AWARENESS OF DALIT WOMENS ABOUT PANCHAYAT RAJ: A STUDY OF KALABURAGI DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA

Mr. SAIBANNA MUNEPPA; Dr. M. H. PRAHALADAPPA

Volume : X, Issue : VII, July - 2020

AWARENESS OF DALIT WOMENS ABOUT PANCHAYAT RAJ: A STUDY OF KALABURAGI DISTRICT OF KARNATAKA

Mr. Saibanna Muneppa, Dr. M. H. Prahaladappa

Abstract :

Panchayat as a grassroot political institution has been in existence in India since time immemorial in one form or the other. However, women never occupied any important position in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and their participation was almost non–existent due to the predominance of certain social evils like the rigid patriarchal system, purdah system, illiteracy, superstition and traditional beliefs. Women had an important role in household work, and economy of the family was mainly in the hands of men. Politics as well as the decision making process was considered an exclusively male domain. During the Freedom Movement Mahatma Gandhi provided the concept of swaraj wherein he declared – ‘as long as women of India do not take part in public life there can be no salvation for the country. I would have no use for that kind of swaraj to which such women have not made their full contribution.’ He also said that the governance of a village should be conducted by the Panchayat of five persons, annually elected by the adult villagers, male and female, possessing minimum prescribed qualifications. But, Gandhiji’s idea of ‘Gram Swaraj’ was not accepted by the constitution makers. Empowerment of Dalit women in Panchayati Raj Institutions very much depends upon their awareness about Panchayati Raj Institutions. Therefore, in this article an attempt has been made to analyze the awareness of Dalit women respondents about the organization, personal administration, financial administration and State control over the Panchayati Raj Institutions in Kalaburagi District of Karnataka.