| In order to give a better deal to women, especially OBCs, SCs & STs in democratic processes, the govt. of India enacted the 73rd Amendment Act in 1993. Consequently, the Panchayats in States with political power were revitalized and reequipped to play a vital role as agents of social and economic transformation with a special focus on SCs and STs and women. The underlying assumption is that a change in the access to political power will not only transform the lives of the power-holders, but also enable them to transform the socio economic conditions of the villages in which they live. Political power is considered as 'resource'. It is argued that once lower classes are given power they can play a significant role in bringing about modern changes regardless of their low socio-economic status. There are others who argue that even though lower class people are given a greater access to political power, they are not likely bring about any changes due to their low class status. It is also held that the policy of reservation will be utilized more by the economically well-off than by the poor. |