Q.19) Women often form the backbone of grassroots movements in India, yet they remain largely invisible and excluded from the decision-making process. Examine. (15 marks, 250 words)

Women Led movements: Chipko movement, Medha Patkar's Narmada Bachao Andolan, Chhattisgarh Niyamgiri - Vedanta class. Exclusion of women from decision making: (1) Patriarchy - women are reduced to participants rather than leaders. (2) Leadership - believed to be male-centric. (3) Token representation - proxy roles of women. (4) Sarpanchpati syndrome - institutional bottleneck, lack of platforms to raise voices. (5) Prejudice and biases against women - leads to glass ceiling & sticky floors.

Strategies to change this: (1) Gender sensitization - promote inclusive leadership. (2) Capacity building - women training in political and financial affairs. Amazon trained SHGs in solar energy (Now SHGs Solar Saheli). (3) Legal support - Institutionalise women's role. (b) 106 Amendment Act, (c) 1/3 representation in panchayat. (4) Use of social media - positive campaigning, (#) selfie with daughter. (5) Women led change - through SHG, leading by example, (a) Shakti Saheli, Kiran Bedi (IK). (6) Strengthen Mahila Mandal - to sensitise the society - value based social change among men - (b) Target school for gender equity. Women are backbone of grassroot movement, but shattering glass ceiling will make them (FRONT RUNNERS) and promote Sakshi Sath, Sakha Vikas.