Negotiating Terrain in Local Governance: Freedom, Functioning and Barriers of Women Councillors in India (Local and Urban Governance)

This book explores and analyses women’s participation in local urban governance in West Bengal, India. It is developed from empirical research with in-depth understanding of ground situations of freedom, functioning and obstacles of women councilors in India. The central idea of this book revolves around two central research questions: 1. How are women’s positions and spaces changing due to their political participation in the urban local governance? and 2. What are the major hurdles they face in their day to day lives barring their emancipation? The main strength of the book lies in the in-depth grounded research in four small cities (Darjiling, Balurghat, Raniganj and Hugli-Chinsurah) using both quantitative and qualitative research methods. This volume can be considered as a reference book for Gender Studies, Women’s Studies, Urban Governance, Women and Policy Research, Gender Development Studies. Preface Acknowledgements Contents About the Authors Abbreviations Chapter 1: Introduction 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Women’s Participation in Politics and Governance 1.3 Women’s Seat Reservation in Governments 1.3.1 Rethinking Proxies 1.4 Women’s Agency: Freedom and Functioning Principle 1.5 Having, Loving and Being Principles and the Quality of Life 1.6 Central Ideas of the Book 1.6.1 The Cities 1.7 Research Process References Chapter 2: Urban Local Governance in West Bengal 2.1 The 74th Constitutional Amendment Act and Its Background 2.2 Changing Concept of Governance/New Governance 2.3 Decentralized Governance and Participatory Development in West Bengal 2.3.1 Reforms in Urban Governance in West Bengal 2.3.2 Pre-74th Constitutional Amendment Act Period 2.3.3 Post-74th Constitutional Amendment Act Period 2.4 Decentralized Structure of City Governments 2.5 Institutional Reforms and Basic Services 2.6 New Governance Process 2.6.1 Accountability 2.6.2 Transparency 2.6.3 Participation in Urban Governance 2.7 Financial Reforms and the Status of Municipal Finance 2.8 Other Partners 2.8.1 Public–Private Partnership (PPP) 2.8.2 Non-governmental Organizations and Community-Based Organizations 2.9 Centralized Politics vs. Decentralized Governance 2.10 Critical Review of Governance Reforms in West Bengal References Chapter 3: Women’s Empowerment Through Participation in Urban Local Governance 3.1 Women’s Empowerment 3.2 Women’s Development and Empowerment Programmes in India 3.3 Women and Urban Local Governance in India 3.4 Women in West Bengal 3.5 Women in Urban Local Governance in West Bengal 3.5.1 The Observed and Expected Representation of Women Councillors in West Bengal 3.5.2 The Political Party-Wise Representation of Women Councillors in West Bengal 3.6 Women’s History in the Selected Cities Appendices Appendix 3.1: Women’s Representation in the Parliament in India Appendix 3.2: The Comparative Representation of Women in Parliament from India and West Bengal: 1952–2019 Appendix 3.3: Representation of Women in Urban Governance of West Bengal Appendix 3.4: The District-wise Patterns of the Party-wise Representation of EWRs in Cities of West Bengal References Chapter 4: Profile and Background of the Councillors 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Profile of the Women Councillors 4.3 Profile of the Men Councillors 4.4 Conclusion Appendices Appendix 4.1: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Darjiling Appendix 4.2: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Balurghat Appendix 4.3: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Raniganj Appendix 4.4: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Hugli-Chinsurah Appendix 4.5: Profile of the Men Councillors in Darjiling Appendix 4.6: Profile of the Men Councillors in Balurghat Appendix 4.7: Profile of the Men Councillors in Raniganj Appendix 4.8: Profile of the Men Councillors in Hugli-Chinsurah References Chapter 5: Work, Leisure and Quality of Life of Women Councillors 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Quality of Life