IRJMSH Vol 5 Issue 5 [Year 2014] ISSN 2277 – 9809 (0nliine) 2348–9359 (Print) International Research Journal of Management Sociology & Humanity ( IRJMSH ) Page 392 www.irjmsh.com POLITICAL AWARENESS AND POLITICAL PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN IN SLUMS: A STUDY OF WOMEN IN SLUMS OF CHANDIGARH (UT). RINKU KALIA Ph.d scholar at Mewar University, Chittorgarh, Rajasthan. ABSTRACT : Political participation is the hallmark of a democratic setup. Nature, success and effectiveness of democracy largely depend on the extent to which equal, effective and actual participation is provided to all citizens. As women comprise almost half of the population, this section of society requires due attention in the system and a due share in the process. Democracy will fail in its objectives if women citizens lack equal opportunity to participate in the government decision making process. They are to be equal partners in the nation building and political development. The present study was an effort to know the kind of political consciousness, interest and participation of slum women in the functioning as well as in the electoral process of the city and the problems faced by them. In this regard, sample consisted of 75 women respondents each from 2 Authorized slums and 2 Unauthorized slums in Chandigarh. The findings of the study revealed that women in slums are becoming aware of the political activities around them and have started participating in them too. The data also revealed that the political decisions of majority of the respondents were influenced by their husbands or other family members. The patriarchal society and low level of education are greatly responsible for this. But still, it was found that women residing in the slums in Chandigarh have started showing a lot of interest in political activities and their participation in electoral process is increasing. KEYWORDS : Participation, Elections, Empowerment, Women. INTRODUCTION Democracy implies equality for all human beings, men and women. As against the basic notion of democracy what is normally seen is that women are excluded from different walks of life, more visibly in Politics. The U.N. observes that women constitutes “world‟s largest excluded catergory ”. For the attainment of true democratic spirit women should be ensured better political participation. “In the struggle for gender justice”, Usha Narayan argues, “political participation constitutes the first and foremost step in that direction.” Even Mahatma Gandhi declared in 1925 “As long as women of India do not take part in public life, there can be no salvation for the country.‟ As the women constitute a very sizeable portion of the total population of India, their participation at politics is so essential to make the democratic governance more successful. The question of their participation arises because of their long standing neglected social status in the male dominated Indian society. Immediately after framing of the constitution the framers of the constitution realized that a true democracy requires not only equality but also justice. This