Social Exclusion of Women in Panchayati Raj Institutions: A Case Study

Abstract

Reservation of seats has given these women an opportunity to demonstrate their deep political consciousness and interest in obtaining power. For them, politics and elections are very practical routes out of poverty and are instruments of social change. In this article, we have analyzed the social exclusion process which takes place while implementing certain social legislations in general and reservation for women and Dalit women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in particular. There has been a continuous debate on the usefulness of this concept at various academic fora. The term is very important in understanding the social and economic processes which created exclusion and the causes and consequences of deprivations. “In India, social exclusion is continuous practices with some sections of the Indian society like daltis, adivasis and women”. The types of social exclusion could be caste, sex and religion. The effect of social exclusion is that some sections of the society are isolated from or deprived of access to equal opportunity for economic and social growth. The study has come out with the findings that caste and patriarchy and economic conditions of the elected representatives play a very dominative role in Marathwada region of Maharashtra state.