Introduction

Since centuries backward class women were politically, economically, socially and educationally oppressed. They were deprived of their basic rights and needs. These women were treated inhumanly as untouchable on the part of so called “high class community” in Indian society. After independence the Panchayati Raj Institutions have been established for rural development.

Till 1993 the participation of backward class men and women in Panchayat Raj institutions was meager. As per the 73rd constitutional amendment provision has been made for the reserved seats for backward class men and women. "We have provided for reservation for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and women. Whereas the reservation for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes follow the uniform basis of their proportion in the population, in respect of women we have provided for at least Fifty percent of the total seats at every level." As a result of that this backward class came into the mainstream particularly women have got opportunities to lead in panchayat raj Institutions. The reservation has brought greater and positive changes in the life of backward class women, the women those who didn’t even attend public programmes like flag hoisting, inauguration functions, leading programmes etc. with this amendment women started taking active participation in various public functions and became a part of the mainstream movements, they started serving through different streams. The high class people's approach towards backward class woman leaders is positively changing. Women are getting respect at various stages. People are accepting backward class women's leadership and it is creating favorable atmosphere towards social justice. Day by day the gap between high class community and backward class community is getting reduced.

The economic and financial condition of these backward women leaders is not much satisfactory even today. They are trying to overcome their problems and proving their best in duties. Due to the active participation and contribution in Panchayat Raj Institutions the various schemes for backward communities are being implemented effectively. Social change is not an overnight job, it is a continuous process, slow but steady will march towards its ultimate aim. The strength of backward women is increased and the qualitative change is seen among backward women. There is a positive change in mentality of high class and backward community, both are trying to understand each other and maintaining good and healthy relationship. This is the achievement of 73rd constitutional amendment. To make backward class women's role more effective in rural development the educated women should step forward. The women who have social attachment and social responsibility are expected to take active participation in Panchayat Raj institutions. It is also equally important that men's approach towards backward women also should be essentially changed. If we could do this, then only the base of democracy and the nation will be strong enough and society will grow harmoniously.

A revolutionary decision was taken for the backward class community and women who have been marginalised and deprived from the fields of politics, social causes, economics and education for hundreds of years. 

This amendment made provision for reservation for backward class communities in proportion to their population. A particularly important point is that 33 per cent reservation was also made for women who lead a confined life like hearth and children. (Now this ratio has been increased to 50 per cent.) Through reservation, women and backward classes got an opportunity to actively participate in the local development work in the Panchayati Raj system. Infact they got an opportunity to lead the district and got the privilege of being the first citizen of the village. Many important decisions were taken through this 73rd constitutional amendment. In it, provision was made for an independent state election commission so that the elections of this institution should be held regularly every five years. 

Apart from this State Finance Commission was also established. Due to the revolutionary decision of this constitutional amendment, backward class society and women got this opportunity in mainstream society. This golden opportunity has now completed 25 years. After 25 years of successful progress of Panchayati Raj Institutions, following are the reforms that need to be made in the electoral process of these institutions.

Recommendations for Effective Good Local Governance

1. A positive attitude should be created

For overall development of rural areas, from filing candidature in elections to implementing various schemes for rural development, all elements should have a positive perspective. Unless there is a positive change in the speech, behaviour and thinking of the people's representatives and public servants, there will be no overall development of the country. For that, the ideal values of pure conduct, cultivation of ethical values, human sensibilities, duty fulfilment should be accepted by the public representatives, public servants and citizens.

2. The candidate should be a resident of the local constituency

Especially in Zilla Parishad elections, any person in the district files his/her candidature in any constituency. Eg: A citizen of one taluka can contest election by filing nomination form in any constituency of Zilla Parishad in another taluka. In such a case, if the candidates from other talukas win, the local citizens have to face many difficulties while communicating with them regularly. Therefore, only the citizens residing in the local constituencies should be allowed to stand for election. For that, a provision should be made that the candidate should be a resident of the local constituency.

Only one nomination form can be filed 

While holding elections in various constituencies and wards in the Panchayat Raj organization, a candidate files his candidature in many places. Often the same candidate wins both constituencies and wards. In such a case the winning candidates have to resign from one post. After that, by-elections are held in the respective constituencies and wards. As a result, the election machinery has to spend time, human effort and huge financial resources to conduct re-election in the respective constituencies. Therefore, one person should be able to file a single candidature in the elections of all the three institutions in the Panchayat Raj organization. He should be prevented from filing nomination form in other wards or constituency.

