The document discusses women's participation in grassroots politics in Udalguri district of Assam, India. It notes that while India aims for participatory democracy, women face discrimination in rural areas. Two systems were implemented - VCDC and TCLCC - but women representation remains low. For example, in 39 villages studied, only 5 out of 160 members were women. The document calls for applying Assam's reservation laws, conducting elections rather than nominations, and empowering women through education and political participation to strengthen grassroots democracy.

1. AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF VCDC AND TCLCC IN
UDALGURI DISTRICT
WOMEN PARTICIPATION AT
GRASS-ROOT POLITICS IN BTAD
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2. A democratic country must be open, accountable
and participatory and it makes an individual interested
his country.
In a democracy, citizen’s participation in the
decision making process particularly at the grass-root
level without any discrimination is one of the main
pillar of democratic decentralization. Hence, it is the
duty of every modern state to provide elimination of
discrimination against the women of rural areas and to
ensure such women to participate in the elaboration
and implementation of development planning at all
level.
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3. Assam Panchayat Act (1994) has introduced a
three tier Panchayat System with some specific
reservation for ST, SC and women. But this act excludes
all the autonomous areas under Sixth Schedule of the
constitution of India. Accordingly, the BTAD (Bodoland
Territorial Area Districts) is out of the jurisdiction of this
Act.
Our “Father of the Nation”, Mahatma Gandhi
advocated the primacy of village as the starting point of
development and considered the village panchayat as the
foundation of self-government. Eventually however, as a
concession to the Gandhian point of view regarding the
creation of village panchayat, the Constituent Assembly
made a provision in the Directive Principles of State Policy,
by including Article 40. But the 73rd Amendment of the
constitution has made it compulsory for all the states to
introduce Panchayati Raj System.
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4. Study Area
The BTAD which is created on 10th February,
2003 includes four districts such as Kokrajhar,
Chirang, Baska and Udalguri. The study area is Udalguri
district, situated on the Indo-Bhutan border. Earlier it
was a sub-division of Darrang district and is formally
inaugurated as a district on 14th June, 2004. The district
has two sub-divisions with 7 development blocks and
800 villages. The total geographical area of this district
is 1673.94 sq. km. and the total population is 832769 out
of which 4,23,617 are male and 40,9152 are female
(Census Report, 2011) The extent of the district lies
between 9208 E the 9515 E longitude and 2646´ N to
2777´ N latitude.
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5. 1. Map of Assam showing BTAD
2. Map of Study Area
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6. Objectives of the Study
To highlight the present day political status of women in Udalguri district in brief.
To enquire into the factors responsible behind the poor participation of women in
grass root level institutions of the study area.
To assess the role of different political parties and non-political organizations
towards the development of women strength in the village development committees.
To identify and highlight the fields that requires priorities in the government
policies.
To put forward some prescriptive remarks for the uplift of the women politics in
BTAD.
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7. Methodology
In order to make an analytical study the data have
been collected from both the primary and secondary
sources. The required primary data and information have
been collected through interview method from the study
area. On the other hand, the secondary data and
information have been collected from different statistical
records of the Government of Assam, Statistical
Handbook of BTC, various local bodies, different books
and journals, published Research papers and articles, etc.
Hence, the study is analytical and mainly based on
secondary sources of data.
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8. Analysis of the Findings
Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), itself is a mechanism of
the decentralization of political and economic power under
the sixth schedule of the Indian Constitution is not legally
responsible to implement Panchayati Raj system at grass-
root level development programs.
But the bill is still waiting for the assent of the Governor of Assam.
The BTC authority has already implemented temporarily a system of
two tier village level development committees namely – VCDC and
TCLCC in all the districts of BTAD
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9. The VCDC is a bottom level institution and about 4000 to
7000 people of rural areas are necessary to constitute a
VCDC
Within one VCDC there may be one or more villages and
minimum one member is nominated from each revenue
village.
The TCLCC is a block level institution in each BTCLA constituency of
BTAD. Each and every VCDC has to nominate at least one member to
the TCLCC and the chairman of TCLCC is also nominated by the BTC
authority.
There is a provision to select at least one women member to it.
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10. Table: 1
Strength of women voters in Udalguri
Sl. No Name of BTCLA
constituency
Male Female Total
1 31. Khwirabari (ST) 23489 22827 46316
2 32. Bhergaon (ST) 22708 22623 45331
3 33.Nonwi Serfang
(Non ST)
22168 20934 43102
4 34. Khaling Duar
(ST)
26266 24559 50825
5 35.Mwidwibari
(Open)
27847 26352 54199
6 36. Harisinga (ST) 23799 22951 46750
7 37. Dwhwnsri (ST) 27712 25672 53384
8 38. Bhairabkunda
(ST)
26768 24645 51413
9 39. Pasnwi Serfang
(Non ST)
26610 25466 52076
10 40. Rowta (ST) 26243 24972 51215
Total 253610 241001 494611
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11. Table-2 : Overall literacy rate of women in BTAD
Districts Person Male Female
2001 2011 2001 2011 2001 2011
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
Kokrajhar 52.29 66.63 61.01 73.44 43.06 59.54
Chirang 52.61 64.71 61.82 71.35 42.87 57.87
Baska 59.57 70.53 70.32 78.55 48.33 62.23
Udalguri 56.40 66.60 65.94 73.79 46.34 59.17
Total BTAD 55.21 67.11 64.77 74.28 45.15 59.70
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12. Table-3: Present status of women in all the VCDC of 39 No Pasnwi
serfang BTCLA of Udalguri
Sl. No. Name of VCDC Male Female Total Members
1 Mazbat VCDC 11 01 12
2 Phulaguri 14 0 14
3 Bahipookri 11 01 12
4 Lamabari 13 0 13
5 64 Dhanseri 10 0 10
6 Nauherua 09 0 09
7 Rowta Bagan 15 0 15
8 Rowta Gaon 11 01 12
9 Merabil 16 01 17
10 Orang 15 01 16
11 Habigaon 15 0 15
12 Jagyapur 15 0 15
Total 155 05 160
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13. Perhaps the negligence to women power in
Udalguri district is the most important cause of
backwardness. Their rights have been violated
very frequently by the male dominated society. It
is rare to see that a women and their
associations take major role in the decision
making process of rural development. Even, the
major political parties of this area are not fully
interested to empower the grass root women.
