According to official reports, Haryana is infamous for its skewed sex ratio. But thanks to quotas for women in grassroots bodies, over 16,000 women are set to be elected in the panchayat elections next month, getting a chance to show their might.

State election commissioner Dharam Vir told IANS, "The panchayat elections in the state are being held June 6 and 12. The reservation of seats for women candidates will give them a fair representation in these bodies."

More than a third of the over 44,600 posts that go to the polls in the elections next month are reserved for women. That means over 16,200 posts of panchs, sarpanchs, members of panchayat samitis and members of zila parishads have been reserved for women in the state.

Rashmi Chaudhary, a private school teacher in Karnal, said, "Even though the general impression still is that most of the women getting elected to these bodies are only the face and the male members of their families, particularly husbands, run the show, elected women are becoming more active in decision-making."

It was also reported that giving reservation to women will make them part of the decision-making process at all levels. This comes against the backdrop of Haryana having the lowest overall sex ratio among states at 861 females per 1,000 males and a dismal 819 females per 1,000 males in the 0-6 year category in the 2001 census.

The reports further noted that in the state's 90-member state assembly, only nine women were elected legislators in the assembly polls in October last year.

Panchayat elections are being held to 13 out of Haryana's 21 districts. (With Inputs from Agencies)