NCW Launches Study on Women’s Empowerment in Goa’s Panchayats | Goa News

Panaji: Plans are afoot to study the impact made by women who are elected at the panchayat and municipal levels in Goa, as part of a wider research exercise commissioned by the National Commission for Women (NCW) covering Goa, Maharashtra, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.The study seeks to specifically investigate the phenomenon of the ‘sarpanch pati’ where a male family member effectively exercises the powers of the elected woman.Among the practical questions the research will address is whether panchayat and urban local body (ULB) offices have basic facilities such as toilets, creches and access to public transport that would allow women to participate more effectively in governance.“Participation in local-level politics, particularly through panchayati raj institutions, has emerged as a crucial avenue for women to engage in public affairs and decision making processes, significantly enhancing their empowerment and confidence. However, an alternative perspective suggests that despite increased political representation, true empowerment remains elusive in many cases,” read a note on the study.The NCW intends to conduct an in-depth assessment of how women representatives have fared across districts, village panchayats, and municipalities since the enactment of the 73rd and 74th constitutional amendments in 1992. The amendments led to the reservation of one-third of seats in panchayats for women across India.The probe in the study will examine whether political representation has translated into genuine empowerment, particularly barriers to mobility and participation, decision-making autonomy, work-life balance, and the ability of women representatives to build effective networks.Field investigators will be tasked collecting primary information across all levels of village panchayats and municipal bodies in the states and union territories.