Tribal Women in Local Governance: Exploring Socio-Economic and Cultural Dimensions of Participation in Panchayati Raj Institutions in Namsai District for Advancing Gender Equality

A comprehensive approach towards understanding various aspects of the women empowerment process is required to achieve Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) No. 5, which aims for gender equality. It will also provide information to policy-making, identifying gaps, and designing interventions for the effective promotion of gender equality and empowering women. So, it is crucial to study the interconnection of economic, social, and political empowerment, as with economic empowerment promoting autonomous decision-making and political empowerment, and social empowerment enabling women to reach their full potential. Women, particularly tribal women, face obstacles such as illiteracy, economic instability, traditional gender roles, and limited awareness of legal rights, compounded by violence and intimidation. This paper aims to examine the socio-economic and cultural factors that influence women’s political participation and representation in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) of Namsai District, Arunachal Pradesh, India. It highlights the progress made in women’s representation, driven by policies like 33 per cent reservation for women. The study evaluates the effectiveness of current policies and highlights the need for continued efforts to dismantle barriers through targeted interventions, policy reforms, and community engagement.