ELECTORAL PARTICIPATION OF RURAL PEOPLE BY DR. M. BUVANESWARAN [HARDCOVER]

Electoral participation of rural people involves their engagement in voting and local governance, with India showing a significant increase in women's participation, particularly in local democratic bodies like the Gram Sabha, due to initiatives such as quotas for women and outreach programs. However, challenges remain, with some studies highlighting that for some, voting is influenced by patriarchal norms and that overall participation can be low despite high voting rates. Factors like social norms, group identity, access to information, and the impact of policies such as the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) also play a role in shaping rural electoral engagement