Caste, Patriarchy, and Power: The Struggle of Dalit Women in Haryana Panchayats
In 1948, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar famously questioned whether the Indian village was anything more than a "sink of localism, a den of ignorance, narrow-mindedness and communalism" . More than half a century later—and a decade after the 73rd Amendment aimed to turn panchayats into inclusive institutions of self-government—how much has truly changed ? To understand the ground reality, the Haryana Institute of Rural Development (HIRD) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) organized a workshop with 188 Dalit women elected representatives (ERs) across Haryana . Their testimonies revealed the harsh realities of caste, patriarchy, and the immense hurdles they face in decentralized governance . The Ground Reality: Hurdles for Dalit Women Sarpanches 1. Illiteracy and Lack of Awareness Many women ERs lack critical awareness regarding their legal powers, functions, and the specific developmental schemes meant for their communities . Most were only familiar with basic housing or grain...