wl-6846-The Role of Women in Grassroots Governance in Kerala

The paper delineates the involvement and impact of women in local governance in Kerala, along with the challenges impeding their active engagement at the grassroots level. Achieving gender balance in governance is crucial for building more inclusive and equitable societies. Equality between men and women is a prerequisite for democracy. In societies around the world, men typically hold most positions of power and decision-making, an area in which gender inequality is often severe and highly visible. Political equality is guaranteed under Articles 325 and 326 of the Indian Constitution, which also states that everyone has the right to vote and to participate in politics. The former, or the right to equal political involvement, is still an unattainable goal, whereas the latter has been obtained, utilized, and embraced by a significant number of women. The low and inferior status of women in Indian society is closely associated with the underrepresentation of women in politics. In Kerala, the participatory model of development ensured by decentralized planning has opened up numerous opportunities for women to prove their mettle in the political, administrative and economic activities of the state. Are women adequately represented in the institutions of governance? How does local democracy impact the political participation of women in Kerala? What are the factors which led to the positive climate of women to get involved in local politics? Did women’s involvement in local governance enhance their position and empowerment? What are the obstacles preventing women from effectively engaging in local governance?. These are some of the questions that I will seek to answer through this paper. The paper concludes that Political, socio-economic, ideological, and emotional impediments are among the primary reasons for women's absence in the political sphere and hence Merely relying on constitutional, institutional, and legal frameworks and programs will not suffice to achieve gender equity. Instead, there is a need for fundamental structural changes that challenge and transform patriarchal attitudes and norms.