Gendered Perspective of Dalit Women in Gram Panchayat

Abstract

The constitutional mandate of reservations in Panchayati Raj Institutions has significantly increased the political participation of Dalit women at the grassroots level in India. However, their numerical presence does not necessarily translate into substantive empowerment. This study examines the gendered perspectives of Dalit women representatives in Gram panchayats. Focusing on their lived experiences, roles, challenges, and agency within local governance structures. Using a gender and intersectionality framework, the research explores how caste and gender jointly shape Dalit women’s political participation and decision-making processes. This paper adopts a gender-sensitive framework to analyse how patriarchal norms, caste-hierarchies, and socio-economic marginalisation limit Dalit women’s effective participation. The experience of Dalit women in local governance is characterized by a constant struggle against a system designed to keep them on the periphery of decision-making, where they must navigate both patriarchy within their community and upper-caste domination in the political sphere. Dalit women face a unique compounded oppression being Women, Dalits and Generally poor. Although, Dalit women are elected as placeholders for their husbands or dominant caste members with roughly 85% of elected positions being effectively controlled by others. In meetings they are often not taken seriously with their issues rarely discussed approved or implemented particularly when challenging existing power structures. Elected Dalit women frequently experience verbal, physical, and caste-based violence including threats, harassment, and even assassination attempts when asserting their authority. While, the 73rd Amendment provided a reservation 33.3% but it has not automatically translated into empowerment due to deeply entrenched patriarchal and caste-based norms that marginalize them. Despite these some Dalit women are overcoming barriers through previous social activism or support although they remain a minority.