Impact of empowerment factors on the participation of women in Gram Panchayats: An empirical evidence from Tamilnadu, India

Abstract

The main objective of this paper to find the factors influencing participation of women in Gram Panchayats in Tamilnadu, in the discharge of financial, social, and administrative functions and to formulate an evaluation of the impact that their participation made on local development. The enquiry into the socio-economic background of women members is required to throw some light on the variables that assistance or upset women performance in the Panchayats. For example, support from family, education, and occupational related experience might be factors, which enable women members to obtain political stature in the society. The enquiry into the socio-economic background of women members is expected to throw some light on the factors that help or hinder women’s performance in the Panchayat e.g, support from family, education, and occupational practice may be factors, which help women members obtain political importance in society. This study has chosen women representatives in Cuddalore block, totally 160 sample women representatives were selected from 14 village panchayats. For gathering primary data from the field, a structured interview Schedule was developed, which included all aspects necessary to identify empowerment factors influencing participation of women in Tamilnadu, India.