Ruchira Kamboj Explains How India's Panchayati Raj System Marks Rise of Women's Leadership

New York: Shedding light on remarkable progress me in women's leership within Panchayati Raj system of India, India's Permanent Representative to UN, Ruchira Kamboj said country takes immense pride on a unique system which is an emblem of decentralised power at grassroots level. 

Speaking at India's #CPD57 side event- Localising SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Les Way, she underlined transformative impact of women's empowerment at grassroots level.

Highlighting India's decentralised power structure, she said, " Panchayati Raj is a sterling example of direct democracy that facilitates active participation from all residents of a Panchayat through Gram Sabha," 

She emphasised India's commitment to gender equality and recalled landmark move of constitutional amendment in 1992 which mandated that at least one third of all elected roles in local governance be reserved for women. 

“This constitutional provision was a landmark step towards ensuring equitable representation of women in decision-making bodies at grassroots level,” she said. 

She lauded rise of women's representation to 50 per cent in 21 states of India and said, "Today, of over 3.1 million elected representatives, more than 1.4 million are women." 

Kamboj furr asserted that Panchayati Raj system and planning process within has played key role in localisation of sustainable development goals, with a primary focus on empowering women. 

“ impact of such initiatives has been transformative. By integrating gender considerations into development planning, Panchayati Raj system ensures that women's needs and priorities are effectively dressed, leing to more inclusive and sustainable outcomes,” she ded.

(With agency inputs…)