Position lifts women panches to better status: study

New Delhi, July 6 (PTI) Those opposed to Women's
Reservation bill can derive a lesson from the fact that the
concept has paid rich dividends in panchayats with most women
leaders enjoying rise in self respect and recognition besides
more supportive family members.
According to a new study on women's reservation in
panchayats, 54.7 percent of representatives found increased
involvement of family members in household work after they
took up public positions.
Only 32.1 percent felt that their responsibility of
household chores remained the same.
Over 62 percent of women said involvement of other family
members in looking after children also increased. A decline
was reported by 29 percent of respondents.
Of those interviewed, 91 percent, irrespective of
position and gender, claimed to have received recognition in
the village for their new role in ensuring development.
"Both male and female elected representatives support
each other in performing their duties in the village. Women
representatives do not face any trouble from their male
counterparts," said a panchayat representative from West
Tripura.
The friendly and conductive environment is apparently an
opportunity that two-thirds of elected representatives are
proactive in exploiting, by increasing their social
interaction after elections.