Empowerment of Women in India through Panchayati Raj System

In India, a silent revolution has taken place in rural areas where people are becoming conscious of their rights. One-and-a-half decades after the introduction of the panchayati raj system at the grassroots level, it is now appropriate to take stock of the situation of women participation and empowerment in India. Generally, there have been contrasting responses to this phenomenon. One, an overwhelming reaction to the entry of women in panchayats, which many term as superficial, as most women are token heads, harassed in public sphere and hijacked by their male relatives; and the other, a positive response to their involvement and participation.