of Women Councillors 5.2.1 Case of Darjiling 5.2.1.1 Having 5.2.1.2 Loving 5.2.1.3 Being 5.2.2 Case of Balurghat 5.2.2.1 Having 5.2.2.2 Loving 5.2.2.3 Being 5.2.3 Case of Raniganj 5.2.3.1 Having 5.2.3.2 Loving 5.2.3.3 Being 5.2.4 Case of Hugli-Chinsurah 5.2.4.1 Having 5.2.4.2 Loving 5.2.4.3 Being 5.2.5 Overall Comparison of the Cases 5.3 Time-Use Survey 5.4 Time-Use of the Women Councillors 5.4.1 Comparison Between Married and Unmarried Unemployed Women Councillors 5.4.2 Comparison Between Married and Unmarried Employed Women Councillors 5.4.3 Time-Use Activities and Its Relation with Honorarium 5.5 Conclusion References Chapter 6: Freedom and Functioning of the Women Councillors 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Political Freedom 6.2.1 Case of Darjiling 6.2.2 Case of Balurghat 6.2.3 Case of Raniganj 6.2.4 Case of Hugli-Chinsurah 6.2.5 Overall Findings 6.2.6 Gender Matters 6.3 Socio-economic Freedom 6.3.1 Case of Darjiling 6.3.1.1 Key Findings 6.3.2 Case of Balurghat 6.3.2.1 Key Findings 6.3.3 Case of Raniganj 6.3.3.1 Key Findings 6.3.4 Case of Hugli-Chinsurah 6.3.4.1 Key Findings 6.3.5 Overall Findings 6.4 Transparency and Protective Security of the Women Councillors 6.4.1 Transparency 6.4.2 Protective Security 6.4.3 Overall Findings 6.5 Functioning of the Women Councillors 6.5.1 Decisions Related to Developmental Work 6.5.2 Women’s Empowerment Programmes 6.5.3 Attending Meetings and Visits to the Ward 6.6 Conclusion References Chapter 7: Women and Men Councillors: Comparison of Functioning 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Case of Darjiling 7.3 Case of Balurghat 7.4 Case of Raniganj 7.5 Case of Hugli-Chinsurah 7.6 Perception of Men Councillors About Women Councillors 7.7 Social and Cultural Context Matters References Chapter 8: Citizens’ Perceptions and Assessment: Gender Matters 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Political Awareness Among the Citizens 8.3 Citizens’ Perception of Women Councillors 8.4 Digging Deeper into the Perceptions 8.4.1 Case of Darjiling 8.4.2 Case of Balurghat 8.4.3 Case of Raniganj 8.4.4 Case of Hugli-Chinsurah 8.5 Overall Findings 8.5.1 Citizens’ Perceptions of Men Councillors 8.5.2 Comparison of the Perception of Capabilities of Women and Men Councillors Appendices Appendix 8.1: Brief Profile of the Citizens Interviewed Appendix 8.2: Occupational Status of the Citizens Interviewed Appendix 8.3: Citizens Perception About the Leadership Quality and Behaviour of the Men Councillors Appendix 8.4: Citizens Perception About the Work of the Men Councillors Appendix 8.5: Perception of the Citizens About the Capability of the Men Councillors References Chapter 9: Gender and Intersectionality: Complex World of Women Councillors 9.1 Women as Councillors 9.2 Intersectionality Within Gender References Appendices Appendix 1.1: Urban Intensity Index of the Districts Appendix 3.1: Women’s Representation in the Parliament in India Appendix 3.2: The Comparative Representation of Women in Parliament from India and West Bengal (1952–2019) Appendix 3.3: Representation of Women in Urban Governance of West Bengal Appendix 3.4: The District-Wise Patterns of the Party-Wise Representation of EWRs in Cities of West Bengal Appendix 4.1: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Darjiling Appendix 4.2: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Balurghat Appendix 4.3: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Raniganj Appendix 4.4: Brief Profile of the Women Councillors in Hugli-Chinsurah Appendix 4.5: Profile of the Men Councillors in Darjiling Appendix 4.6: Profile of the Men Councillors in Balurghat Appendix 4.7: Profile of the Men Councillors in Raniganj Appendix 4.8: Profile of the Men Councillors in Hugli-Chinsurah Appendix 8.1: Brief Profile of the Citizens Interviewed Appendix 8.2: Occupational Status of the Citizens Interviewed Appendix 8.3: Citizens’ Perception About the Leadership Quality and Behaviour of the Men Councillors Appendix 8.4: Citizens’ Perception About the Work of the Men Councillors Appendix 8.5: Perception of the Citizens About the Capability of the Men Councillors Index