The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is set to bolster elected women representatives with special training programs. This is the government’s effort to overcome serious capacity gaps that hinder women sarpanchs from effectively fulfilling their duties.
Panchayati Raj Institutions
India has over 2.5 lakh gram panchayats and 1.17 lakh women sarpanchs in 28 states. Reports reveal that elected women representatives, especially at the gram panchayat level, are being used by their husbands or other male family members as proxies.
Studies and training programs are being held to empower women with knowledge and confidence to make take their own decisions.
Vivek Bharadwaj, the Secretary of the Panchayati Raj Ministry, said they will conduct focused training of elected women representatives to help them in decision-making. As such, the ministry has commissioned a few organizations to conduct training of elected women representatives.
Moreover, the Panchayati Raj Ministry has noted that many of these women representatives are uneducated and have limited educational qualifications.
Bharadwaj said the courses would be customized for the trainees. He highlighted that the training courses would be designed specifically for the women to simplify things for them, and help them to take financial and other decisions independently.
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Sajith Sukumaran, Director of State Programmes with Janaagraha, pointed out that well-educated women are also often reluctant to make financial decisions because they are not comfortable. He said they are dependent on their husbands or male family members to make critical decisions, guidance, facilitation, and even transport. Sukumaran believes there’s a need for focused training for women depending on their knowledge.
