A tale of empowerment and transformation took place in the heart of Uttarakhand in 2023, demonstrating that the most significant changes in public policy frequently start at the local level. This is the motivational story of three female sarpanches who went against the odds and became pillars of their communities’ progress. Sushila Devi Rana: Transforming… Continue reading Butter, Beliefs, and Breakthroughs: Women Shaping Raithal and Beyond
Rajasthan has long been associated with the phenomenon of pati-sarpanch – a practice where elected women sarpanches act as proxies for their husbands. Despite the provision for mandating one-third reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through the 73rd and 74th Amendments to the Constitution in 1992, later expanded to 50% in Rajasthan (The… Continue reading Defying Proxy Leadership: Chhavi Rajawat’s Public Policy Drive to Uplift Soda Village in Rajasthan
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment ushered in a new era for women in grassroots governance. Haryana is part of this story: according to the state Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRI) dashboard, out of around 925 Sarpanch posts, around 48% (443) are currently held by women. As many as 21 States and two Union Territories, in their respective… Continue reading Women in Village Panchayats in Haryana: Representation and Realities
