reseaarch paper

“Women Participation in Local Government

institution:

A study on three Union Parishads

(Horipur, Horogram &Maria) in Rajshahi”

This Term Paper is Prepared for the

Partial fulfillment of the M.S.S

Examination, 2012.

Supervised By -

Md. Tanzir Mosabbir

Associate Professor

Dept. of PublicAdministration

Rajshahi University

Rajshahi.

Prepared By -

Md. Sajid Rahman

Roll No: 08113022

Registration No. :2526

Session: 2011-12

M.S.S

Dept. of PublicAdministration

Rajshahi University

Rajshahi.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION UNIVERSITY OF RAJSHAHI

Date of submission: 6/11/2012

First of all I would like to thank almighty Allah

for the power which enabled me to do the work

successfully.

Then I would like to expand my sincere gratitude to

the Department of Public Administration of Rajshahi

University to allow me to conduct the study and

also for providing me an environment that made the

study possible.

I wish to express my deepest sense of gratitude to

my supervisor

Md. Tanzir Mossabbir , Assistant Professor,

Department of Public Administration, University of

Rajshahi, for his incentive guidance. He made the

study possible & interesting. He showed me the

guidelines to perform the task successfully.

I wish to express my heartily thanks to my teacher

Harold Sougato Baroi, lecturer, Department of

Public Administration, University of Rajshahi who

has given me valuable suggestions regarding my

Field Work.

Finally, I would like to bear the responsibility of

all errors, mistakes and lack of judgments which I

have committed unintentionally.

Md. Sajid Rahman

Roll No: 08113022

Registration No. : 2526

Session: 2011-12

M.S.S

Dept. of Public Administration

University of Rajshahi

Rajshahi.

The study attempts to identify the extent and

nature of participation of women in local

government specifically in Union Parishad.

Women constitute half the country’s population. In

the modern world, politics is a way of life and

political decisions touch every aspect of the

state, economy and society. It is, therefore, only

natural that women should actively participate in

the political process of the country.

Local govt. bodies are important organizations to

fulfill the local needs of the people created by

the national govt. through law and ordinance.

Union Parishad is the lowest rural administrative

tire of local self-govt. After the adoption of

“Universal adult franchise” in 1956 women got the

right to participate in local level election.

At the local level, women’s participation is

limited. Until recently, there is provision for

reserved seats for women members in local govt.

bodies. The nomination system was replaced by the

reservation system in 1993. Provisions were made

for reservation of seats exclusively for women-one

for each three wards in all rural local govt.

bodies, which were to be indirectly elected.

Chapter One: (Introductory Discussion)

1.1 Introduction

1.2 Rationale of the study

1.3 Statement of the problem

1.4 Objective s of the study

1.5 Research methodology

1.6 Sources of Data

1.7 Area of the study

1.8 Limitations of the study

Chapter Two: (Conceptual Framework)

2.1 Women

2.2 Participation

2.3 Local Govt.

2.4 Union Parishad

Chapter Three: (Historical Background)

3.1 Evolution of Local Govt. in

Bangladesh

3.2 State of women participation in the

Union Parishad

3.3 Scenario of women participation in

Local Govt.

3.4 Institutional Arrangement for Women

Participation

3.5 Scope of Elected Women

Participation

3.6 Obstacles to women participation in

Politics

Chapter Four: (Data Analysis & Findings)

4.1 Data Analysis

4.2 Findings

Chapter Five: (Recommendations & Conclusion)

5.1 Recommendations

5.2 Conclusion

Appendix

I. Questionnaire

II. List of Interviewee

III. References

Chapter OneIntroductory Discussion

1.1: Introduction:

A question often comes to our mind that how acommon women holding a key position at union levelin the process of development which isparticipatory in theory rather have differentrealities.

In Bangladesh where 50% of the populations arewomen and in spite of having the provision ofreserved seats of women members at union parishadthe state of women in general are poor in terms ofparticipation and in the decision making process ofthe union Parishad.

Women participation in the local governmentinstitution will be focused on the study about thestatus of women at union parishad and how far theirparticipation being ensured at different level.

The local government (union parishad) ordinance1983, provides the legal basis for the formation ofthe union parishad after the new law enacted in1997, the government increased the number ofstanding committees set up by the union parishadfrom seven to twelve. At the same time the

government instructed that women members should bepresident of at least 25% of these committees.However, the terms of reference of these committeeswere not clearly specified. (Nazmunnessa Mahtab,2006)

Though the ordinance did not restrict women fromcontesting for the seats of general member as wellas the chairman, the number of elected womenmembers from the general seat cannot be taken intoconsideration. Therefore, the ratio of male-femalemembers virtually remains almost 3:1.

1.2: Rationale of the study:

In today’s world politics, economy and society as awhole are interlinked to each other. Localgovernment constitutes an important position interms of participatory in decision making processat union level and reflecting people expectationthrough development plan and schemes taken for thepeople through union parishad. The constitution ofBangladesh guarantees the rights under articles 28and 29.

