A STUDY ON SOCIO ECNOMIC CONDITIONS OF WOMEN SURPUNCHES IN ANANTHAPURAMU DISTRICT. (Pages 44-57) by N. Kalpana Kumari* and Dr. A. Krishna Kumari** in THE INTERNATIONAL MANAGER / ISSN: 2348-9413 (Online); 2348-9405 (Print)

Panchyati Raj Institutions have always been considered as a means to good governance and 73rd constitutional Amendment was effected in the hope that it would lead to better governance and provide political space to the women. The present study was an effort to know the extent of participation of women elected representative in Panchayati and the problems faced by them. Anantapuramu district is one the four district of backward region of Rayalaseema situated in the state of Andhra Pradesh. Total Panchayatis in Anantapuramu District are 1003. Total women headed Panchayatis 553. Sample consisted of 100 women elected representatives from Districts of Rayalaseema region of Anantapuramu District. Purposive sampling technique was adopted for selecting the sample from different mandals. The tool used for obtaining information was an Interview Schedule. The findings of the study revealed that neither the reservation for women or their actual presence in the Panchyati have become any more sensitive to the problems related to the village women. The women who are elected are not always treated with due respect. Many elected women complained that their suggestions were not considered seriously nor were they consulted while decisions were being made. Some felt that their views were ignored only because they are women. At times they were pressurized by their husbands to approve their decisions made by the male dominated Panchayatis. Keywords: Participation, Panchayati Raj, Governance, Women leadership, women empowerment.