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This book deals with the functioning manifested by Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) on Gender Issues in Grassroots Governance. The study shows that indicators of women’s functions range from raising consciousness of women’s issues to changing institutional structures and processes and influencing the governance discourse itself. But they have to perform all these functions amidst several hurdles and problems. The expectations on women politicians are higher; they do not necessarily do so and cannot, because they do not have equal access and control as do men to the means for political participation. To analyse the functioning of women representatives in this context Prof.Amartya Sen’s Capability Approach is used as an analytical framework. This book also gives policy recommendations to make considerable change in the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994 and to institutionalize training for the EWRs. About the Author Vanishree Joseph is currently working as Lecturer in the School of Gender and Development Studies, IGNOU, New Delhi. Previously she worked as Lecturer in Gandhigram Rural Institute Deened University, Tamil Nadu. She has specialized in Gender and Governance in her doctoral programme. She is involved in organizing Panchayat Women Leaders for social development activities. She has received awards for her contribution in the forms of articles and presentations in the areas of gender and governance based on her field activities. She has written research articles in national and international journals and published monographs on the same area. To her credit she has three books as a co-author. She is in a network of scholars working in the field of capability approach.