Effectiveness of Women Councilors in Local Government System

Abstract

This study was conducted with the main objectives to examine the effect of trainings on the performance of women councilors in Peshawar District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. For this primary data were collected by means of pre-tested questionnaire through face to face interview from two groups of women councilors with rural background and urban background selected randomly. A total of 37 (20%) woman councilors were interviewed. The data was analysed by using descriptive statistics and the significant were checked by using non-parametric tests. Main findings of the study showed that through getting different trainings, the women councilors have improved their knowledge about laws and the different aspects of the local government system, social, cultural and gender related issues significantly as explained by the chi-square value. Also these trainings train the respondents and they were able to attain administrative support, ability to design different developmental projects and get approved the funds for development schemes in their area. The value of the chi-square explained that the respondent’s different skills like confidence; sense of responsibility, leadership and communication skills was improved significantly. There was a significant improvement in their comfort level while working collectively in groups and with male counselors. The study recommends that need based frequent training sessions at the nearest possible venue with convenient time schedules could benefit the women councilors more effectively.