Affirmative Action and Political Participation: Elected Representatives in the Panchayats of Orissa

Abstract

Drawing on empirical data from four gram panchayats in Orissa, the paper examines the ‘representation’ of elected representatives—more particularly those of disadvantaged categories—by exploring their participation in the governance process, responsiveness towards the interest of their constituents’ and their accountability in gram panchayats. The paper concludes that despite the opportunity for inclusion and empowerment, affirmative action indecentralisation has not been successful in ensuring effective representation of disadvantaged groups with respect to the above attributes.