Name: Harvinder Singh
Country: India

Year: 2019
Volume: Volume-6, Issue-1 (January-June)
Page Number: 1-13

ABSTRACT
The present study attempts to analyse the contribution made by the reservation to the improvement in the socio-political status of the scheduled castes in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The univariate analyses are conducted using the primary field data was collected during the year 2015-16 from twelve villages spread over three districts of Punjab. The result shows an improvement in the representation of the scheduled castes as well as women in the PRIs on account of the reservation of seats for them. However, significant inter- and intra-caste differences were observed in the participation of PRIs working. Although the representation of women in PRIs has improved, their participation, however, remained questionable. It is found that the male members of the family predominantly decide on female participation in meetings and other functions of PRIs. The scheduled caste women, in particular, are suffering from dual discrimination in rural Punjab.

Keywords: Scheduled Castes; Panchayati Raj Institutions; Dual Discrimination; Affirmative Actions; Rural Punjab