In actual practice, women in Bangladesh still havea very long way to go before they can achieve equalpolitical / economic rights. Although better than

not having only representation, reserved seats forwomen are an affront to the concept of equality.

At the local level, women’s participation indecision-making and expressing their opinion isvery limited. Until recently, there was provisionfor nominated women member in local governmentbodies.

The nomination system was replaced by thereservation system in 1993. Since 1997 directelection for women in the reserved seats, both inurban and rural local govt. bodies, was introduced.Thus, in these seats, all voters, male and female,would elect one from among the contesting femalecandidates.

As regards the relationship between socialbackground and degree of participation of the womenrepresentatives in the local government bodies, itwas found that a women’s participation wassignificantly related to education.

1.3: Statement of the problem:

The government of the peoples Republicof Bangladesh has always been focusing theirattention and concern to rural local government.The constitution of Bangladesh recognizes basic andfundamental rights of the citizens irrespective ofgender, cast and religion.

According to article 9 of the constitution,

“The state shall encourage local governmentinstitutions composed of representatives of theareas concerned and in such institutions specialrepresentation shall be given as far as possible topeasants, workers and women”.

According to article 10 of the constitution

“Steps shall be taken to ensure participation ofwomen in all spheres of national life.”

But, there exists a gap between theory and reality.According to clause 38(1) of the local govt. (Unionparishad) Ordinance 1986 (amended) elected UPmembers will act as chairperson in at least 3 of 12standing committees of the parishad. But in manyUPs, standing committees the women members havebeen given no responsibilities despite theirinclusion in the committees. Their participation inthe development projects are often being ignoredwhich result is sidelining women position at unionparishads by their male counterparts who controlthe parishads.

1.4: Objectives of the study:

1.To know the status of women in the standingcommittees at union parishad.

2.To know the status of women in projectimplementation committees at union parishad.

3.To know the status of women in expressing theiropinion at union parishad.

4.To know the status of women participation indecision making at union parishad.

1.5: Research Methodology:

The study mainly based on primarydata. Its method includes a thorough investigationof the field’s viz. Union Parishad - a rural localgovernment body in the Union. A sample of 9 womenmembers has been selected randomly. Both interviewwith a structured questionnaire and observationtechniques are applied to see women participationin local government and the state of social statusin context of women participation in some selectedUnions.

1.6: Sources of data:

The study is mainly based on primary data collectedfrom selected women member of three UnionParishads.

The study uses secondary data from books, journals,newspapers, reports government ordinances,statutes, enactments and statistics.

Some tertiary data i.e. comments, criticisms andtheoretical

Formulations are also used in addition. Thecollected data will be treated qualitatively aswell as quantitatively applying statistical toolsto draw conclusions.

1.7: Area of the Study:

The study is conducted on the three selected UnionParishad namely Horogram, Horipur & Maria under theRajshahi districts which are bit far from RajshahiUniversity. They are selected to identify thestatus of women participation in decision making,expressing opinion, standing committees, projectimplementation committees and socio politicalstatus of women in the union parishad in grass-rootlevel.

1.8: Limitations of the Study:

The study is not out of the limitations. The firstone is time limitation. As a new researcher in thefield of Local Government institution must needenough time to explore the knowledge about it as avast area. Secondly the transportation system wasnot so good. Thirdly, all of the respondents werenot frequently in speaking, which caused somehesitations.

Chapter TwoConceptual Framework

2.1: Women:

According to Wikipedia, 2005:

“A woman is an adult female human being, ascontrasted to men, an adult male, and a girl, afemale child. The term woman (irregular plural:women) is used to indicate biological sexdistinctions, cultural gender role distinctions orboth”.

Women constitute about half of the totalpopulation of the Country. Apart from the householdactivities, they are contributing substantially tothe national economy. Bangladesh is one of thefirst developing countries to establish a Ministryof Women’s Affairs in 1978, three years after theFirst World Conference on Women in Mexico.

The government has already prepared a NationalPolicy for Advancement of Women and made somenoteworthy progress in implementing the NationalAction Plan, Prepared in response to the BeijingPlatform For Action.

In spite of these achievements, the majority ofwomen in Bangladesh has yet to be empowered toparticipate actively in the social, cultural,economic and political life of the country. Thepolicies and programs of the Government, NGOs, andOther institutions do not sufficiently address theneed for women’s participation.

2.2: Participation:

Participation is a development approach, whichrecognizes the need to involve disadvantagedsegments of the population in the design andimplementation of policies concerning theirwellbeing. Conceptualizing participation is not asimple task. The term participation is generallyoperational zed differently depending on thecontext and field in which it is studied. Inancient Greece participation was viewed as a matterof voting, holding offices, attending publicmeetings, paying taxes and defending the stateBut in modern times participation became synonymousof ‘sharing’.

