The Success Story of Panchayati Raj in Uttar Pradesh, India

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Radheshyam Prasad
Keyword(s):  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Success Story ◽  
Panchayati Raj

Concentric Clientelism: A Case Study of Rural Saharanpur

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-266 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rajkamal Singh ◽  
Rahul Hemrajani
Keyword(s):  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Political Structure ◽  
Panchayati Raj ◽  
Electoral Data ◽  
Political Clientelism

In this article, we examine the role of intermediaries in sustaining political clientelism in rural Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. Drawing from fieldwork and electoral data, we show that clientelism in Saharanpur is based around providing three specific guarantees to the voter—security from or by the police, facilitation in the tehsil and mediation in cases that would otherwise go to court—which we collectively refer to as guardianship. We explain how guardianship, more than most other forms of clientelistic exchange, requires intermediaries. In the case of Saharanpur, these intermediaries are usually individuals occupying formal positions of power within various circles of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Finally, we argue that it is the concentric nature of constituencies provided by the decentralized political structure which is ultimately responsible for the sustenance of intermediary networks as well as the perpetuation of clientelism in rural Saharanpur.

scholarly journals Elusive empowerment: characteristics of indirectly elected women chairpersons of district councils in Uttar Pradesh, India

2021 ◽  
pp. 5-19
Author(s):  
Preety Choudhari ◽  
Trisha Roy ◽  
Khushboo Verma ◽  
Reena Bharti ◽  
Sonia Verma
Keyword(s):  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
The State ◽  
Political Empowerment ◽  
Electoral Success ◽  
The Status ◽  
Ruling Elites ◽  
Electoral Reforms ◽  
Panchayati Raj ◽  
Status Of Women

The 73rd Amendment to the Constitution of India was introduced with a stated legislative intent of reserving not less than a third of seats for women in institutions of local self-government, the three-tier panchayati raj institutions. That amendment is considered a milestone in India’s project of empowerment of women. This paper evaluates the power and prestige of the post of an adhyaksha (chairperson) of a zila (district) panchayat (council) in general, and in particular the status of women elected to the post during 2016 in the state of Uttar Pradesh (UP). Analysing the candidature, electoral success, electoral practices and subsequent functioning of zila panchayat adhyakshas (ZPAs), the authors argue that despite seats being reserved for women, no meaningful political empowerment of women has occurred in UP. The paper questions the efficacy of the indirect mode of election of ZPAs in bringing about empowerment of women, arguing that indirect elections enable powerful ruling elites to use women as proxies, subverting the legislative intent of the 73rd Amendment. The paper therefore proposes electoral reforms.

scholarly journals GENDER SENSITISATION ANTIDOTE FOR SELF RELIANCE

2020 ◽  
pp. 16-21
Author(s):  
Dr. Ankita Gupta
Keyword(s):  
Legal Status ◽  
Uttar Pradesh ◽  
Women Empowerment ◽  
Large Country ◽  
Representation Of Women ◽  
Self Reliance ◽  
General Feeling ◽  
Male Dominated ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Panchayati Raj

"Self-Reliance" is an 1841 essay written by American transcendentalist philosopher and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson. It contains the most thorough statement of one of Emerson's recurrent themes: the need for each individual to avoid conformity and false consistency, and follow his own instincts and ideas. . The debate surrounding the self reliance will be meaningless if issues related to women in a large country like India will not only be inappropriate but sometimes even misleading. Women specific and women related legislations have been enacted to safeguard the rights and interest of women, besides protecting against discrimination, violence, and atrocities and also to prevent socially undesirable practices. Despite the constitutional mandate of equal legal status for the girl child, the same is yet to be realized. The de jure laws have not been translated into de facto situation for various reasons such as illiteracy, social practices, prejudices, cultural norms based on patriarchal values, poor representation of women in policy-making, poverty, regional disparity in development, lack of access and opportunity to information and resources etc. According to the Uttar Pradesh Govt. sources, female life expectancy is less than 55 years and the under-five mortality rate is as high as 141 per thousand. Australia was the first country to develop a gender-sensitive budget, with the Federal government publishing in 1984 the first comprehensive audit of a government budget for its impact on women and girls. Empowerment of women is essentially the process of upliftment of economic, social and political status of women, the traditionally underprivileged ones, in the society. It involves the building up of a society wherein in women can breathe without the fear of oppression, exploitation, apprehension, discrimination and the general feeling of persecution which goes with being a woman in a traditionally male dominated structure. One major therapy prescribed by woman empowerment advocates is empowering women through legislation for ensuring participation in political decision making. Such an approach provides the women with a constitutional platform to stand up to men, to raise their voice on issues concerning women oppression, subjugation and related issues and thus in effect, providing them with an identity in an orthodox male dominated socio-political set up, in addition to providing a much needed forum to seek redressal of problems directly affecting them: the true essence of empowerment. The present paper attempts to look into the dynamism of the process whereby women empowerment is achieved (?) through legislation or women participation in the Panchayati Raj Institution. KEYWORDS: Self Reliance, Gender Bugdeting, Women empowerment, Panchayati Raj Institutions.

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