During BRICS Women Ministerial Meeting in Kochi, Kerala, Ministry of Panchayati Raj showcased India’s transformative initiatives in empowering women through democratic decentralisation. 

Indian Women in Panchayats

• Status: Approximately 14.5 lakh Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), about 46% of total elected representatives. (July 2025). 
• Outcome: 25 of 42 Gram Panchayats recognised for exemplary performance under National Panchayat Awards last year were being led by women. 

Key Benefits of Having Women Representatives in Panchayats

• Responsive Development Planning:  Ensuring targeted investments in areas like health, education, skill development, safety, and protection against violence. 
  • E.g., Zero Tolerance resolution against domestic violence by Namanguda Gram Panchayat, Odisha. 
• Mainstreaming Gender in Governance: Integrating a gender perspective to tackle harmful practices like child marriage and gender-biased sex selection. 
  • E.g., Child Marriage Prevention Drive by Nongarh Gram Panchayat, Bihar. 
• Collective transformation: E.g., Promoting women-led Self Help Groups for financial inclusion and community vigilance by Kishorinagar Gram Panchayat, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 
• Women Empowerment: Breaking socio-psychological traps, stereotypical bonds and achieving equality. 
  • E.g. Own Farm–Own Market” initiative to connect women with market by Jorhat Gram Panchayat, Assam. 

Key Measures to Empower EWRs

• Constitutional: Article 243D provides not less than one-third reservation for women to be filled by direct election in every Panchayat and total number of offices of Chairpersons in Panchayats.
• Sashakt Panchayat Netri Abhiyan:  Launched in March 2025, it has already trained around 1.5 lakh EWRs. 
• Regular conduct of Mahila Sabhas: As a preparatory forums where women articulate concerns, build consensus and bring unified proposals to Gram Sabha.