Generally participation means engagement or takingpart. It means a process by which people willengage themselves in decision making. In broadersense, it means consultation in decision making,goal setting, profit sharing, teamwork, and othersuch measures. Participation in social sciencerefers to different mechanisms for the public toexpress opinions - and ideally exert influence -regarding political, economic, management or othersocial decisions. Participation can be defined asthe active involvement of the local people in theplanning and implementation of developmentprojects. Participation also means putting the lastfirst. Participation is also partnership. So, theorganized effort to increase control over resources& regulative institutions in a given situation isknown as Participation.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_science

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/measures.html

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/teamwork.html

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/profit.html

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/goal-setting.html

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/decision-making.html

http://www.businessdictionary.com/definition/consultation.html

According to Williams, “Participation is a functionof information through which people can come toshare a development vision, make choices, andmanage activities.”

Mumtaz Soysal says, “All forms of action by whichcitizens take part in operation of administrationis known as Participation”.

According to UNDP, “Participation means access todecision-making and power, as well as in terms ofeconomic participation”.

Cohen & Uphoff(1980) viewed participation withregard to development projects as "people'sinvolvement in decision making processes, inimplementing program, their sharing in the benefitsof development programs" and their involvement inefforts to evaluate such program. For effectiveplan formulation, control of projects and sharingof benefits of development, participation isnecessary.

Khan (1998) summarizes the definitions ofparticipation to a list as -

(a) An organized effort to increase control overresources and regulative institutions;

(b) People’s involvement in decision-making,implementation, benefit-sharing and in evaluationof programs.

(c) People’s capacity to take initiative indevelopment, to become “subjects” rather than

“objects” of their own destiny; this can only beachieved through a de-professionalization in alldomains of life in order to make “ordinary people”responsible for their own well-being;

(d) Participation involves a reversal of roleplaying: people should be the primary actors andgovernment agencies and outsiders should“participate” in people’s activities.

According to Mishra (1984:88), “participation meanscollective and continuous efforts by the peoplethemselves in setting goals, pooling resourcestogether and taking actions which aim at improvingtheir living conditions”.

S. Rahman (1991:3) has stated that all forms ofactions through which citizens take part in theoperation of administration maybe termed as‘participation’. Here, ‘taking part’ refers to anylevel from macro to micro region or it may be ofany type e.g. advisory or in decision-making or inimplementation etc.

In practical sense ‘Participation is used as‘People’s participation’. To be specific people’sparticipation denotes involvement of people in thedecision making process & play an active role as‘Primary actor”. People’s participation is theprocess of empowerment of the deprived,marginalized and the excluded people.

The strengthening of women’s participation in allspheres of life has become a major issue in thedevelopment discourse. Socio-economic development

cannot be fully achieved without the activeparticipation of women at the decision making levelin society. Various scholars define ‘Participation’in various ways.

Uphoff (1987) defines four types of participationas stated below -

a) Participation in decision making, inidentifying, formulating alternatives, planningactivities, allocating resources etc;

b) Participating in implementation, in carrying outactivities, managing and operating programs,partaking of services;

c) Participating in evaluation of the activity andoutcomes'; and

d) Participation in economic, social, cultural orother benefits, individually or collectively.

S.N Mishra defines 2 types of participation as-

1. Political Participation 2. ProgrammaticParticipation.

D.P Famni defines four types of Participation as -

1. Democratic Participation

2. Social protest.

3. Community Development Participation.

4. Programmed Participation.

2.3: Local Government:

Local government is considered as a significantsegment of the government. Local government iswidely known as local self-government. This termoriginated during the colonial times when most ofSouth Asia did not enjoy any self-government,either at the central or provincial levels. Now aday it has great importance. In industrializedcountries the number of civil servants at the locallevel is much larger than is commonly believed. Asfor example, in the United States, there are fourtimes as many local government employees as federalemployees, even in a developing country like India,the number of local level employees is as light as40% of that of federal employees.

Duane Lockard defines local government as follows-

“Local government is a public organizationauthorized to decide and administer a limited rangeof public policies within a relatively smallterritory, which is a sub-division of a region alor nation al government.”

According to United Nations:

“The term Local government refers to a politicalsub-division of a nation or state which isconstituted by law and has substantial control oflocal affairs, including the power to impose taxesor exact labor for prescribed purposes. The

governing body of such an entity is elected orotherwise locally selected.”

According to Wick war (1970):

“Local government is the descendent of HistoricCommunities and as Such reflects more of thenatural history of man than any other part ofmodern civilization.”

Finally it can be said that local government is atthe bottom of pyramid of government institutions,with the national government at the top andintermediate governments of states, regions,provinces occupying the middle rung.

Normally, local government has general jurisdictionand it is not confined to the performance of onespecific function or service. In conclusion, it canbe said regarding local governments that localgovernments continued to exist as units of nationalgovernment performing function of local nature.

2.4: Union Parishad;

Union Parishad is the lowest tier of administrativeunit in Bangladesh. And Union Parishad is thesecond tier of rural local government from below.As per the statutes at present Bangladesh containsa four-tier local government structure. But incompliance to the constitutional provision anelected local government body exists only at theunion level.

