Empowering women through Urban local politics

Women's inclusion in urban local government through reservation is the most important aspect of the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act (CAA). In Jammu and Kashmir, institutions of urban local governance, that is, Municipal Bodies remained men's monopoly until State provided reservation to women in municipal elections in 2005. The paper looks into the origin and structure of municipal government and role of elected women as corporators and councillors in the Municipal bodies of Jammu Division in India. It has been found that the provision of one-third of reservation of seats for women in the State Act has empowered several women who had never been in power to enter into politics.