Dalit Women’s Participation and Local Governance in Andhra Pradesh- Need for Inclusive Approach

Dalits are the people who are socially and economically backward and most of them are landless labourers depending on the land owing classes for their livelihood. The Scheduled Tribes are victims of isolation, primitive economy and all sorts of exploitation. All the political parties in India speak much about equality of women, and have totally ignored the Dalit women, where their political status and participation is insignificant. It is regrettable that the Dalit women have not been given the representation in all the political parties which reflects the social difference. By recognizing the seriousness of women’s participation in politics, in the year 1987 the Janata Government in Karnataka announced 25 per cent reservation for women in Zilla Parishad and Mandal Panchayat as per Zilla Parishad Act 1932, with a special provision of 5.1 ratio reservation to Dalit women in 25 per cent women reservation, which is a very important and significant aspect. This reservation a number of Dalit women had an opportunity to take part in active politics, 19 dalit women against 211 upper caste women in Zilla Parishad and 2469 Dalit women against 14025 upper caste women in Mandal Panchayats were elected. The Participation of these representatives in active politics varies. A few women have really showed good performance in the participation. The representation of Dalit women in Zilla Parishad and Mandal Panchayat does not widen the reality of women’s political visibility. Therefore efforts should be made to increase the scope and percentage of reservation in legislatures and in parliament. All the Political parties should strictly implement the reservation specifically for Dalit women. And it is the responsibilities of voluntary social organizations, Dalit organizations and the implementation of reservation also to create the political awareness and its importance among women. In this connection the authors analyze the Dalit Women's participation and Local Governance in Andhra Pradesh- Need for Inclusive Approach.