Women Empowerment in Urban Governance in India
| Author | D. Ravindra Prasad |
| Published date | 01 July 2014 |
| Date | 01 July 2014 |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/0019556120140305 |
| Subject Matter | Article |
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT IN URBAN
GOVERNANCE IN INDIA
D. RAVINDRA PRASAD
Jn
an
urbanising world women constituting
half
the population
have a very limited role in urban
governance-policy
and
df!cision-making as they are not adequately
and
appropriately
represented
in
the urban local bodies. The 74th Constitution
Amendment Act, 1992
for
the first time provided one-third
representation to women in urban local self-government
institutions. This has raised the question as to what key role
they could play
in
urban governance. This article examines
the role
of
women mayors, chairpersons and councillors
in
city s development
and
local gover,iance. It argues that there
is no
dijf
erence between men and women mayors, chairpersons
and
councillors as regards their formal roles. There are areas,
however, where women can play a catalytic role in promoting
the causes
of
social development including women
and
child
development. The number
of
women in the council though
critical is not sufficient enough to neither impact the policies
and
decisions
nor
empower
women. It requires capacity
enhancement to build awareness, training, sharpening their
skills, motivation
and
building confidence,
and
to engage in
general
and
gender-based urban governance issues.
INTRODUCTION
THE WORLD is urbanising and is projected to grow to two-thirds
of
total
population by 2050 from its present 54 per cent. 1 Women constitute half
the world as well
as
in urban population. Despite their large numbers they
have a very limited role to play in urban
governance-policy
and decision
making as they are not adequately and appropriately represented in the
Urban Local Bodies (ULBs). Though the functions and working
of
ULBs
1United Nations, Department
of
Economic and Social Affairs, World Urbanisation
Prospects -Highlights, New
York,
p.
1,
2014.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
IN
URBAN GOVERNANCE
IN
INDIA I 421
D.
RAVINDRA PRASAD
affect every man and woman, the latter has no or very minimal role as they
are
under-represented
in
leadership
positions
in
local
government
institutions until recently. They do not have a role
to
influence local
decisions resulting in inadequate access to services. This necessitates
measures to provide equal representation in the municipal councils. As
the municipal councils are closest to the community they are the best places
to involve women in local policy and decision-making
so
as to enable
them to participate in the policies and decisions that impact provision
of
civic services and quality
of
life. Several factors including discrimination,
family burdens, financial constraints to contest to councils, cultural factors,
etc., come in the way
of
women participation. The political empowerment
requires transfonnation
of
existing political structures and processes that
are more responsive to women.
Several International organisations champion the cause
of
equal
representation to women in policy and decision-making bodies at national
and local levels, but the progress has been slow.2 The United Nations has
been playing a pivotal role for greater representation and participation
of
women in local development. The UN's Economic and Social Council
passed a resolution in 1990 recommending increased proportion
of
women
in leadership
positions-30
per cent by 1995 and 50 per cent by 2000.3
The third Millennium Development Goal adopted by the UN in 2000 directs
promotion
of
gender equality and empowerment
of
women which is critical
for women participation
in
policy and decision-making )evels and all other
goals like eradication
of
poverty, child and maternal health, environmental
sustainability, etc., also relate to women in one form or the other and
significantly impact them more than men.4 International agency's efforts
to formulate gender sensitive schemes and projects for aid sharpened the
focus on women's participation in community level projects like water.5
Women's participation in municipal councils will enable them to influence
policies and decisions to ensure prioritisation
of
services and allocation
of
resources to provide access to the poor and needy equitably and efficiently.
They can also participate in monitoring and evaluation for their continued
access to services and sustainability.
2Federation
of
Canadian Municipalities, Promoting Women's Leadership
in
Local
Government: Local Government Associations Help Women Meet the Challenge, Ottawa,
3/bid.p.3.
4
For
details
of
the
Goals
see
http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/
mdgoverview.html
5Priyam Das, "Women's Participation in Community Level Water Governance in Urban
India: The Gap between Motivation and Ability", World Development,
Vol.
64, pp. 206-
218, 2014.
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