AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF VCDC AND TCLCC IN UDALGURI DISTRICT

WOMEN PARTICIPATION AT GRASS-ROOT POLITICS IN BTAD

A democratic country must be open, accountable and participatory and it makes an individual interested his country.

In a democracy, citizen’s participation in the decision making process particularly at the grass-root level without any discrimination is one of the main pillar of democratic decentralization. Hence, it is the duty of every modern state to provide elimination of discrimination against the women of rural areas and to ensure such women to participate in the elaboration and implementation of development planning at all level.

Assam Panchayat Act (1994) has introduced a three tier Panchayat System with some specific reservation for ST, SC and women. But this act excludes all the autonomous areas under Sixth Schedule of the constitution of India. Accordingly, the BTAD (Bodoland Territorial Area Districts) is out of the jurisdiction of this Act.

Our “Father of the Nation”, Mahatma Gandhi advocated the primacy of village as the starting point of development and considered the village panchayat as the foundation of self-government. Eventually however, as a concession to the Gandhian point of view regarding the creation of village panchayat, the Constituent Assembly made a provision in the Directive Principles of State Policy, by including Article 40. But the 73rd Amendment of the constitution has made it compulsory for all the states to introduce Panchayati Raj System.

Study Area

The BTAD which is created on 10th February, 2003 includes four districts such as Kokrajhar, Chirang, Baska and Udalguri. The study area is Udalguri district, situated on the Indo-Bhutan border. Earlier it was a sub-division of Darrang district and is formally inaugurated as a district on 14th June, 2004. The district has two sub-divisions with 7 development blocks and 800 villages. The total geographical area of this district is 1673.94 sq. km. and the total population is 832769 out of which 4,23,617 are male and 40,9152 are female (Census Report, 2011) The extent of the district lies between 9208 E the 9515 E longitude and 2646´ N to 2777´ N latitude.

1. Map of Assam showing BTAD2. Map of Study Area

Objectives of the Study

To highlight the present day political status of women in Udalguri district in brief.

To enquire into the factors responsible behind the poor participation of women in grass root level institutions of the study area.

To assess the role of different political parties and non-political organizations towards the development of women strength in the village development committees.

To identify and highlight the fields that requires priorities in the government policies.

To put forward some prescriptive remarks for the uplift of the women politics in BTAD.

Methodology

In order to make an analytical study the data have been collected from both the primary and secondary sources. The required primary data and information have been collected through interview method from the study area. On the other hand, the secondary data and information have been collected from different statistical records of the Government of Assam, Statistical Handbook of BTC, various local bodies, different books and journals, published Research papers and articles, etc. Hence, the study is analytical and mainly based on secondary sources of data.

Analysis of the Findings

Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), itself is a mechanism of the decentralization of political and economic power under the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution is not legally responsible to implement Panchayati Raj system at grass-root level development programs.

But the bill is still waiting for the assent of the Governor of Assam. The BTC authority has already implemented temporarily a system of two tier village level development committees namely – VCDC and TCLCC in all the districts of BTAD

The VCDC is a bottom level institution and about 4000 to 7000 people of rural areas are necessary to constitute a VCDC

Within one VCDC there may be one or more villages and minimum one member is nominated from each revenue village.

The TCLCC is a block level institution in each BTCLA constituency of BTAD. Each and every VCDC has to nominate at least one member to the TCLCC and the chairman of TCLCC is also nominated by the BTC authority.

There is a provision to select at least one women member to it.

