| Introduction: Contextual Introduction Body: Challenges faced by women in panchayats and suggest measures to ensure genuine agency for elected women representatives. Conclusion: Way forward |
The Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) were introduced with the vision of inclusive governance, reserving 33-50% of seats for women to ensure their active participation. However, the ‘sarpanch-pati’ culture, where male relatives wield de facto power, has hindered the realization of this goal.
Challenges Posed by Proxy Leadership
- Erosion of Democratic Principles – The essence of decentralized governance is compromised as elected women representatives remain mere figureheads.
- Lack of Decision-Making Power – Many women sarpanches lack the necessary training and are sidelined by male family members who take control of governance matters.
- Systemic Weaknesses and Bureaucratic Apathy – Government officials often display dismissive attitudes toward women leaders, limiting their ability to function independently.
- Educational Barriers – A significant number of elected women representatives have low literacy levels, making it difficult for them to navigate governance structures.
- Financial Constraints – The low honorarium for sarpanches in many states discourages serious participation and reduces their autonomy.
- Lack of Mobility and Access to Technology – Dependence on male relatives for transportation and digital access further restricts women’s independence in governance.
Measures to Ensure Genuine Agency
- Capacity Building and Training – Mandatory high-quality training on governance, budgeting, and digital literacy. Quarterly workshops for at least two years post-election to ensure sustained support.
- Legal and Institutional Reforms – Enforcement of laws penalizing proxy leadership. Mandatory intervention by government functionaries to ensure women speak for themselves in meetings.
- Minimum Education Qualification – Introducing a 12th-grade qualification criterion to enable better governance capabilities.
- Financial and Logistical Support – Increased honorarium and proper remuneration for sarpanches. Provision of official transport and smartphones for independent access to governance tools.
- Monitoring and Whistleblower Mechanisms – Real-time oversight by government officials through digital platforms such as WhatsApp groups. A well-structured reporting system to prevent misuse of proxy leadership complaints for political vendetta.
- Promoting Positive Role Models – Encouraging successful women sarpanches to mentor new representatives. Recognition and incentivization of genuinely empowered women leaders.
Conclusion
Ensuring genuine agency for women in panchayats is crucial for achieving a truly inclusive democracy. While reservations have increased women’s numerical representation, structural and societal reforms are needed to transform them into independent decision-makers. With the right support, women sarpanches can lead transformational change, prioritizing development issues that impact marginalized communities the most.