According to LG (UP) Ordinance, 1983,

‘union’ means ‘a rural area’ declared to be a unionunder section 3 (Declaration of union andalteration of limits thereof) [GOB, 1990:2-3)]. Itis entrusted with forty functions. The mainfunctions include public welfare, maintenance oflaw and order, revenue collection, development andadjudication. Its source of income includes grants,taxes, rates, fees etc. The Union Parishad consistsof a chairman, nine members, and three womenmembers. The voters of the Union Parishad directlyelect all.

Chapter Three

Historical Background

3.1: Evolution of Local Government in Bangladesh:

It is usually assumed that local government was thebasic form of government in the sub-continent till6th century B.C. Village self-government in thesub-continent is as old as the villages themselves.Therefore, Local Government of one sort or anotherhas a long history in the geographical area thatnow constitutes Bangladesh. This country was acolony of the British for about two hundreds years.

Most of the local government bodies in Bangladeshowe their origin to the British rule, whichultimately passed through the Pakistan period toindependent Bangladesh.

The origin of Union Parishad can be traced back tothe Village Panchayets introduced in the 1870s bythe British to maintain law and order in the ruralareas with the help of local people. More than onehundred and thirty years have passed since thecreation of the act and local government at unionlevel over the years have changed its name, area,functions and power from time to time. Still it isthe only and oldest democratic institutions in thehistory of Bengal.

The introduction of local government in BritishBengal goes back to the passing of the BengalVillage Chowkidari Act of 1870, which establishedChowkidari Panchayet consisted of five persons allnominated by the District Magistrate. Subsequentlythe Local Self-government Act, 1885 and the VillageSelf-government Act, 1919 are some principalinstruments that led to the development of thepresent local government in Bangladesh.

In the Pakistan period the Act of 1959 introduced anew local government system called the BasicDemocracy System in the East Pakistan (nowBangladesh). During the British and Pakistan periodthe local government at the union level not onlyhad changed its name several times but also itsfunctional jurisdiction and financial powers werewidened.

The constitution of independent Bangladesh wasadopted in late 1972, where in Article 59 providedfor elected local government institutions at alllevels .The P.O. of 1973 changed the name of UnionPanchayet to Union Parishad without any significantchanges in its character. Since then the UnionParishad is acting as the lowest administrativeunit of rural local government in Bangladesh.

3.2: State of Women Participation in the UnionParishad

Constitutional Provision:

The Constitution of the People’s Republic ofBangladesh recognizes basic and fundamental rightsof the citizens irrespective of gender, creed,cast, religion and race. It also makes provisionfor promoting causes of the backward sections ofthe population,

Related articles of the constitution regardingwomen participation may be seen in the followingsentences.

Article 9: The State shall encouragelocal government institutions composed ofrepresentatives of the areas concerned and in suchinstitutions special representation shall be given,as far as possible, to peasants, workers and women.

Article 10: Steps shall be taken to ensureparticipation of women in all spheres of nationallife.

Article 19 (1): The State shall endeavor toensure equality of opportunity to all citizens.

Article 27: All citizens are equal before lawand are entitled to equal protection of law.

Article 28 (1): The State shall notdiscriminate against any citizen on grounds only ofreligion, race, caste, sex or place of birth.

(2): Women shall have equal rights with men inall spheres of the State and of public life.

(4): Nothing in this article shall prevent theState from making special provision in favor ofwomen or children or for the advancement of anybackward section of citizens.

By incorporating the above articles, theconstitution gives special attention to women indemocracy and local government. The nation puts nolegislative barrier in the way of promoting genderequity in the sphere of social, political, andeconomic activities. The constitution givesguarantee of equal rights to women and also makesspecial provision for providing all necessaryprotections to backward sections of the society.

3.3: Scenario of Women Participation in LocalGovernment:

The following table shows the scenario of WomenParticipation in Local Government during the periodof 1973-2003.

Elections Year Womencandidates

Womencandidates

ElectedChairman

ElectedMembers

Chairman

Member Chairman

Member

1st 1973 - - 1 -2nd 1977 19 19 4 73rd 1984 - - 6 -4th 1988 79 863 1 -5th 1992 115 1135 8 206th 1997 102 43969/45

6*20+3 12882/1

10*7th 2003 232 43764/61

7*22 12684/7

9*

* Women contested and elected to the generalseats.

