Representation at gram panchayat level has given women members newfound confidence and self-esteem, rural development and panchayati raj minister C P Joshi informed the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Monday.

The ministry, he said, had commissioned a Study on Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in Gram Panchayats which was guided by an academic advisory committee and based on a nationwide survey carried out by AC Neilson ORG-MARG, New Delhi.

The study revealed that a sizeable proportion of EWRs perceived an enhancement in their self-esteem (79%), confidence (81%) and decision-making abilities (74%).

Also becoming a pradhan or ward member augmented respect within the family (67%) as well as in the community at large (82%) as more attention was paid to them when they took up local issues with the concerned officials.

Some of the other highlights from the study are:

(i) Four-fifths of all the representatives got elected from reserved seats and reservation emerged as an important motivator (43%) for contesting the first election.

(ii) Prior association with any form of politics was low, and for most women the act of contesting the first election signaled their entry into active politics.

(iii) Two-third of the elected representatives reported that their interaction with line Departments and parallel bodies had increased progressively over time.

(iv) 60% women representatives mentioned that they did not experience gender-based discrimination in the Panchayats and being ignored.

(v) Female representatives reported getting recognition from their peers and community for the work done by them.

(vi) 95% EWRs felt that they could freely raise issues during Gram Sabha meetings.

In 1993 the 73rd Amendment to the Indian Constitution provided a 33% reservation for women as members and as chairperson in the PRI's three-tier system.