The roles of women organizations like Asom
Mahila Samata Society (Udalguri Unit), Asom
Mahila Ayog, All Bodo Women Welfare
Federation (ABWWF) and different local NGO’s
are yet to be significant and positive.
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14. Suggessions:
 The Assam Panchayat Act. 1994 has made specific reservation for women and it was 50
percent in last Panchayat election of Assam. This reservation system should be made
applicable in all grass-root level institutions of BTAD.
 The members of all VCDC and TCLCC are rather nominated and the process of nomination
has been politicized. Therefore, the members of such committees become the
representatives of a particular party or section that of the common people of rural areas.
Hence, a periodic election system is the urgent need for the uplift of all sections of the rural
areas.
 Both Central as well as state government should initiate special educational policy and
programmes for the women of remote rural areas of BTAD through which they may be
aware to all rules and regulations of the society, plan and policies of the government and
right and responsibilities, etc.
 All political parties should provide equal opportunities to rural women in their
organizational structure and maintain equal representation system at grass-root level
institutions. Thus, political parties should adopt a holistic approach to the women of rural
areas.
 Voluntary organizations particularly women organizations and such other social
organizations, print and electronic medias should be encouraged to work for political
awareness of the rural women of BTAD.
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15. Conclusion
 Women empowerment is a global issue; we are one of the first
democratic counties to give equal right to vote and right to
participate to both men and women. But if we look into the
problems of women participation in grass-root politics in one glance
then we can notice that women of the 21st century are still not free
from discrimination. There are still a major portion of women who
belong to the category called “Below Poverty Line” are to be seen
anywhere in the urban as well as village institutions for
development. Therefore, it is the need of the time to change our
attitude towards women power and should enhance their quality of
participation especially at grass-root politics. For the success of the
principle of democratic decentralization at village level, both and
women should be treated as equal in policy formulation and
implementation of rural development.
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16. Bibliography:
Books:
 Banerjee Amalesh Chandra; Roy Sourabh Singha 2010, “Problems and Prospects of Bodoland”- A Mittal
Publication, New Delhi.
 Sonowal Khema, 2013, “Why Bodo Movement” – EBH Publishers, Guwahati.
 Konwar Narayan, 2008, “Society and Politics in Assam”- Bookland, Guwahati.
 Agarwal H.O, 2005, “Human Rights” Page; 99-109, Central Law Publications, Allahabad.
 Sharma K.L 1994, “Indian Society, NCERT, New Delhi.
 Khan Rasheeduddin, 1990 “Democracy in India” NCERT, New Delhi.
 Ghai K.K 2005, “Indian Government and Politics” Kalyani Publishers, New Delhi.
 Das P.G 2014, “Fundamentals of Public Administration” NCBA, Kolkata’
 Barua Jeuti, 2003, “Assam Panchayat Act, 1994”, Assam Law House, Guwahati.
 Avasthi Maheswari, 1999, “Public Administration”, Educational Publishers, Agra.
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17. Journals:
 Sree Sankara Journal of Arts, Science and Commerce, April-June, 2012,
Vol- I, Issue III, Guwahati, Page: 119-125.
 Assam College Teachers’ Association Journal, Vol- XXXIII, Session 2009-
2010, Published by ACTA, Solapur, Guwahati.
 Das Dibakar- Editor, 2013 “IDEAS”, Department of Political Science,
Sipajhar College, Pages: 3-7, 43-45
 Das Dibakar- Editor, 2014 “IDEAS”, Department of Political Science,
Sipajhar College, Pages: 11-16, 60-64
 ‘‘Bodoland”- A bi-lingual monthly magazine, BPF Cell, Vol-II, Issue-I,
January, 2013’
Website: Google: http://www.udalguri.gov.in.2014
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18. Informant:
 Jyotish Kalita (39), Village: Pathakpur, Mazbat,
BTAD, Assam
 Krishna Kanta Basumatary (46), Village:
Dimakuchi, Paneri, BTAD, Assam.
 Shyam Sundi (40), Ex-EM, Village: Pasnoi Khuti,
Mazbat, BTAD, Assam.
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19. With Thanks…
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Mr. Mintu Pathak
Mrs. Archana Das
Mr. Hemanta Rabha
Asst. Professors,
Tangla College, Tangla
Dist: Udalguri, Assam