Question

Why do you think women have been given a representation in the Panchayats? Will this help in anyway?

Answer 1

In 2009, the Government of India approved 50% reservation of women in the Panchayati Raj Institutions. Today, near about 1.5 billion women are a part of these institutions.
Women were given representation in the village panchayat for the following reasons:

1. To change the attitude of people towards women

2. To bring women at equal par with men in all respects

3. To bring change in the society by upliftment of the women in all matters such as women's health, education and employment opportunities.

Yes, giving representation to the women in the panchayat will help them in the following ways:

1. They will have the right to speak for themselves and other women as well.
2. They can help in eradicating social evils in the village related to women like child marriage, gender discrimination, dowry deaths, etc.
3. They can work for making women self-dependent by educating them and providing them employment opportunities.

Thus, representation of women in panchayat and other bodies has given confidence to them to voice their opinions on several social evils.