Rigorous empirical research is needed to make good, people-centric policies, Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu said on Thursday.He was addressing a gathering here after releasing the book "Staniya Svasasan Mei Addhi Aabadhi" by Sadhana Pandey, an official statement said.Quoting from a report based on a sample survey of women representatives elected to the position of Sarpanch in gram panchayats, Naidu said most of the women elected to these positions are in the age group of 26 to 36, married and living in nuclear families. They have completed secondary school and are from middle income category."All women across all age and income groups have highlighted education as the most important factor for women's advancement in all fields including politics."
He said the younger generation was much more aware of the need to focus on development issues like health, environment, planned motherhood and economic independence."The younger generation showed a greater open-ness to modernity but at the same time were not willing to completely do away with the past. Most of the women still accepted that society continues to be dominated by men."The Vice President said that it is an empirical study that captures the voices of the rural women who are occupying positions of authority at the local level.He also said that it can help the policy makers to understand the perspectives of women representatives and address the key issues of education, health, nutrition, information sharing, economic independence and empowerment.