Political participation of Dalit women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in Kerala, India

The 73rd constitutional amendment act of 1992 envisioned the representation of under-represented people in the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI), the generic body of local self-governance in India. Several studies have shown that Dalit women who face caste, class and gender discrimination in India continue to struggle three decades after the amendment was introduced. In India, Kerala has taken the lead, increasing the one-third quota of women to PRIs to 50 per cent. “Kerala model of development” is considered a developmental model for other states because it has achieved better life expectancy, literacy and infant mortality despite one of the lowest per capita incomes. In this context, this study looks into the complexities of gender, caste and class intersection and how these affect the political participation of Dalit women elected to PRI in Kerala. Women’s participation in PRI is extensively discussed in academic works, and we can see there is a tendency to portray all women’s experiences similarly. Women are not a single category. Their marginalization is not uniform, and difference exists across class and caste groups. Interrelated disadvantages such as low caste status, economic backwardness, illiteracy and limited occupational choice all make Dalit women's challenges more severe. Thus, in this study, intersectionality is used as an analytical framework to explain the multiple forms of discrimination faced by Dalit women. The statistical data analysis demonstrated that the number of Dalit women getting elected to PRIs is increased because of the amendment. But this study shows that the visibility of Dalit women in the PRIs does not provide them equal status and does not ensure their participation in the political processes. Dalit women face violence, including threats and discouragement, while they exercise their right to participate in PRIs, provided by the state. By examining the data given by Dalit women, the study explains how spaces are gendered and how the intersection of caste, gender and class puts their life in a more disadvantageous situation. Furthermore, the study is trying to challenge the discourses that have homogenised all women's experiences.