Political participation of women is also a primary element of inclusive democracy in a society that has traditionally marginalized women on a gender basis and some or all socio-cultural hierarchies. The tribal women in India occupy a unique place in this discussion as they are sidelined not only due to their gender but also by the virtue of their socioeconomic factors and ethnicities. With the introduction of the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) (PESA) Act of 1996, as an instrument of correction to provide the governance requirements of the tribal communities, is a critical framework, a combination of the indigenous practice of self-rule and the constitutional vision of a democratic decentralized government. PESA Act plays a central role in determining the role of tribal women participation in Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs) in the state of Chhattisgarh, which has a high population of tribal women. The opportunities and challenges confronting tribal women in this setup are questioned in this paper, which also attempts to explore the transformative possibilities and the inherent constraints of their involvement. The study highlights that PESA has created formal spaces for women’s representation in governance particularly through reservations that guarantee their presence in Panchayats. These measures have enabled tribal women to emerge as elected representatives, decision-makers, and custodians of their cultural heritage. Women leaders have increasingly articulated concerns related to health, education, water, livelihoods, and forest rights issues closely tied to their lived realities. Their participation has also contributed to the preservation of indigenous knowledge systems and the assertion of community autonomy, thereby enriching the democratic process with alternative perspectives rooted in sustainability and equity. Thus, the Act provides chances for both the strengthening of tribal identity within governing systems and gender inclusion.
Ramakrushna Pradhan (Sat,) studied this question.