Women have won more than 50% of gram panchayat seats in Karnataka

The gram panchayat results in December last year have thrown interesting developments pertaining to the empowerment of women. While 50% of the total seats were reserved for women, more than 50% of the elected representatives now are women — which means women also won in wards that were not reserved for them. From a 93-year-old woman elected in Bidar district to a young U.S.-educated woman, who has become the president of Sokke Gram Panchayat in Jagalur taluk of Davangere district, this election has been good for women candidates. There are as many as 31 members from the third gender, including the one elected as president of Saligrama Gram Panchayat in K.R. taluk of Mysuru district. Several other members holds Ph.D, postgraduate, medical, engineering, and law degrees, a note from the Rural Development of Panchayat Raj Department said.