A Study On Women Leadership In Panjayath Raj System

Abstract

Panchayath Raj is not a new phenomenon in the country. Its illustration in history goes back to more than a 1000 years. It has its roots in Ancient Indian Institutions when the villages were little republics by their Panchayaths. During this period, it was not that women could not join politics, but the fact was that they did not take interest in it due to a patriarchal set up. The British through their ruthless method of revenue collection and the introduction of zamindari land tenure system almost destroyed these ancient republics and as well as the involvement of women in politics. The British were of the view that “Vote of Women” would be premature in the Indian Society and continued to enforce purdah and prohibition against women’s education.