PANCHAYATI RAJ SYSTEM IN INDIA

Panchayati raj system introduced through the 73rd constitutional amendment is the most definitive step towards re-energizing democracy in the history of independent india. In gandhian concept of gramaswaraj, panchayat was the basis of rural governance. Panchayat traditionally refers to 5 elders in a village who mediate conflict and spoke on behalf of all the residents of a village. The word has been retained by the 73rd amendents to the constitution, but it now refers to a body elected according to law . The same word is used for the 3 tiers of local administration brought in by the amendment- the highest being the distrct or zilla panchayat. The lowest is the gram panchayat that may cover several village.
Karnataka was the first state in the country to implement the Panchayati Raj Act; which mandeted 25percent reservationfor women in 1987. This wasprior to the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments. As many as 14000 women were elected in the first election held in 1987. Significantly women from Dalit and backward communities have a presence in panchayati Raj institution.
Women's empowerment is not something, which can be handed over to women only. Today many women who fight the elections are from poor economic and backward social backgrounds; breaking social, cultural and economic barriers.