(Source: Asian Affairs, Vol, 29, No 1: 73-00,January-March, 2006)

In 1973 election only one woman was elected as thechairperson of Union Parishad among 4352 unions. Inthe election of 1977 only four women were electedas chairperson whereas his number was only 6 in theelection of 1984. In the Union parishad election of1988, 18566 contestants fight for the position ofchairperson of 4401 Union parishads. There wereonly 79 omen contestants constituting only 0.4percent for the post of chairperson and 863 formembership. Only one female chairperson was electedin 1988. Again in 1992, available data indicatesthat for the position of chairperson of 3899 unionsout of 4398 Union Parishads, 115 women contestedfor chairpersonship and 1135 for members. Only 20members were elected. For elective position ofmembers, the figures for the respective electionsin 1988 and 1992 were 863 omen out of 114,699(constituting 0.7 percent) and 1135 women among69,643 (comprising again some 0.7 percent)contestants.(M.R Khan & Fardaus Ara,2006)

3.4: Institutional Arrangement for Women’sParticipation:

During the British regime, local government in theunion remained an almost exclusive domain of males.Only male could vote in election for rural localbodies till 1956 when for the first time electionwas held on the basis of universal adultfranchise .Voting power of women was establishedlawfully. Women never thought of participating inthis system.

In 1976, the government promulgated the LocalGovernment Ordinance for a three-tier localgovernment system. It was the ever first ordinanceregarding the local government system in thehistory of independent Bangladesh. In thisordinance the structure of the local governmentsystem underwent changes and the provision was madeto select two women members in the Union Parishad.For the first time women were considered to beincluded in the local govt.

In 1983, the changes were brought in structure andcomposition of Union Parishad by promulgating theLocal Government (Union Parishad) Ordinance. Thisordinance increased the number of nominated womenmembers to three and each of them represented oneward.

In 1993, Local Government (Union Parishad)(Amendment) Act was passed in the Parliament tosecure the minimum representation of women in localgovernment. The new order omitted the system ofnomination and provision for indirect election wascreated by the Parishad. But the number of thewomen member was fixed three as was earlier.

The Local Government (Union Parishad) SecondAmendment Act, 1997 is a milestone in the historyof political empowerment of women in Bangladesh.The government of Bangladesh enacted this law fordirect elections to reserve seats for women inlocal level elections. In this act the governmentreserved three seats for women in the Union

Parishad where women members were directly electedfrom each of the three wards. Apart from thereserved seats women can also contest for any ofthe general seats. (M.R Khan & Fardaus Ara,2006)

3.5: Scope of Elected Women Participation

Laws and Rules:

The Local Government (Union Parishad) ordinance1983 provides the legal basis for the formation ofthe union Parishad. But it did not contain anyclause for the role, power and responsibility ofthe women members. After the new law enacted in1997, the government increased the number ofstanding committees set up by the Union Parishadfrom seven to twelve. At the same time thegovernment instructed that women members should bepresident of at least twenty five percent of thesestanding committees. However, the terms ofreference of these committees and their modusoperandi were not clearly specified.

Therefore, a sort of ambiguity persists with regardto the participation of women members in the UnionParishad activities. Moreover, government byanother notification directed each Union Parishadto form Social Development Committees in each ofthe three female wards to be headed by the femalemember concerned.

Male-Female Ratio:

Though the ordinance did not restrict women fromcontesting for the seats of general members as well

as the chairman, the number of elected womenmembers from the general seat can not be taken into consideration.

Therefore, the ratio of male-female membersvirtually remains almost 3:1.Relevant laws/rulesprovide that decision-making in the Union Parishadwill stem from what the majoritysupports.Therefore, it leaves no doubt that interms of numerical strength women members are threetimes weaker than the other (male) members thatclearly shows that the women members can do alittle to influence the decision taken in the UnionParishad.

3.6: Obstacles to Women Political Participation:

Women insignificant participation in politics isattributable to some constraints such as thefollowing-

Patriarchy

Domestic responsibility

Economic Dependence

Property

Social and cultural barrier

Religious Constraints

Legal Factors

Violence

Patriarchy:

The first and foremost constraint on women’sparticipation in the political process ispatriarchy in the patriarchal system to society. Itis observed that patriarchal discourse constitutesseparate spheres of men and women. It determinesinferior position for women and superior positionfor men. The patriarchal social system limits womento become active in politics.

Domestic Responsibility:

Domestic work and the responsibilities of bearingand reusing of children keep women tied to home.These responsibilities not only keep women out ofthe labor force but also limit their interest andserious involvement in politics.

Economic Dependence:

Economic dependence is a key factor that limits thepolitical participation of women. Women’s personalearning and sources of wealth are limited in oursociety. Besides, women do not have access to thepolitical or economic interest groups, which couldhave strengthened the financial resources or powerof women.

Property:

Of the factors limiting women’s ability toparticipate in politics, poverty is perhaps themost pervasive. But the main causes of poverty arethe social and legal limitations to her propertyrights.

Social and Cultural Barrier:

Women live in a social system where socializationprocess embodying social norms and role expectationprescribe for women an inferior and subordinateposition in society. Involvement in politics andany other political activities are viewed as theforbidden realm for women in our country.

Religious Constraints:

Religious beliefs and doctrines have veneered thesocietal negative attitudes towards women’sparticipation in politics. Women in Bangladesh,being in a predominantly Muslim society, constantlyconfront with the real or perceived obstacles dueto variant perspectives of women status in Islam.

