THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN KARNATAKA POLITICS WITH

REFERENCE TO TUMKUR DIST. (2001 to 2015)

Introduction
Politics is very important for many politics of human life.
Mostly it is imperative for the existence of statehood and the way in
which people interact how they make decisions and settle disputes.
Because people live groups in groups, there is a need to make
decisions about how power or available resources to the group are
to be shared out for. Thus, we can define politics in two ways; first
politics can be considered a the study of power and secondary as the
study of the conflicts resolutions.
However, the partipation of the decision making and political
power of the state has an important paramount for every citizen of
the state. “Political participation is the active engagement by
individuals and groups with the governmental processes that affect
their lives.” This encompasses both involvements in decision making
and acts of opposition. Acts of active engagement include
conventional political participation (such as voting standing for office
etc) and un conventional acts which may be legitimate such, as
signing a petition and attending a peaceful demonstration) potential
participation is thus those voluntary actions through which citizens
seek to influence the making of the public policy.
In exercising the right to participation who men and women shall
have an equal opportunity in involvement in the political system in
many forms from voting in elections, holding a position as a
legislator, ministry, and judge, or to be head of the state. The
realization of the effective participation in both women and men in the
potical and decision making process in the equil manner is the
obligation of the state.
The constitution of India is based on the principles which
enshrined in its preamble which says, equality , liberty, fraternity and
guarantees equality before law and equal protection to all its citizens .
It not only guarantees fundamental rights which include freedom. But
also prohibits discrimination he grounds of religion race, caste, sex, &
Place of birth. As in such, women have been denied social economic ,
civil and political rights in many fields. An important area where
women have been inadequately represented is in the political field.
Articles 325 & 326 of the Indian constitution guarantee political
equality, equal right to participation in political activities and right to
vote respectively while the later has been accessed and enjoyed by a
large number of women the former ie. right to equal political
participation is still a distant area lack of space for participation in
political bodies has not only resulted in their presence in meager
numbers in these decision making bodies but also in the neglect of
their issues and experiences in policy making

Statement of the problem

To begin with one cannot ignore that politics , governance and
decision making are some of the key areas of focus in development.
In this regard , development to be perfect and sustainable needs wider
participation from all segment of the society including Karnataka
women who are currently not satisfactionarly involved in the
political affairs of the state, even though they has sufficient seats in
local governments unfortunately they do not have enough seats in
parliamentary houses and state legislature.
In this situation , the state has to take some corrective actions to
ensure that women participate equally in the political sphere. Also it is
imperative to adopt creation affirmative action to eliminate the
existing discrimination to ensure political equality as guaranteed in the
constitution. The government of India. Noting the law participation of
women in politics acknowledging the recommendations of the
committee for status of women report 1974 and drawing from the
pioneering experience of Karnataka. Which provided reservation for
women its three tier Panchayat Raj institutions in the year 1983;
adopted and affirmative action for providing reservation for women
in these institutions in the year 1993, 73 rd and 74th constitutional
Amendments with these constitutional amendments, over three
million women are now actively participating in decision making
bodies only at the local levels of governance.
However such affirmative action to lacking at the higher level of
governance act the state and central levels .
In this research we would like to come up with possible solutions to
the existing theoretical and political challenges and to study all the
inhibitive factors under the lights of actual political environment.
Objectives of the study :
The following are the objectives of the study
 To Assess the status of women in politics.
 To Identify the indicators and substantiate the existence of
disparity and disadvantage women face in their political
participation.
 To Examine the role of state to ensure & facilitate the
participation of women in politics.
 To Analyze the initiatives taken by the state in terms of
legislative actions, politics and their effectiveness.
 To Identify the lacunance in the initiatives of state to enhance
the involvement of women in all activities of the political
system.
 To Examine he contribution of women in politics ie union state
and local government.

