SANEI: Completed Studies: Abstract

Gender and Local Governance: A New Discourse in Development

The study proposes to analysis the participation of women representatives at the local government compared to their male counterparts in the overall development. For Bangladesh, the study will focus on Union Parishad Members and Chairpersons. For India, it will be the role of women and men in the reconstituted Panchayats after the 73rd Amendment and will focus on the extent of devolution of power from state to the Panchayat. More specifically, the study will focus on the local government representatives' views, opinions and work activities in the following areas:

	Identify constraints and problems faced by men and women in the electoral process
	Role of family networks, women's groups, political parties and other governmental and non-governmental organisations in their attainment of power
	Conservation, mobilisation and management of resources
	Extent of devolution of power and active participation in the various committees
	Formulation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of development activities; assessment of the role of NGOs and people's participation in developmental works and programmes
	Budgeting anti-poverty programmes
	Obstacles faced while undertaking development programmes and developing new strategies; and
	Assess their needs for information, awareness and training in their new role, duties and initiatives taken by the governmental and non-governmental organisations in their areas.

The study proposes to come up with the suggestions for the effective performance of both men and women as political leaders; bring out the needs and requirements of men and women leaders; evaluate the necessity of training for them; and analyse the need for reservation to bring a large number of women in decision making institutions at the local government level.



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