Competency Framework for Tribal Women Panchayat Members
| Author | Snehlata Panda |
| Published date | 01 July 2012 |
| Date | 01 July 2012 |
| DOI | 10.1177/0019556120120322 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
COMPETENCY FRAMEWORK FOR TRIBAL WOMEN
PANCHAYATME:MBERS
SNEHLATA PANDA
It
is
commonly observed
tlzat
the social traditions, male
domination, domestic responsibilities and above all
fr:ck
of
education and poor understanding
of
the processes and
functions
of
panchayats pose strong barriers
for
women
panchayat members and office bearers.
In
spite
of
ensuring
their physical presence through constitutional amendment
they
are
not able
to
effectively participate
in
deliberations
and decision making.
The
situation
is
all the more worse
for
the women belonging to backward tribal areas. This
situation can be corrected by designing a strategic
competency framework
based
upon a comprehensive
familiarity about
their
culture; society
and
economy
through observation
and
interaction. This
should
be
followed by understanding the values
of
the tribal women
and their society, their specific self-image, traits and
motivational dispositions towards the new
role.
INTRODUCTION
THE OBJECTIVE of the article is
to
present a competency framework
for training tribal women panchayat members. Field survey conducted
on selected tribal women panchayat ward members
of
Koraput district
of
Odisha revealed that their participation in panchayat affairs is not
worth mentioning. These women belong to primitive tribes inhabiting
mostly in villages located in the foothills and well connected to urban
areas. After the
73rd
Constitutional Amendment came into force, some
tribal women have represented panchayats on rotational basis. However,
impeded
by
poor economic condition and cultural norms
of
their society
they are unable to participate meaningfully in the decision making
processes. In order to develop their participatory skills, training
programmes have been designed and executed by the government and
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