Women often form the backbone of grassroots movements in India, yet they remain largely invisible and excluded from the decision-making process. Examine.

Women in India had largely remained invisible from decision-making process due to patriarchal society norms. Women as backbone of grassroots movements: 1. Pre-independence phase: Women in non-cooperation, civil disobedience and even Quit India movement (Eg: Sarojini Naidu, Usha Mehta etc) 2. Self-Employed Women Association SEWA under ELA Bhatt 3. Anti-Arrack Movement to ban liquor in Andhra Pradesh 4. #MeToo Movement against sexual abuse at workplace

Even women contributed to ecological concern such as Chipko movement under Sunderlal Bahuguna. However, thinkers like Veena Majumdar have highlighted the social norms which subjugates women due to patriarchal mindset. (1) Low participation in Lok Sabha (Eg: only 13.6%, MPs of 18th Lok Sabha are women) (2) Sarpanch-Pati in Panchayat have undermined women's role in decision making (3) Only 8% agricultural land are owned in women's name, is exclusion from decision making