Legal Factors:

On the surface it appears that women of Bangladeshenjoy equal status as it is granted by theconstitution itself. But in reality their unequalstatus has been implicitly recognized by theconstitution itself, by reserving rights to makespecial provisions to promote women’s status.

The parliament as such as made a number ofprovisions in this regard. Equal voting rights have

not ensured equal participation in both formulatingor influencing governmental laws and politics.

Violence:

Violence against women also restricts women’spolitical activity where women raise their voice,challenge the authority of men or devote time andresources to political activism; they often riskprovoking the violent anger of male relations,neighbors and community leader.

Chapter FourData Analysis &

Findings

4.1: Data Analysis:

The collected data are presented and analyzedaccording to the objectives of the study asfollows:

Table - 01

Knowing about the Terms of References

Situation No. of WomenMember

Percentage

Knows 09 100%Don’t knows 00 0%Total 09 100%

Out of the 9 members all of them (100%) knowabout the Terms of References of the UnionParishad.

Table - 02

Knowing about How many standing committees


Percentage

Knows 07 77.77%Don’t knows 2 22.22%Total 09 100%

There are 7 (77.77%) women members know that,how many standing committees exist in unionparishad but 2 (22.22%) of them do not know aboutit.

Table – 03

Occupying standing Committee


Percentage

Getting thechance ofchairmanship

05 55.55%

Getting nochange ofchairmanship

04 44.44%

Total 09 100%

Out of 9 women members 05 (55.55%) has said thatthey have held the position of chairmanship of thestanding committee and 04 (44.44%) members informedthat they have not been able to occupy the positionof chairmanship of the standing committee.

Table- 04

Ratio for the chairmanship of male & female

Knowledgeabout theRatio

No. of WomenMember

Percentage

Knows aboutthe ratio

06 66.66%

Do not Knows 03 33.33%Total 09 100%

6 (66.66%) women members know about the rationfor the chairmanship of male & female member and 03(33.33%) do not know the ratio out of 9 members.

Table – 05

Holding Project Implementation committee

Participation inProjectimplementationCommittee

No. of WomenMember

Percentage

Getting the chanceof chairmanship

04 44.44%

Getting no chance 05 55.55%

of chairmanship Total 09 100%

Out of 9 members 04 (44.44%) has said that they areholding the chairmanship of project implementationcommittee. Another (55.55%) said they have noposition in such committees.

Table – 06

Expressing opinion in the committee

Expressingopinion

No. of WomenMember

Percentage

Can expressopinion

05 55.55%

Can not express 04 44.44%Total 09 100%

5 (55.55%) women members can express theiropinion in the committee but 4 (44.44%) can notexpress their opinion in the committee.

Table – 07

Participation in different Committees

Situation No. of Women Percentage

MemberPartlyparticipation

07 77.77%

very few 02 22.22%Total 09 100%

In the case of participation in differentcommittees only 7 (77.22%) has said they can partlyparticipation but 2 (22.22%) women member said theycan participate very few.

Table – 08

Accepting opinion in decision making


Percentage

accepted(partly)

09 100%

accepted(fully)

00 0%

Total 09 100%

Out of 9 women members all (100%) are saidthat, their opinion in decision making partlyaccepted but not fully

Table – 09

Participation with Happiness


Percentage

Yes 00 0%No 09 100%Total 09 100%

All of 9 (100%) women members are not happywith that kind of participation in the decisionmaking process at the Union Parishad.

Table – 10

Participation in General Meetings


Percentage

Sometimes 08 88.88%Very often 01 11.11%Total 09 100%

Out of 9 members only 1 (11.11%) women member hassaid that very often, she participates in generalmeetings held in the parishad but another 8(88..88%) has participated in general meetingssometimes.

Table – 11

Decision taken at Union Parishad


Percentage

NotParticipatory

07 77.77%

Participatory(Partly)

02 22.22%

Total 09 100%

Decision taken at Union Parishad is dominatedby the chairman or member 07 (77.77%) women memberssaid. Another 2 (22.22%) said that it is partlyparticipatory.

Table – 12

Co-operation of male member


Percentage

Very few 02 22.22%Sometimes 07 77.77%Total 09 100%

Only 2 (22.22%) women member said that, theyget very few co-operations from male member but

another said male members co-operate themsometimes.

Table – 13

Project Implemented by Women Member

Implementation of Project

No. of WomenMember

Percentage

Participation 04 44.44%Noparticipation

05 55.55%

Total 09 100%

Out of 09 members 04 (44.44%) members areengaged in the project implementation in theirjurisdiction. Another 05 (55.55%) members have onparticipation in any project implementation intheir jurisdiction.

Table – 14

Raising voice against unpleasant decision

Voice Againstunpleasantdecision

No. of WomenMember

Percentage

Can raisingVoice

01 11.11%

Can notraising

08 88.88%

Total 09 100%

Only 1 (11.11%) women member has said that she canraise voice against unpleasant decision but 08(88.88%) women member has said that they can notraise voice against any unpleasant decision. Butsome also said that they can raise their voice veryfew time.

