Challenges Ahead of Women Panchayat Members in India

Syllabus: GS2/Social Issues; Issues Related to Women; Governance

Context

• Recently, the panel on the Ministry of Panchayati Raj identified several reasons why male relatives of elected women representatives in the Panchayati Raj System are able to act as proxies on their behalf.

Women in Panchayats

• The introduction of women’s reservation in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, was a landmark step toward gender equality in India’s political landscape.
• It mandated that one-third of all seats in panchayats be reserved for women, enabling them to participate in grassroots governance.
• Over the years, several states have extended it to 50%, resulting in the presence of over 1.45 million elected women representatives (EWRs) in PRIs.

Key Challenges Faced by Women Panchayat Members

• Patriarchal Mindset and Sarpanch Pati Syndrome: In many cases, male family members, especially husbands (Sarpanch Pati), fathers, or brothers, act as de facto decision-makers, reducing elected women representatives to mere figureheads.
  • It is widely referred to as the ‘Sarpanch Pati Syndrome’ and is prevalent in states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar.
• Lack of Political Training and Awareness: Many women lack awareness of governance structures, financial planning, and policy implementation.
  • It hinders their decision-making capabilities, making them reliant on male counterparts or bureaucrats for governance-related matters.
• Resistance from Bureaucracy and Male Counterparts: Many bureaucrats fail to take women leaders seriously, assuming that they lack competence or decision-making skills.
  • It creates delays in fund allocation and implementation of welfare schemes, reducing the impact of women-led governance.
• Financial Dependence and Lack of Economic Empowerment: Most rural women remain economically dependent on male family members, which restricts their ability to function independently in politics.
  • Limited access to financial resources and micro-credit schemes further diminishes their ability to make independent decisions.
• Gender-Based Violence and Threats: Women in politics, especially in rural areas, face intimidation, verbal abuse, and even physical violence.
  • Incidents of harassment by opposing male politicians or dominant caste groups discourage women from actively participating in governance. 
  • In extreme cases, women are coerced into resigning from their positions.
• Dual Burden of Work and Household Responsibilities: Women leaders struggle to balance their political responsibilities with household duties.
  • Societal expectations often burden them with domestic chores, childcare, and agricultural work, leaving them with limited time to focus on governance issues.
• Social and Caste-Based Discrimination: Women from marginalized communities—especially Dalits, Adivasis, and Other Backward Classes (OBCs)—face intersectional discrimination.
  • It is particularly evident in Indian states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Haryana.

Benefits of Strengthening EWRs Decision-Making Capabilities

• Improved Governance and Policy Implementation:  For example, in Kudumbashree (Kerala), empowered women leaders played a key role in implementing welfare schemes and poverty alleviation programs.
• Increased Representation and Gender-Responsive Policies: For example, in Nagaland, women-led panchayats have focused on reducing gender-based violence and improving maternal health services.
• Financial Independence: Example: For example, in Bihar, EWRs have successfully implemented micro-loan schemes for women entrepreneurs, boosting rural employment.
• Training for Sarpanch Pati Syndrome): For example, in Rajasthan, training programs helped reduce cases where husbands controlled panchayat decisions.

Key Initiatives Strengthening Women Participation in Panchayats

• National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) – SHG Linkages: It enhances leadership skills and financial independence among rural women.
• Mahila Sabhas (Women’s Gram Sabha Meetings): Organized before regular Gram Sabha meetings to prioritize women’s issues in governance. These ensure that concerns related to health, education, and safety are discussed before the general Panchayat meetings.
• Panchayat Mahila Evam Yuva Shakti Abhiyan (PMEYSA): Aimed at capacity-building for elected women representatives (EWRs) in Panchayats to enhance their leadership skills and decision-making abilities.
• Mission Shakti (2022): It includes schemes like Sambal (for safety and security) and Samarthya (for economic empowerment), which also aim to strengthen women’s participation in governance structures like Panchayats.
• Women’s Leadership Development Programs (Ministry of Panchayati Raj): Various leadership and capacity-building programs, supported by NGOs and government agencies, aim to enhance women’s decision-making capabilities in Panchayats.

Way Forward: Strengthening Women’s Political Participation

• Capacity-Building and Leadership Training: Initiatives like the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (Centrally Sponsored Scheme) should be expanded to ensure that every elected woman leader is well-equipped to perform her duties.
• Strict Implementation of Laws Against Proxy Representation: State governments must strictly enforce laws to prevent male relatives from unofficially controlling women panchayat members.
  • Awareness campaigns should educate women about their rights and empower them to function independently.
• Financial Empowerment and Access to Resources: Women leaders should be given direct access to panchayat funds and financial aid without bureaucratic interference.
  • Microfinance schemes should be promoted to enhance their economic independence and reduce financial dependence on male family members.
• Reservation in Higher Political Offices: While PRIs have 33-50% reservation for women, the same should be extended to legislative assemblies and parliamentary elections.
  • The Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam, 2023 reserves one-third of seats for women in Lok Sabha, State Assemblies, and Delhi Assembly, but will take effect only after delimitation based on a post-enactment census.
  • It would enable more women leaders to transition from grassroots governance to state and national-level politics.
• Strengthening Women’s Support Networks: Initiatives like the National Federation of Elected Women Representatives (NFEWR) should be expanded across all states.
• Ensuring Safety and Protection for Women Leaders: Strict measures should be implemented to protect women leaders from harassment, violence, and political intimidation.
  • Fast-track courts should handle cases of violence against elected women representatives.

Conclusion

• While women panchayat members have made significant strides in political representation, systemic barriers continue to hold them back. 
• Addressing these challenges requires a multi-faceted approach that includes capacity building, legal reforms, gender sensitization, and community support. 
• By empowering women representatives and ensuring their full participation in local governance, India can move closer to achieving gender equality and inclusive development.

Source: IE