**Executive Summary**
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is addressing proxy representation of elected women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). This includes capacity building and training under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) and a specialized training module, “Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan". An Advisory Committee, formed in September 2023 and accepted in February 2025, has provided recommendations. A Task Force was constituted on 17th April 2025.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Background:**
* "Panchayat" is a State subject, meaning issues related to women's decision-making power lie with the States.
* **Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA):**
* Implemented since FY 2022-23 with the aim of Capacity Building & Training (CB&T).
* Covers Elected Representatives, Functionaries, and other stakeholders of Panchayats across all States/UTs.
* Provides support for CB&T in various categories (basic, refresher, thematic, specialized, development plan training).
* 28,60,585 Women Elected Representatives (WERs) trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as of December 31, 2025) under the scheme.
* **"Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan" Training Module:**
* Comprehensive specialized training module launched.
* Focuses on capacity building of Women Elected Representatives.
* Aims to enhance knowledge, skills, leadership, communication, and managerial capabilities for effective women-led governance.
* 64,863 WERs trained on this module (as of December 31, 2025).
* **Advisory Committee:**
* Constituted in September 2023 following Supreme Court direction.
* Examined proxy representation issues.
* Report submitted in February 2025 and accepted by the Ministry.
* **Advisory Committee Recommendations:**
* State Governments to take measures: legal safeguards, capacity-building, women ombudspersons, public oath-taking, mentorship, social audits, and penal provisions.
* Goal: to eliminate proxy leadership and ensure empowerment, autonomy, and accountability of elected women representatives.
* **Task Force:**
* Constituted on 17th April 2025 due to the importance and impact of the matter.
**Impact Analysis**
**Stakeholder: State Governments**
* **Impact:** Required to implement measures to prevent proxy leadership and empower women representatives.
* **Action Required:** Implement legal safeguards, capacity-building programs, appoint women ombudspersons, implement public oath-taking, provide mentorship programs, conduct social audits, and implement penal provisions.
**Stakeholder: Elected Women Representatives (WERs)**
* **Impact:** Benefit from capacity building and training programs.
* **Action Required:** Participate in CB&T programs to develop knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities.
**Stakeholder: Ministry of Panchayati Raj**
* **Impact:** Responsible for oversight and support.
* **Action Required:** Oversee the execution of the RGSA scheme and training programs.
**Stakeholder: Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs)**
* **Impact:** Improved governance through empowered women representatives.
* **Action Required:** Implement measures to ensure gender parity.
Key Entities Referenced
Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA): A Centrally Sponsored Scheme implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj for Capacity Building & Training (CB&T) of Elected Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of Panchayats.
Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan: A comprehensive specialized training module as a part of the RGSA scheme for the capacity building of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj: The government ministry responsible for implementing the RGSA scheme, launching the Shashkta Panchayat Netri Abhiyan, and addressing the issue of proxy representation of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs): Local government institutions in India, where the issue of proxy representation of women representatives is being addressed.
Advisory Committee: A committee constituted by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to examine the issue of women Pradhans being represented by male members of their families.
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
TACKLING OF PROXY REPRESENTATION OF
ELECTED WOMEN REPRESENTATIVES
Posted On: 11 FEB 2026 2:39PM by PIB Delhi
“Panchayat”, being “Local Government”, is a State subject and part of the State List of the Seventh
Schedule to the Constitution of India. Therefore, any issue related to independent decision-making power
by women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) lies in the domain of the States.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has implemented a Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Revamped Rashtriya
Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) w.e.f. financial year 2022-23 with the major objective of Capacity
Building & Training (CB&T) of Elected Representatives, Functionaries and other stakeholders of
Panchayats across all States/UTs for improving Panchayat Governance. Under the RGSA scheme,
Ministry provides support for CB&T of elected representatives, functionaries and other stakeholders of
Panchayats in different categories viz. basic orientation and refresher training, thematic training,
specialized training, panchayat development plan training etc. Total 28,60, 585 Women Elected
Representatives (WERs) were trained from FY 2022-23 to FY 2025-26 (as on 31stDecember 2025) under
the scheme.
Under the scheme, capacity building and training for elected representatives, functionaries, and other
stakeholders of Panchayats is supported under different categories, viz. basic orientation and refresher
training, thematic training, specialized training, Panchayat development plan training, etc.
The Ministry has launched a comprehensive specialized training module as a part of “Shashkta Panchayat
Netri Abhiyan” for the capacity building of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayati Raj
Institutions. The focus of the training module is to build the capacity of the Women Elected
Representatives on different aspects of rural governance, enhance the knowledge & practical skills for
effective delivery of roles & responsibilities as elected representatives and also to develop the leadership,
communication, managerial & decision making skills for effective women led governance.A total of
64,863 WERs (as on 31st December 2025) have been trained on this Specialized Module.
Further, on the direction of the Hon’ble Supreme Court, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj constituted an
Advisory Committee in September 2023 to examine the issue of Women Pradhans being represented by
the male members of their families and also examine other issues related to proxy representation. The
Committee has submitted its Report with recommendations to the Ministry in February 2025, and the
same has been accepted by the Ministry.
The Advisory Committee recommended that the State Governments take necessary measures, including
legal safeguards, capacity-building, women ombudspersons, public oath-taking, mentorship by women
leaders,social audits and penal provisionsto eliminate proxy leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions
(PRIs) and ensure real empowerment, autonomy and accountability of elected women representatives.
Owing to the importance of this matter and its impact on women's leadership in PRls, this Ministry has
also constituted a Task Force on 17th April 2025 .This information was given by Union Minister Shri Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh in a written
reply in Rajya Sabha on 11th February 2026.
***
AA
(Release ID: 2226324) Visitor Counter : 147
Read this release in: ही