Govt to Launch Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats

Context

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is set to unveil a transformative initiative aimed at fostering gender-sensitive governance at the grassroots level. The launch of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats (MWFGPs) will take place at a National Convention in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi, on March 5, 2025, as part of International Women’s Day celebrations. This initiative underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring inclusivity, safety, and gender equality in rural governance.

Key Objectives of the Initiative

• Establishing Model Gram Panchayats:

• • • The aim of the initiative is to create not less than one such Model Panchayat that is friendly to Women in every district and thereby to benchmark those panchayats as models for implementing gender-sensitive and girl-friendly governance practices.

• Gender Equality Promotion:

• • • The present programme aims to create safer and more inclusive spaces for women and girls and to put it towards the direction of what the Prime Minister has dreamed of under his vision for socially just rural communities, all encompassed in the broader slogan of “Viksit Bharat through Viksit Panchayats”.

• Women Empowerment Representatives:

• • This focuses on promoting the active participation of women elected representatives (WER) in decision-making processes at various levels of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Launch Event Highlights

• The National Convention:

• • • Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel, Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Anupriya Patel, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, and other dignitaries will be attending the national event. Representatives from international organizations like UNFPA will grace the occasion.
    • 350 delegates, elected and officials from selected Gram Panchayats, are expected to follow the event physically or virtually.

• Workshops and Training:

• • • A series of workshops was organized on the 4th and 5th of March for the preparations of women leaders in their roles about local governance.
    • It was aimed to provide training modules for the leadership enhancement of women’s representatives and to empower them with gender laws and governance practices.

• Monitoring Dashboard:

• • There will be a new dashboard that is going to be launched with the intention of tracking the performance of MWFGPs across different districts. This tool is primarily aimed at ensuring the accountability and transparency for proper implementation of the program.

Strategic Roadmap

• Capacity Building:

• • • Two rounds of training for master trainers have already been completed under this initiative.
    • A National Level Training Workshop was held earlier this year (January 29-31), involving participants from 15 states and union territories7.

• Nationwide Mahila Gram Sabhas:

• • • On March 8, coinciding with International Women’s Day, Mahila Gram Sabhas will be organized nationwide to engage women at the grassroots level and celebrate their contributions to local governance.

• Recognition of Women Leaders:

• • Outstanding women leaders from PRIs will be felicitated during the workshops and conventions to inspire others and showcase best practices.

Significance of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats

• Strengthening Grassroots Democracy:

• • • By promoting inclusivity and active participation of women in decision-making, these model panchayats aim to strengthen democratic processes at the grassroots level.

• Safety and Inclusivity:

• • • These panchayats will prioritize safety measures for women and girls while creating an environment conducive to their socio-economic development.

• Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs):

• • The initiative supports SDG 5 (Gender Equality) by empowering women in leadership roles and ensuring their voices are heard in governance.

Collaborations and Partnerships

• The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has partnered with international organizations like UNFPA India to design training programs and share best practices.
• State Institutes of Rural Development & Panchayati Raj (SIRD&PRs) have been actively involved in facilitating workshops and capacity-building exercises across states.

Challenges Ahead

• Implementation Across Diverse Regions:

• • • Ensuring uniform implementation across districts with varying socio-cultural dynamics poses a significant challenge.

• Sustained Participation:

• • • Encouraging sustained participation from women representatives requires continuous capacity-building efforts and mentorship programs.

• Monitoring Progress:
  • Effective use of the monitoring dashboard will be critical to track progress and address gaps in implementation.

Conclusion

The launch of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats is a landmark step towards achieving gender-sensitive governance at the grassroots level in India. By empowering women leaders, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring safety for women and girls, this initiative aligns with national priorities for rural development and global commitments under the SDGs. As these model panchayats take shape across districts, they hold the potential to transform rural governance into a more equitable system that benefits all sections of society.

Source: ddnews

UPSC Prelims Practice Question

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Gram Panchayats:

1. Gram Panchayats are constituted under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992.
2. The head of a Gram Panchayat is directly elected by the people of the village.
3. Gram Panchayats have the authority to levy and collect certain local taxes.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

A) 1 and 2 only
B) 2 and 3 only
C) 1 and 3 only
D) 1, 2, and 3

Answer:  C)

Download as PDF