Executive Summary:
This document summarizes the Indian government's response regarding women representatives in Panchayats, as of July 29, 2025. It outlines the assessment of women's roles, steps taken to enhance their participation, and the selection process for developing model women-friendly gram panchayats. The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme is implemented until March 31, 2026, to capacitate women representatives.
Key Points / Main Content:
* **Assessment of Women Representatives:**
* The assessment of the role of women representatives in Panchayats falls under the purview of the State Government.
* The Ministry of Panchayati Raj reviews Panchayat performance through studies, meetings, field visits, and IT applications.
* **Steps for Effective Participation:**
* Article 243D of the Constitution mandates at least one-third reservation for women in Panchayats.
* 21 States and 2 Union Territories have provisions for 50% reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
* The Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme aims to capacitate women elected representatives for leadership roles (2022-2026).
* 12,513,543 Women Elected Representatives have been trained from Financial Year 2022-23 to Financial Year 2025-26 (as of July 24, 2025).
* Advisories encourage Mahila Sabhas before Gram Sabhas to enhance women's participation in decision-making.
* Advisories promote women's presence in meetings and allocate Panchayat funds for women-centric activities.
* A comprehensive Training Module assists States/UTs in capacity building for Women Elected Representatives (WER).
* Training objectives include enhancing knowledge, skills, leadership, and decision-making for effective governance.
* **Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats:**
* The Ministry is assisting States/UTs in transforming selected Gram Panchayats by focusing on Theme 9 (Women Friendly Gram Panchayat) of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
* Each State/UT has selected one GP per district to transform into a Model Women Friendly Gram Panchayat (MWFGP).
* Selection is based on consultation with State Line Departments (including Women Child Development) and thematic scores under Panchayat Advancement Index version 1.0.
Impact Analysis:
* **State Governments:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for assessing the role of women representatives in Panchayats.
* *Action Required:* Implement and oversee the provisions of their respective State Panchayati Raj Acts/Rules, including reservation policies for women.
* **Women Elected Representatives (WERs):**
* *Impact:* Targeted beneficiaries of capacity-building programs and initiatives aimed at enhancing their leadership and governance skills.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs and actively engage in Panchayat activities, including Mahila Sabhas and Gram Sabhas.
* **Ministry of Panchayati Raj:**
* *Impact:* Responsible for reviewing Panchayat performance, implementing the RGSA scheme, issuing advisories, and facilitating the development of model women-friendly gram panchayats.
* *Action Required:* Continue to monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of programs and initiatives aimed at promoting women's participation in Panchayati Raj Institutions. Provide guidance and support to States/UTs in implementing relevant policies and programs.
* **Gram Panchayats:**
* *Impact:* Selected Gram Panchayats will be transformed into Model Women Friendly Gram Panchayats.
* *Action Required:* Implement initiatives related to Theme 9 (Women Friendly Gram Panchayat) of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs).
Key Entities Referenced
Panchayati Raj Institutions: Local self-government organizations at the village or rural level in India.
Article 243D of the Constitution of India: Constitutional provision that mandates not less than one-third reservation for women in Panchayats.
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme aimed at capacitating elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions, including women.
XV Finance Commission: The Fifteenth Finance Commission of India, which had a term coterminous with the RGSA scheme (01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026).
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A collection of 17 interlinked global goals designed to be a "blueprint to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all".
Gram Sabha: A village assembly consisting of all registered voters in the area of a Panchayat.
Mahila Sabha: Women's assembly conducted prior to Gram Sabha to increase women's participation in decision-making.
Model Women Friendly Gram Panchayats (MWFGP): Selected Gram Panchayats that are being transformed to be women-friendly as part of the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRYOF PANCHAYATIRAJ
LOK SABHA
UNSTARREDQUESTION NO. 1391
ANSWEREDON- 29.07.2025
WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES IN PANCHAYAT
1391.SMT.POONAMBEN HEMATBHAIMAADAM:
Will the Minister of PANCHAYATIRAJ be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government has carried out any assessment on the role of women
representativesinPanchayats andif so, the detailsthereof;
(b) whether the Government has taken any steps to make women’s participation
effective inPanchayats,if so, the detailsthereof; and
(c) the manner in which the model women-friendly gram panchayats will be selected
anddevelopedineachdistrict?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE FORPANCHAYATIRAJ
(PROF.S.P.SINGH BAGHEL)
(a) & (b) Panchayats are setup and operate through the respective State Panchayati Raj
Acts. All Panchayat related work, including assessment of the role of women representatives
in Panchayats, comes within the purview of State Government. However, the Ministry
reviews performance of Panchayats, from time to time, through studies, review meetings,
fieldvisits, videoconferencing, InformationTechnologyapplications etc.
Article 243D of the Constitution of India provides not less than one-third reservation
for women out of ‘total number of seats to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat’
and ‘total number of offices of chairpersons in the Panchayats at each level’. However, 21
States and 2 Union Territories have gone even further and have made provisions of 50%
reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions in their respective State Panchayati Raj
Acts/Rules.
The Ministry has implemented the Revamped Centrally Sponsored Scheme of
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) from 01.04.2022 to 31.03.2026 (co-terminus with
XV Finance Commission period). The scheme aims towards capacitating the elected
representativesincluding women electedrepresentatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)
for leadership roles todevelop effective thirdtier of Government toenable themtodeliver on
good governance and localization of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Total
125,13,543 Women Elected Representatives have beentrained from Financial Year 2022-23 to
FinancialYear 2025-26 (ason24thJuly 2025).
Ministry has issued advisories on mandating to conduct Mahila Sabha prior to Gram
Sabha which is a great impetus towards increasing and active participation of women in the
decision-making process at the grassroots level for Women LedGovernance. Advisories have
also been issued to States for enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram
SabhaandPanchayat meetings, allocationof Panchayat fundsfor women-centric activities.
Further, Ministry has launched comprehensive Training Module for assisting the
States/Union Territories for the CapacityBuilding of WomenElected Representatives (WER)
of Panchayati Raj Institutions to further strengthen their leadership & managerial skills for
effective delivery of good governance. The key objectives of the training module are to build
the capacity of the WER on different aspects of rural governance; enhance the knowledge &
skills for effective delivery of roles & responsibilities as elected representatives and also to
develop the leadership, communication & decision making skills for effective women led
governance.
(c) The Ministry hasinitiated the process of assisting the States/UTs intransforming the
selected Gram Panchayats by saturating these Gram Panchayats in Theme 9 (Women
Friendly Gram Panchayat) of Localization of Sustainable Development Goals (LSDGs). In
this regard, State/UTs have identified and selected one GP in each district for transforming
these Gram Panchayats into Model Women Friendly Gram Panchayats (MWFGP).
States/UTs have selected the Model Women Friendly Gram Panchayats in consultation with
concerned State Line Departments including Women & Child Development and based on the
thematicscores of Theme 9underPanchayatAdvancementIndexversion 1.0 etc.
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