Women Empowerment and Urban Local Self-Governance in the light of 74th Amendment

Abstract

This paper deals with the women empowerment through grassroot political participation. For more female representation in local bodies, affirmative action has swept the world as a revolutionary tool. This research suggests that the efficiency of quotas is provisional and depends on the electoral system, party system and on the top political inclination to enforce and comply with the quota. 73rd and 74th Amendment bills gave 33 per cent of key positions in local bodies to the females. Since then, women are empowered and exercising their rights in village and urban governance. Women are contributing to increase standard in the spheres of education, and health and addressing infrastructure problems. But this is just a beginning of the long journey still women are an oppressed class and often prevented to exercise their political, social, and economic rights. 33 per cent representation in local bodies is just an initiative or a maiden step towards women empowerment.