Factors Affecting Performance of Women

Sarpanches: A study across three states of

Chhatisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra

By
Chandan Minhas
Ranjeet Kolarkar
Objectives of the Study

• To find factors affecting performance of the

women Sarpanches
• To identify present sources of information of
women Sarpanches
• To assess the effectiveness of 73rd Constitutional
Amendment Act in ensuring meaningful
participation of women in local governance
Scope of the Study

Chhatisgarh Madhya Pradesh Maharashtra

Durg Balaghat Akola
Rajnandgaon Chhindwara Bhandara
Mandla Chandrapur
Nagpur
Limitations

• Non-response errors due to lack of interest of

respondents

• Cases where husband of the Sarpanch would take

the centre stage and not let the woman Sarpanch
respond
Methodology

• Survey of women Sarpanches

• Questionnaire prepared by the organisation
• Sample also selected by the organisation
• Sample consisted mostly of those women who
have either faced no confidence motion or Article
39 or Article 40
Methodology

• Sample Size
State Chhatisgarh Madhya Maharashtra Total
Pradesh
No. of 34 39 50 123
respondents

SC ST General OBC Total

No. of 25 35 36 26 123
respondents
Political experience of Women
Sarpanches Surveyed

9% 2%
2%
7%
New
Member Previously
Sarpanch Previously
Member of Mahila Mandal
SHG Member

80%
Non-Cooperation by ‘Gram Sachiv’

70 66
58.82
60
50
% of Cases
40
30 28.2

20
10
0
CG MP MH
Findings of the Study

• Level of Education

100%
25.64
80% 38.23 44
10th and Above
60% 23.07
6th to 9th
40% 38.23 32 Upto 5th
41.02
Illiterate
20%
17.64 16
5.88 10.25 8
0%
CG MP MH
Findings of the Study

• Knowledge about Panchayat Laws

100% 4
17.64 Nil
80% 33.33
36 Incomplete
60% 41.17 Complete
41.02
40%
60
20% 41.17
25.64
0%
CG MP MH
Findings of the Study

• Benefit derived from Training

80 72

60
35.29 38 % Benefitted from
40
Training
20

0
CG MP MH
Findings of the Study

• Would like to resign or have resigned

25

20 20.58 20.51

15
%age of cas e s
10

5 5

0
CG MP MH
Findings of the Study

• Would like to re-contest

58
60
50 41.17 43.58
40 % w ho w ant to
30 re-contest
20
10
0
CG MP MH
Factors Affecting Performance

• Own Inclination
• Family Support
• Male resistance
• Non-cooperation by Sachiv and Panchayat
members
• Lack of Information
• Time
FAPs (Contd…)

• Poverty
• Caste
• Literacy
• Restricted Movement
• Cultural constraints
Recommendations

• Generate awareness about Panchayat amongst

rural women.
• Gender sensitisation of those in power in politics
• Economic independence of women
• The charges made in no-confidence motion
should be probed
• Provision for no-confidence motion against the
sarpanch only in Gram Sabha
• Proper support system for women Sarpanch
Thank You!