Table: 1Strength of women voters in Udalguri

Sl. No Name of BTCLA constituency

Male Female Total

1 31. Khwirabari (ST) 23489 22827 46316

2 32. Bhergaon (ST) 22708 22623 45331

3 33.Nonwi Serfang (Non ST)

22168 20934 43102

4 34. Khaling Duar (ST)

26266 24559 50825

5 35.Mwidwibari (Open)

27847 26352 54199

6 36. Harisinga (ST) 23799 22951 46750

7 37. Dwhwnsri (ST) 27712 25672 53384

8 38. Bhairabkunda (ST)

26768 24645 51413

9 39. Pasnwi Serfang (Non ST)

26610 25466 52076

10 40. Rowta (ST) 26243 24972 51215

Total 253610 241001 494611

Table-2 : Overall literacy rate of women in BTAD

Districts Person Male Female

2001 2011 2001 2011 2001 2011

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Kokrajhar 52.29 66.63 61.01 73.44 43.06 59.54

Chirang 52.61 64.71 61.82 71.35 42.87 57.87

Baska 59.57 70.53 70.32 78.55 48.33 62.23

Udalguri 56.40 66.60 65.94 73.79 46.34 59.17

Total BTAD 55.21 67.11 64.77 74.28 45.15 59.70

Table-3: Present status of women in all the VCDC of 39 No Pasnwi serfang BTCLA of Udalguri

Sl. No. Name of VCDC Male Female Total Members

1 Mazbat VCDC 11 01 12

2 Phulaguri 14 0 14

3 Bahipookri 11 01 12

4 Lamabari 13 0 13

5 64 Dhanseri 10 0 10

6 Nauherua 09 0 09

7 Rowta Bagan 15 0 15

8 Rowta Gaon 11 01 12

9 Merabil 16 01 17

10 Orang 15 01 16

11 Habigaon 15 0 15

12 Jagyapur 15 0 15

Total 155 05 160

Perhaps the negligence to women power in Udalguri district is the most important cause of backwardness. Their rights have been violated very frequently by the male dominated society. It is rare to see that a women and their associations take major role in the decision making process of rural development. Even, the major political parties of this area are not fully interested to empower the grass root women. The roles of women organizations like Asom Mahila Samata Society (Udalguri Unit), Asom Mahila Ayog, All Bodo Women Welfare Federation (ABWWF) and different local NGO’s are yet to be significant and positive.

Suggessions:

The Assam Panchayat Act. 1994 has made specific reservation for women and it was 50 percent in last Panchayat election of Assam. This reservation system should be made applicable in all grass-root level institutions of BTAD.

The members of all VCDC and TCLCC are rather nominated and the process of nomination has been politicized. Therefore, the members of such committees become the representatives of a particular party or section that of the common people of rural areas. Hence, a periodic election system is the urgent need for the uplift of all sections of the rural areas.

Both Central as well as state government should initiate special educational policy and programmes for the women of remote rural areas of BTAD through which they may be aware to all rules and regulations of the society, plan and policies of the government and right and responsibilities, etc.

All political parties should provide equal opportunities to rural women in their organizational structure and maintain equal representation system at grass-root level institutions. Thus, political parties should adopt a holistic approach to the women of rural areas.

Voluntary organizations particularly women organizations and such other social organizations, print and electronic medias should be encouraged to work for political awareness of the rural women of BTAD.

Conclusion

Women empowerment is a global issue; we are one of the first democratic counties to give equal right to vote and right to participate to both men and women. But if we look into the problems of women participation in grass-root politics in one glance then we can notice that women of the 21st century are still not free from discrimination. There are still a major portion of women who belong to the category called “Below Poverty Line” are to be seen anywhere in the urban as well as village institutions for development. Therefore, it is the need of the time to change our attitude towards women power and should enhance their quality of participation especially at grass-root politics. For the success of the principle of democratic decentralization at village level, both and women should be treated as equal in policy formulation and implementation of rural development.

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Website:

Google: http://www.udalguri.gov.in.2014

Informant: Jyotish Kalita (39), Village: Pathakpur,

Mazbat, BTAD, Assam

Krishna Kanta Basumatary (46), Village: Dimakuchi, Paneri, BTAD, Assam.

Shyam Sundi (40), Ex-EM, Village: Pasnoi Khuti, Mazbat, BTAD, Assam.

With Thanks…

Mr. Mintu PathakMrs. Archana Das

Mr. Hemanta Rabha

Asst. Professors,Tangla College

Tangla