A Two Day UGC sponsored Seminar was organised by Department Of Political Science, Government College of Arts, Science & Commerce, Khandola-Marcela on ‘Women Headed Panchayats and Empowerment of Women at Grassroots’ on 8- 9th July 2016. Dr. Radhika Nayak, Principal of Dempo College, Panaji inaugurated the Seminar and delivered the Key Note Address.

Various issues discussed in the Seminar were, need for preservation of natural resources, and role expected from women sarpanchas, need for increasing Women’s Participation in Gram Sabhas, synergy between WSHGs and Panchayats, need for securing health of rural women, and capacity building as a tool towards empowering elected women. The Speakers were Rajendra Kerkar, Soter De Souza, Seema Salgaonkar, Anita Raicar and Siddhi Naik.

There was paper presentation by faculty of different colleges in Goa. Sarala Katageri -Associate Professor, CES College, Cuncolim presented a paper titled ‘Reservation: A Catalyst in the process of Women’s Political Empowerment in Rural India’, Chris Antao-Assistant Professor, Carmel College, Nuvem presented paper titled ‘Culture and impediments towards political empowerment of in Goa.’ Bhakti Naik,Assistant Professor,V.M Salgaokar College of Law, Miramar spoke on ‘Empowerment of Women through the Panchayati Raj Institutions in India.’ Dattaprasad D.Shirgurkar, Assistant Professor of, MES College Zuarinagar Goa, presented a paper titled ‘MGNREGA as an instrument of positive change for Women in Rural areas’. Amrut F. Naik, D.M’s College Assagao and Sunny S.Pandhre, Vidhya Prabodhini College, Parvari discussed Performance Analysis of Work Done by Selected Women Sarpanchas in Bardez Taluka Goa. Ravaji Gaonkar, Research Scholar, Goa University, discussed on Right to Information and Empowerment of Women at Grassroot level. Swapnil Naik focused on Participatory Democracy: An Analysis of People’s Perception of Women in Politics. Last paper was presented by Vibha Mote.

The Seminar ended with a panel discussion by women Sarpanchas who narrated their experience as Sarpancha. They also answered various queries of the audience. The seminar was divided into seven technical sessions. The Seminar was jointly coordinated by Dr Seema P. Salgaonkar and Mr. Swapnil Naik. The Seminar was well received by the students from different colleges, teaching fraternity from colleges as well as Department of Political Science, Goa University, by women Panchas, NGO members, WSHGs members, and other research scholars.