Table – 15

Knowing about Union Parishad Manual


Percentage

Knows 08 88.88%Not knows 01 11.11%Total 09 100%

Only 1 (11.11%) women member said that she doesnot know about the Union Parishad Manual But 8(88.88%) women member knows about the UnionParishad Manual.

Table – 16

Facing difficulties in expressing their selves


Percentage

Facingdifficulties

08 100%

Not facingdifficulties

00 0%

Total 09 100%

Out of 9 members all of them (100%) have saidthat, they are facing difficulties in expressingtheir selves.

Table – 17

Knowing about Right to Information Act


Percentage

Knows 01 11.11%Not knows 08 88.88%Total 09 100%

Only 1 (11.11%) women member said that she knowsabout the Right to Information act. But 8 (88.88%)women member don’t know.

Table – 18

Participation in the Open Budget


Percentage

Participated 03 33.33%Notparticipated

06 66.66%

Total 09 100%

Out of 9 members 3 women have said that they haveparticipated in the open budget. Though thepercentage is still not satisfactory, butparticipation of women in the open budget hasstarted.

Table – 19

Satisfaction about the position


Percentage

Satisfied 00 0%Not satisfied 09 100%Total 09 100%

All of the 9 members (100%) have said that theyare not satisfied about their position.

4.2: Findings:

There are 13 standing committees in the UnionParishad. According to law, women member should bethe chair person of one third of standingcommittees. But the states of women member in thesestanding committees are not fully participatory inthe metro of the chairmanship. (Table-03)

According to the manual of Union Parishad should bethe chairperson of one third of the projectimplementation committees. In actual practice theydo not get the charge of chairmanship of theproject implementation committees at union parishadfully. (Table-05)

In experiencing their opinion at union parishadwomen members only get partially chance. Sometimesthey are dominated by the chairmanship and the malemember of the union parishad. (Table-06)

In case of decision making women members are mostlyignored. All the respondents has said that theiropinion in decision making accepted partly by theparishad. (Table-8)

Women members are also facing difficulties inexpressing their selves. Most of decisions taken atUnion Parishad depend upon the chairman/member.(Table11)

Women members get cooperation from male membersometimes or very few times. They cannotparticipate all of the committees. (Table-12)

Women members cannot raise their voice againstunpleasant decision taken by the parishad. (Table-14)

The Right to Information Act is yet to be reachedto the grass-root level people specially to thewomen. (Table – 17)

Though still not satisfactory, the participation ofwomen in the open budget has started. (Table – 18)

The overall socio-political status of women inunion parishad is not well. All of the respondentssaid that they are not satisfied about theirposition in the parishad. (Table-17)

Women members only get chance of chairmanship incase of Relief committee, Tree plantation committeeVGF card issue committee, Funds for the agedcommittee etc. Finance establishment Accounts 2audits, Revenue, etc. are always dealt by the malemembers.

Sometimes women members are related to Familywelfare, certificate registration, sanitation,women and children welfare etc.

Most of the respondents said that Parishad has tobe fully participatory. It should not be dominatedby the chairman/member Equal participation must beensured in the union Parishad. They also said thatTerms of References must be followed by theParished.

Chapter Five

Recommendations &Conclusion

5.1: Recommendations:

The studies above thus show that the socio-culturaland political situation restricts women’sparticipation in local level politics. In order toinvolve women in local bodies, certain steps haveto be taken at various levels. Some recommendationsare given below.

Direct election of women is likely to establish alink between women and the community. Throughelections women members are duly recognized asleaders at the grassroots level by the governmentand the local community.

They should, of course be given proper training onissues, which hinder integration of women with themainstream of socio-economic life.

Political awareness, consciousness and motivationshould be inculcated among women at all levelsnational and local.

Mass media should be used to motive women and thereis a need for a wide publicity of the nationalpolicy on equal political participation of women.

In schools and college, both the sexes should betaught about their political and other rights.

Side by side, simple methods of teaching should bedeveloped for poor, disadvantaged and illiteratewomen. This will improve the leadership quality ofwomen in the local bodies.

Attitudes towards participation of women inpolitics should be positively directed, so thatwomen in greater numbers get opportunities toparticipate in political activities.

In order to involve women in political activities,they need to be organized at the local level andthey should be assisted economically and otherwise

by political parties, women’s organizations andtrade unions.

Specific strategies for intervention should beadopted in the field of female education andhealth, which are crucial to human capitaldevelopment.

Training about gender issues and politicalparticipation should be imparted in all traininginstitutions.

Women who are already in the local bodies/politicalparties should strengthen their position and try toachieve positive results on women’s issues.

The govt. should make special efforts to enlightenthe female electorate on political issues.

Women should be aware about the Right toInformation Act & making proper use of it.

Women participation in the open budget have to beensured more to make it successful, accountable &transparent.

