Rural development has been an integral part of our life since time immemorial. Our scholars and thinkers have adopted it as a philosophy and practice. If one reviews the historical epics, starting from “Ramrajya” to “Chankaya” and from “Gupt” dynasty to the middle era, one can realise that the entire administrative system was arranged from rural level to the top. Whether it was democracy in the time of Kautilya or it was the monaurally of the era that followed, every system emphasised on overall development and facilities of the rural life.

In a country where three fourth populations resides in villages and agriculture is the foundation of economy, any concept of development of nation without rural development could be away farm reality. This is the reason why rural development has been on top priority of systematic development procedure of first five year planning. The results may not have been as desired due to huge population, wide area and limited resources, but it is a fact that due to the efforts of the government a basic infrastructure has already come into existence, based on which the dream of rural development can take the shape of reality in future.

In a huge country like India the goal of rural development is not easy to achieve due to geographical, social and economic differences. In this contest rural development should be taken up as a continuous process. Ever increasing population, poverty, illiteracy, diseases, unemployment, unequal distribution of land and all other resources, social injustice are some major Impediments in the progress of rural India. Mahatama Gandhi once truly said, “the basis and soul of India is the village- If we have to develop India we will have to develop the villages and villagers.”

The Indian constitution framed after Independence and in subsequent amendments thereafter this fact was continuously and always realised that women’s participation in the public sector needs to be enhanced. On the basis of the recommendations of Balwant Raj Mehta Committee in 1959 a three tier Panchayati Raj system was adopted. Then it was accepted that overlooking the development of women, couldn’t carry out the overall development of the country. For these reasons the 73rd constitutional amendment was passed in 1992 to ensure one third participation of women in Panchayats which would strengthen the Panchayati Raj system. With the passing of this amendment the constitution of Gram Sabha (village committee) become mandatory and the total number of women members in Pinchayat became one-third of the overall strength. This change in system had a miraculous effect bringing forth lakhs of women in Panchayats for leadership. With the adoption of this amendment, the Panchayati Raj system got recognition as the third stage constituent of the democratic administration of the country, on one hand and on the other hand the rights and entity of women was also duly accepted. This amendment of the constitution was a relevant step to bring forth the hidden potential of women. After this elections were announced for Panchayats in different states. About thirty lakh women participated in these elections. Nowhere else in the world there is reservation of 33 percent seats for women. When the issue of reservation of 33 percent seats for women in Panchayati Raj constitutions was being discussed, there were some differences. While some people were optimistic about the idea, some others had doubts, whether enough women candidates would be available for contesting Pahchayat elections? Most of the Indian women are illiterate and most of them have never been exposed to the outside world. Even if such women win elections, will they be able to run the administration of Panchayat efficiently. But a large number of women were elected to the leadership, thus putting a full stop on all the apprehensions.

Some years back the role of women in the rural political field was insignificant and their representative in Panchayat has been negligible. Today women are playing an important role in rural development after getting elected from village panchayat to district level organisations. Although this is a new field for women and they are facing still resistance from men in the male dominated society. But women have proved themselves to be a better and more sensitive administrator in a short span of time. Now political parties are compelled to offer more and more respectable posts to women.

There are three aspects of rural development- economic, social and political which are dependent on each other. Women contribute the most towards economic development. In rural area women perform almost double work as compared to men. Whereas a man puts in ten hours of work everyday and in same time a women labours for sixteen hours everyday. But since her contribution to direct income is less, it does not receive the desired importance, which she deserves.

Today thousand of questions are being raised regarding the condition of women in Panchayat, but this opinion is absolutely wrong that women are not ready to take up any responsibility or they are incapable of taking decisions. The fact is that till now women have been deprived of their rights and there have been attempts to create hurdles in their path of progress, if they wish to excel in social-political field. There are lot of evidence that shows that whenever opportunities were provided, women have fully utilized them. We have seen this in the Panchayat elections in different states. Whereas one-third women have been elected at every stage of Panchayat, in some states even more than one third women have been elected.

There is no doubt that a sea change is taking place in the society, women are slowly becoming aware, their inclination towards education is increasing, veil (Parda) system is on its way out and the voice of women is becoming strengthen day by day, but the journey is long. This is simply the first chapter of women empowerment. On the surface level, where women’s participation has been given a boost by providing them reservation in Panchayats, a lot more needs to be done at national level.

The women, who will attend the Parliament and state assemblies after getting duly elected because of the women reservation bill, will have a “network” with the women at the Panchayat level. The women representatives at the Panchayat will in turn to get an opportunity to become empowered. There are lot of impediments for women if they wish to freely exercise their rights, and play their own role in social-political field. But in a society where even stepping out of the house is not considered decent for women, a new revolution of change has definitely started in the rural set-up. If has now become imperative although difficult to break the barriers of illiteracy, poverty and traditions. At least in the initial stages, the powerful people for their own vested interests are half-heartedly promoting the women to contest elections. This system of reservation for women has initiated a silent solution era to the different problems faced by women. This will definitely conclude in bringing positive results in the years to come.

Lokendra Singh Kot