Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) and Women’s Empowerment

PRI & Women – Data and Statistics

Women’s participation in PRIs has seen remarkable growth over the years. As per the Ministry of Panchayati Raj:
1. Over 1.4 million women representatives currently serve in PRIs, constituting more than 46% of the total elected members.
2. Around 20 states in India have already implemented 50% reservation for women in PRIs.
3. Studies indicate that panchayats led by women are more likely to focus on healthcare, education, and sanitation.
4. However, despite high numerical participation, only 10% of women hold decision-making roles without external influence.
5. The Economic Survey of India reports that women-led PRIs have 30% higher fund utilization in social welfare schemes than male-led ones.
6. According to a UNDP study, PRIs with women leaders have significantly improved maternal and child health indicators.
7. A World Bank study highlighted that women-led panchayats are more likely to invest in drinking water facilities, sanitation, and public health infrastructure.
8. Women sarpanches have been found to increase village-level economic activities by promoting self-help groups and microfinance initiatives.

Provisions of PRI Related to Women

Several constitutional and legislative measures have been implemented to promote women’s representation in PRIs:
1. 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992: Mandates one-third reservation for women, including SC/ST women, in PRIs.
2. State Amendments: Many states have increased the reservation to 50% for women in PRIs.
3. PESA Act, 1996: Recognizes tribal self-governance and ensures the representation of tribal women in local governance.
4. National Policy for Empowerment of Women (2001): Promotes capacity-building programs for elected women representatives.
5. Training and Capacity Building Initiatives: Programs like the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) aim to enhance leadership skills among women representatives in PRIs.
6. Mandatory Women’s Participation in Standing Committees: Many states require that women must be part of key decision-making committees in PRIs, ensuring active involvement in policy formulation.
7. Financial Assistance for Women Representatives: Several government programs provide financial and logistical support to women leaders in PRIs to improve their governance efficiency.
8. Digital Literacy and E-Governance Training: Initiatives like e-Panchayat and digital literacy programs specifically target women representatives to enhance their governance capabilities.
9. Legal Safeguards Against Gender Bias: Some states have introduced legal provisions to prevent discrimination against women leaders in PRIs, ensuring their authority is not undermined by male counterparts.
10. Women’s Collectives and Networking Support: Several NGOs and government bodies promote women’s leadership through networking groups, allowing them to share experiences and challenges.

Role of PRI in Strengthening Women Empowerment

1. Enhancing Political Participation: Reservation policies have enabled women to step into leadership roles, ensuring gender inclusivity in decision-making processes. For example, in Bihar, the 50% reservation for women in PRIs has led to an increased number of female sarpanches actively participating in governance.
2. Improving Social Indicators: Women-led panchayats have shown better implementation of welfare schemes related to maternal health, child nutrition, and education. In Rajasthan, women-led panchayats have significantly improved maternal healthcare by ensuring the proper distribution of prenatal supplements.
3. Financial Independence: Through self-help groups (SHGs) and government programs, PRIs facilitate economic opportunities for rural women. The Kudumbashree movement in Kerala, working in coordination with PRIs, has empowered over 4.3 million women financially.
4. Grassroots Mobilization: Women leaders in PRIs have successfully mobilized communities to fight against social evils such as child marriage, domestic violence, and dowry. In West Bengal, female panchayat members have played a crucial role in reducing instances of child marriage by enforcing stricter monitoring.
5. Policy Implementation and Accountability: Women-headed PRIs have been instrumental in implementing schemes like Swachh Bharat Abhiyan and Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, ensuring better accountability and community participation. For instance, a woman-led panchayat in Maharashtra successfully implemented a sanitation campaign, making their village open-defecation free.
6. Promoting Gender-Sensitive Governance: Women leaders advocate for policies that address gender-specific issues, ensuring equitable resource allocation.
7. Encouraging Leadership Development: PRIs provide a platform for women to gain governance experience, many of whom progress to state and national politics.
8. Strengthening Community Engagement: Women-led PRIs actively engage with local communities to identify and address key developmental concerns.
9. Incorporating Women-Centric Policies: PRIs with strong female representation push for policies that prioritize women’s health, education, and employment.
10. Enhancing Women’s Legal Awareness: Women in PRIs play a crucial role in spreading awareness about legal rights, including domestic violence laws, inheritance rights, and gender discrimination laws.

Case Studies

1. Chhavi Rajawat, Rajasthan: India’s first woman MBA sarpanch, Chhavi Rajawat, transformed her village, Soda (Rajasthan), by implementing water conservation projects and enhancing rural infrastructure.
2. Panchayati Raj in Bihar: With 50% reservation, Bihar has witnessed a surge in women panchayat leaders who have been instrumental in improving education and healthcare facilities.
3. Kerala’s Kudumbashree Movement: A women-centric self-help group model, integrated with PRIs, has empowered thousands of women through financial independence and skill development.
4. West Bengal’s Women-led Panchayats: Women leaders in West Bengal have successfully implemented social welfare schemes, particularly in improving sanitation and child nutrition programs.
5. Madhya Pradesh’s Women Panchayat Heads: In various districts of Madhya Pradesh, women sarpanches have led initiatives against domestic violence and promoted legal awareness among rural women.
6. Odisha’s Mission Shakti Initiative: Linked with PRIs, this movement has significantly enhanced women’s economic empowerment through self-help groups.

Issues Grappled by PRI in Empowering Women

Despite progressive policies, several challenges persist:
1. Proxy Leadership: Many elected women representatives function as proxies for their male relatives, limiting their autonomy in decision-making.
2. Patriarchal Constraints: Societal norms and gender biases continue to hinder women’s effective participation in PRIs.
3. Lack of Training and Awareness: Many women representatives lack the necessary administrative training and education to function effectively.
4. Limited Financial and Administrative Autonomy: Women-led PRIs often face bureaucratic hurdles and financial constraints, restricting their ability to implement development initiatives.
5. Safety and Harassment Issues: Women leaders in PRIs frequently face threats, harassment, and societal backlash for challenging traditional power structures.

Recommendations

1. Enhancing Capacity Building: Regular training programs should be conducted to improve the leadership and administrative skills of women representatives.
2. Ensuring Financial Autonomy: PRI funds should be directly accessible to women representatives to ensure independent decision-making.
3. Strict Implementation of Reservation Laws: Measures should be taken to prevent proxy leadership and ensure real empowerment of elected women.
4. Encouraging Digital Literacy: Digital tools and e-governance initiatives should be introduced to enable women to participate effectively in decision-making.
5. Legal and Social Safeguards: Strict laws against harassment of women leaders and community awareness programs to support women’s leadership roles should be implemented.

Conclusion

Panchayati Raj Institutions have been instrumental in promoting women’s empowerment by providing them a platform for political and social participation. While reservation policies have improved numerical representation, addressing issues like proxy leadership, financial constraints, and social stigma is crucial for achieving true gender empowerment. Strengthening PRI through capacity-building initiatives, financial independence, and legal support will pave the way for a more inclusive, equitable, and democratic grassroots governance system in India.

Download Plutus IAS Current Affairs (Eng) 10th March 2025

PRELIMS  Questions:

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and women’s participation:
1. The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act mandates 50% reservation for women in all PRIs.
2. Women-led PRIs have shown better implementation of social welfare schemes than male-led PRIs.
3. PRIs with female leadership have contributed significantly to reducing maternal and child mortality rates.

Which of the above statements is/are correct?
a) 1 and 2 only
b) 2 and 3 only
c) 1 and 3 only
d) 1, 2, and 3.

ANSWER: B