Linkages among the grassroots organizations shouldbe established. Strengthening grassroots women’sorganizations would be an effective strategy topromote women’s political participation.

5.2: Conclusion:

Politics and development are interrelated. Desireddevelopment is not possible if women stay away fromthe local development process. It is urgent needfor women to participate in politics to promotetheir advancement.

The marginalization of women in the political arenais basically a reflection of the inferior status ofwomen in family and society.

Women remain under represented in local decisionand policy making. In terms of prestige, power andesteem accorded, the women in Bangladesh are placedquite low and are disadvantaged.

In the local government system of Bangladesh up isthe main vehicle of meeting the needs of people atthe grassroots. Women representation throughelection in reserve and general seats and theirposition in the different standing committees ofthe up enhance its structural capacity.

Women member’s acceptability to the rural dwellers,role in community decision making, creating equalopportunities are just a few areas symbolizing atrend towards the progression of womenparticipation in local govt.

The patriarchal social system runs on therecognition of male superiority and femalesubordination and women are attached to low statusin politics particularly local level i.e. the unionParishad.

Appendix

Questionnaire

“Women participation in Local government: A studyon three Union Parishads”

Name of Union Parishad:

Name of Respondent :

Age of Respondent:

Marital Status :

Married Unmarried

Divorced Widow

1. How many times you were elected?

Once Twice More than that

2. Who encouraged you to come in politics?

Father Mother Husband Own will

3. Do you know the terms of references for womenmember?

Yes No

4. Do you know how many standing committees inUnion Parishad?

Yes No

5. If yes, how many committees exist here?

6. Are you a chairperson of any standing committee?

Yes No Once upon a time

7. If yes, please mention the name of thecommittee.

8. If no please mention the causes

9. Do you know the ratio for male and female memberin the standing committee according to the law?

Yes No

10. Are you a chairperson of any projectimplementation committee?

Yes No Once upon a time

11. If yes, please mention the name of thecommittee-

12. Can you express your opinion in the committee?

Yes No

13. How you participate in these committees?

Fully participate partly Very few

Non room for discussion

14. How your opinion in decision-making accepted bythe committees?

Fully accepted partly accepted

Not accepted

15. Are you happy with that kind of participation?

Yes No Sometimes

16. How often you participate in general meetingsheld in the Parishad?

Very often Sometimes None

17. How the decision is taken at Union Parishad?

Fully participatory partlyparticipatory

Dominated by chairman/ member

18. How does male member co-operate you?

Sometimes Very few Very often

No-Cooperative

19. Is there any project implemented by you in yourjurisdiction?

Yes No

20. If no, Please mention the causes-

21. Can you raise your voice against any decisionwhich you are not happy?

Yes No Very few

22. Do you know about the Union Parishad Manual?

Yes No

23. Do you face any difficulties in expressingyourself?

Yes No

24. Do you know about Right to Information Act?

Yes No


26. Have you ever participated in open budget?

Yes No


28. Are you satisfied about your Position in UnionParishad?

Yes No

29. Do you have any suggestion?

“Thanks for your assistance”

List of Interviewee

SLNo.

Name of Women Members Name of UnionParishads

1 Mrs. Sufia Begum Horogram

2 Mrs Jorina Khatun Horogram

3 Mrs. Sahara Khatun Horogram

4 Mrs Jamila Begum Horipur

5 Mrs. Jobeda Khanam Horipur

6 Mrs Aklima Begum Horipur

7 Mrs Rahela Khatun Maria

8 Mrs. Morzina Begum Maria

9 Mrs. Kamrun Nahar Maria

References

Siddiqui, Kamal, Local Government in Bangladesh.

Social Science Review Vol 19, NO 1, June 2002, PP.119-132.

Asian Affairs, Vol, 29, No 1: 73-00, January-Marc,(2006)

Mahtab, Nazmunnessa; Women in Bangladesh.

Empowerment, A Journal of women for women, (1996);vol, 6, ISSN 1029-7804.

Ara, Fardaus & M.R Khan (2006): Women,Participation and empowerment”.

Government of Bangladesh (1990): The Local Govt.(UPs) Ordinance, 1983, Modified up to 31st December1990.

Sultana, Abeda, Women’s Political Participation inBangladesh: Problems and ISSUES.\

Qudir, Sayeda Rowshan (1995): Women in Politics andLocal Bodies in Bangladesh.

Government of Bangladesh (GOB) [2008]: Theconstitution of the people Republic of Bangladesh(Amendment) till April, 2008)

Amin, Ruhul and Akhter, Shelina (2005): WomenParticipation in Local Govt. and Social Integrationin Rural Bangladesh.

Alam, Bilkis Ara (1984): Women Participation inLocal Govt. in Bangladesh, The Journal of localGovt., Vol.13. No2.

Ali, Md. Alams (2003): Women Participation in LocalGovt.; Bangladesh Perspective, Development Review,Vol 14, No.1&2.

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