Hypothesis of the study

The following are the hypothesis framed for the study.
1) Some constitutional reservations should be provided to the
women for effective political participation.
2) It is useful for women empowerment in rural
3) The Indian women were more contributed to Indian government
(State as well as local government and politics)
4) It create women awareness in political process.
Importance of the study
Women around the world at every socio political level find
themselves under represented in all the levels of government and for
removed from decision making levels .This is one of the major factors
that have contributed to their status. Political participation of women
is essential to ensure that womens concerns and issues are integrated
into main stream decision making process. This would be major step
in facilitating women to perform and enjoy their rights guaranteed in
the constitution towards achieving substantive equality for women.
The total numbers of woman in politics or political decision
making bodies in literally low in all the levels of political system in
India. Lack of space for women in these political institutions and
decision making organs has resulted in the perpetuation of inequalities
and discrimination against women. The practice of discrimination
that persist in these institution against those few woman who were
elected have the effect of impairing their effective functioning. Absence
of affirmative action, lack of conducive environment in enhancing
the participation of women in central legislature state legislature as
well as local governments.
But the affirmative action adopted by the government of India
through 73rd and 74 th constitutional Amendments providing the
reservation of not less one-third membership in local self government
has facilitated more number of women to active participate in the
decision making relation equally with men in these institution this is
a significant step towards achieving the constitution aim of equality
however further facilities to be done to provide an enabling
environment in the political institutions to women to participate
effectively.
The political domain contains to be perceived as best suited for
men and therefore remains very male dominated. The discrimination
against women in relation to their rights as full citizens is not linear &
is interested with biological and social differences of caste and class
identities. Therefore, discrimination through the political institutions
need to be examined. It also examines the obligation of the state in
ensuring and fulfilling the equality the national and state laws.

Methodology
The study includes both primary and secondary data.
 The primary data consists of interview with the ancient
women political leaders and local women political leaders and
local women political representations
 The Secondary data also be used in the form of published
material that is to books, articles, statistical statement reports etc.
The study also adopts the historical and analytical method.

Review of literature
There are number of studies made on women participation in politics
that helps to understand “the role of women in Karnataka politics”.
 Ranjana Kumara Anju Dubey : “women parliamentarian. Har
Anand publication, New Delhi 1994 Covers on women role and
 involvement in two different sphere & related area of the
political process, namely the parliament and the political policy
it focused on four trends.Personals party politics & not voting
behaviour, parliamentary & grass roots.
 Anna Louise strachan : In his work on women in politics and
the public sector in Tanzania stated that womens engagement in
politics has been increasing in Tangania in recent year and
explained different aspects of women’s political participation in
the country.
 Khadar Mohammed Ahamed In his women political assess the
womens political participation and decision making in Hargeisa
Samali land and suggested how to empower women to
participate in politics and decision making process and given
solutions towards political imbalance in Hargeisa Somali land.

Chapter scheme
The study adopted following chapter scheme
1) Introduction
2) Contribution of women to the Indian politics an overview.
3) Survey of women in Karnataka politics
4) Contribution of women in state legislative
5) Contribution of women in rural local self government
6) Empowerment of women thought political participation with
special references to Tumkur District.
7) Conclusion
References:
1) Apsara Banu, “The role of women in Indian struggle for freedom
etel. Indian women (Ed) struggle for freedom etel. Indian
women (Ed) ‘B.R. Nanda vikas publication. New Delhi 1976.
P.40.
2) Usha Mehta, women in Elections, Indian Journal of Political
Science, Vol- 23, 1962, PP37677,
3) Malhotra M.ed. Empowerment of women’s women in rural
development , New Delhi ISha Books , 2004, 303P.
4) Report of the committee on the status of the women in the India –
Govt. of India, Ministry of Education social welfare, Dept. of
Social welfare , New Delhi , 19th Dec. 1974

Signature of the Signature of the

Research Scholar Research Guide
 TUMKUR UNIVERSITY

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN KARNATAKA POLITICS WITH

REFERENCE TO TUMKUR DIST. (2001 to 2015)

Submitted By
SANTHOSHI. S
Research Scholar in Political Science
Tumkur University,
Tumakuru

Research Guide

Dr. SANNASWAMY M.A., Ph.D.

Associate Professor
Department of Studies and Research in Political Science
Sree Siddaganga Arts, Science and Commerce College
Tumakuru-572101

DEPT. OF STUDIES AND RESEARCH IN POLITICAL SCIENCE

Tumkur University,
Tumakuru

2015-16