Role and Status of women in Tribal Society: A Study of Galo tribe of Arunachal Pradesh

Women constituted about 50 percent of the country’s population. However, they are the largest excluded category in almost all aspects. They have been denied their rights and liberties by the male dominated Indian society for which their social, economic and political status has remained relatively low. For centuries they have been discriminated in all walks of life and treated as “second class citizens”. However, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act. 1992 opened a new chapter in the history of democratic decentralization in India by devolving power to the people and gives opportunities to women folk to participate actively in the decision-making process. Under this new provision, a new type of leadership in the form of women have emerged on the scene, as the Act provides for reservation of seats for women in all the three tiers of Panchayati Raj Institutions. Not only have they emerged as Gram Panchayat, but also in Anchal Samiti and Zila Parishad. But, how far the constitutional provisions have been translated into reality? Hence, this paper is an attempt to measure the role and status of women and the extent of their participation in the decision-making process.