Caste validity certificate should be made mandatory before elections 

Candidates submit caste certificate while filing their candidature in Panchayati Raj organization elections. Often after the election, the defeated candidate or other person raises objections regarding the caste of the winning candidate and is suggested to submit the caste validity certificate of the concerned public representative. A proposal is submitted to the office of the Caste Verification Committee for verification of the objection raised in respect of caste. Caste Validity Inspection Offices often have to wait for years for redressal of grievances related to that representative. Often the tenure of the concerned person is completed till the decision of the committee. Sometimes such cases go to the High Court and the Supreme Court. So it should be made mandatory to issue the caste validity certificate before the elections. A separate system should be developed to issue caste validity certificate at the district level for quick decision of election related concern.

Semi-Government Public Servants should be prohibited from contesting elections

In recent times, teachers, professors and employees of semi-government schools and colleges especially in Maharashtra are participating in the elections of rural local self-government bodies in large numbers. This class gets all benefits like government employees for salary, service security, pension and other service facilities. After getting elected, one has to lead the local self-government body by working as a full-time servant in the school college and cannot do due justice to either term. Therefore semi-government chartered servants should be barred from contesting elections.

The maximum age limit of the candidate should be fixed at 55 years

The maximum age limit for candidature in Panchayati Raj Sanstha elections should also be fixed. Because I.A.S in from officer category to category IV staff they have to retire on attaining the age limit of 58 years. Although it is true that a civil servant is physically, mentally and efficiently tired and senile at the age of 58, Sarpanch, Chairman of Panchayat Committee and President of Zilla Parishad are also tired and senile at the age of 58 or 60, but the same criteria applies from G.P. Chairman to not applicable to Sarpachas of Gram Panchayat.

A public representative can contest any election and remain in office till the age of 90 years or till the last moment of his life. Therefore, by fixing the maximum age limit of people's representatives, opportunities should be provided to young women from the new blood in the elections of this place. Both officers and people's representatives in local self-government bodies are physically, mentally and intellectually tired at the age of 58, so the maximum age limit for the candidate in the Panchayati Raj body elections should be 55 years. So that the people's representative will retire at the age of 60. Especially important is the new leadership from the local area. Emergence is essential for the strengthening of democratic governance, but the old elders do not appear to be very amenable to giving opportunities to the new youth.

Minimum educational qualification should be 

In recent times, information and technology have had a huge impact in the governance and administration system from the village level to the country level. E Panchayat and Digital Gram Panchayat have become important. Research has shown that in many Gram Panchayats Sarpanch whether male or female is illiterate or poorly educated while Gram Sevak is well educated. Therefore, there are many limitations when communicating between them. Sarpanch and gram sevak are the two wheels of the development chariot of the village and both these factors play an important role in rural development work. 

Therefore, Gram Panchayat Sarpanch should be at least 12th pass while Gram Panchayat Member should be 10th pass. Also Panchayat Samiti and Zilla Parishad member/Chairman should be a graduate. 

References

1. Devi Laxmi: Policies method and strategies in Rural Development Anmol Publication PVT LTD. New Delhi 1997

2. Rajagopalan V. Developing Infrastructure for Rural Development - Anmol Publication pvt. Ltd. New Delhi – 1997 

3. उपाध्याय विश्वमित्र: - “ग्राम पंचायतोको नवजीवन देनेका समय. कुरूक्षेत्र नई दिल्ली - मार्च -1993

4. स्वामी एच.आर. डॉ . बी.पी. गुप्ताः ग्रामीण विकास एवं सहकारिता  रमेश बुक डेपो जयपूर – नई दिल्ली – 2006

5. यादव रामजी: - भारत में ग्रामीण विकास – अर्जुन पब्लिकेशन हाऊस, नई दिल्ली 2005 

6. सिन्हा अर्चना, संपादक मंडळ, महिला जागृती और शक्ती विकास अविष्कार, पब्लिर्स डिस्ट्रिब्युटर्स, जयपूर 2005