Women’s Participation, Human Resource Management, and Local Natural Resource Governance: A Conceptual Analysis of Panchayati Raj Institutions in Una District, Himachal Pradesh, India

Panchayati Raj institutions (PRIs) have become increasingly significant for decentralised local governance and may be relevant for the management of natural resources, including forest, grazing and water. With the adoption of the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, the women’s quota in PRIs has increased their representation in local governance formally. Nevertheless, numerical representation does not always mean effective participation and influence on natural resource governance. The objective of this study is to analyse theoretically the relationship between women’s participation, human resource management (HRM), and local natural resource governance, especially in the case of Una district, Himachal Pradesh. Based on literature on decentralised governance, gender, common pool resources, reservation policy, and public sector HRM, a theoretical framework is developed. This study underlines the significance of taking into account the institutional conditions along with representation, keeping in mind that the impacts vary based on the context. The conceptual analysis highlights that formal representation is not sufficient to achieve effective participation, and that capacity development, role clarification, and institutional support may possibly explain this relationship. Its main contribution lies in bringing into consideration public sector HRM issues in the analysis of gender-inclusive local natural resource governance. The study does not provide empirical data related to a specific district nor does it develop any causal relations; rather it poses research questions and indicator examples for further empirical study in Una district.