Participation of Weaker Sections in Panchayati Raj Institutions of Jammu and Kashmir

Panchayats have been in existence since long in the country. Weaker sections, however, have not been an integral part of this system before 73^rd amendment. The Panchayati Raj Act, 1992-popularly known as 73^rd amendment-was enacted in the country to revitalise the panchayati raj institutions besides providing reservation to women and SCs/STs. The provisions of 73^rd amendment were not extended to the State owing to the special status of Jammu and Kashmir under article 370. Panchayati raj takes democracy to the grass ischolar_main level where most of the weaker sections of the community reside. The present paper has examined the participation of weaker sections i.e., women and SCs/STs in panchayati raj institutions of J&K. The objective of the paper is to examine "participation" in panchayats by assessing the participation of weaker sections in their functioning and in the village level decisionmaking process.