Social and Educational Characteristics of Village Leadership in Haryana

Abstract

Based on empirical information, the proportion of younger and middle-aged leaders in gram panchayats in India is increasing, particularly among women and relatively educated leaders. However, an emerging young leadership is absent in the case of scheduled castes (A) and backward castes (A) leaders. The study also reveals that caste is a significant factor in electing a panch or sarpanch in a village panchayat. Reservations on caste basis and the ward system have further reenforced this trend. In general, leaders at the gram panchayat level are either illiterate or educated up to the matriculation level, while the leaders of upper, farming and backward castes (B) are better in terms of educational achievements as compared to leaders of other castes. Furthermore, the young leaders are relatively better educated and a majority of them are from smaller families. Thus, leaders belonging to upper and farming castes are socially and educationally ahead of leaders from other castes.