country has among the highest levels of participation of women in local governments, at 44.4 percent of elected seats. [4] Globally, women constitute an average of 35.5 percent or more than three million elected members in local deliberative bodies. [5]
Authors
- Attribution
- Sunaina Kumar and Ambar Kumar Ghosh, “The State of Women’s Representation in Urban Local Self-Government in India: A Review,” ORF Occasional Paper No. 446 , August 2024, Observer Research Foundation.
- Pages
- 28
- Published in
- India
Table of Contents
- Introduction Introduction 3
- Introduction Introduction 4
- Introduction Introduction 5
- History and Legal History and Legal 6
- Framework Framework 6
- History and Legal History and Legal 7
- Framework Framework 7
- Figure 1 Structure of Urban Local Self-Governments in India 8
- History and Legal History and Legal 8
- Framework Framework 8
- Central Government 8
- State Governments 8
- Districts 8
- Zilla Parishad 8
- Village 8
- Gram Panchayats 8
- Village Assembly 8
- Gram Sabha 8
- Blocks 8
- Panchayat 8
- Samitis 8
- Municipal 8
- Corporations 8
- Mahanagar 8
- Palikas 8
- Municipalities 8
- Nagar Palikas 8
- Town 8
- Councils 8
- Nagar 8
- Panchayats 8
- Figure 2 Administrative Setup of ULBs in India 9
- History and Legal History and Legal 9
- Framework Framework 9
- Administrative 9
- Secretary 9
- Director Urban Development 9
- Elected Bodies 9
- Municipal 9
- Corporations 9
- Municipal 9
- Corporation 9
- Municipal 9
- Councils 30 9
- Municipal Councils 9
- Nagar 9
- Panchayats 9
- Nagar 9
- Panchayat 9
- Commissioner 9
- Elected body 9
- Executive Officer 9
- Elected body 9
- Secretary 9
- Elected body headed by President 9
- Women Leaders in ULBs Women Leaders in ULBs 10
- Women Leaders in ULBs Women Leaders in ULBs 11
- Women Leaders in ULBs Women Leaders in ULBs 12
- Women Leaders in ULBs Women Leaders in ULBs 13
- Democratisation in Progress Women and Local Politics in Urban 14
- India 14
- Women Leaders in ULBs Women Leaders in ULBs 14
- Lack of training 15
- Challenges to Challenges to 15
- Women in ULBs Women in ULBs 15
- Lack of support from political parties 16
- Time poverty and care work 16
- Gender norms and patriarchal systems 16
- Family obligations and conditions 16
- Challenges to Challenges to 16
- Women in ULBs Women in ULBs 16
- Rotation of seats 17
- Dominance of money and muscle power 17
- Challenges to Challenges to 17
- Women in ULBs Women in ULBs 17
- The Impact of Women The Impact of Women s s 18
- Participation in ULBs Participation in ULBs 18
- Recommendations and Recommendations and 19
- Conclusion Conclusion 19
- Recommendations and Recommendations and 20
- Conclusion Conclusion 20
- Sunaina Kumar 20
- Ambar Kumar Ghosh 20
- Endnotes Endnotes 21
- Endnotes Endnotes 22
- Endnotes Endnotes 23
- Endnotes Endnotes 24
- Endnotes Endnotes 25
- Endnotes Endnotes 26
- Endnotes Endnotes 27
