The Impact of a Quota System on Women’s Empowerment - A field study in West Bengal, India

Abstract: Women’s empowerment is thought to be one of the main issues when talking about gender equality, economic growth and poverty in the academic world today. In India many states are using a reservation bill to ensure women’s participation in the political decision-making at local level. Is this the right way to go and are women getting empowered due to this? This paper discusses the impact of the 73rd amendment, including reserving 1/3 of the Panchayat seats for women in West Bengal, and its effect on women’s empowerment. The result is encouraging where most people welcome this initiative from the State Government and where at least some of the female leaders elected through this quota are considered empowered. This in turn has had positive effects on the village community since women in general find it easier to approach female leaders.