Pradhan Pati (Sarpanch Pati) Practice In India

Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) has partnered with The Viral Fever (TVF) to produce “Asli Pradhan Kaun?”, highlighting key challenges in rural governance, including the issue of “Pradhan Pati practice.” This initiative comes in the wake of the recent Report by a panel constituted by MoPR on “Transforming Women’s Representation and Roles in Panchayati Raj Systems and Institutions: Eliminating Efforts for Proxy Participation.”

Significance of Ending Pradhan Pati/Proxy Leadership in PRIs

• Empowering Women Leaders: Ensuring that women sarpanches hold real authority aligns with the objective of reservation policies and promotes genuine gender empowerment.
• Promoting Inclusive Development: Women leaders tend to focus on issues affecting women, children, and marginalized groups, leading to balanced rural development.
• Strengthening Democratic Values: Empowering women sarpanches reinforces grassroots democracy and restores public confidence in local governance.
• Driving Economic Growth: Greater women’s participation in governance helps address gender-specific challenges and promotes inclusive economic policies.
• Focusing on Social Welfare: Villages led by women sarpanches often perform better in improving maternal health, school infrastructure, and nutrition programs.
• Enhancing Accountability and Transparency: Panchayats with strong female leadership exhibit lower corruption and better fund management.
• Policy Recognition and Support: The Economic Survey 2023-24 highlighted the role of women-led development as essential for strengthening economic resilience.

What are the Issues faced by Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) in Rural Areas?

• Gender-Based Discrimination and Proxy Leadership: Many EWRs face discrimination and are often overshadowed by male relatives who act as de facto leaders, undermining their authority.
• Limited Political Experience and Education: EWRs often have less political experience and lower educational qualifications compared to their male counterparts, affecting their confidence and effectiveness in governance roles.

• Economic Dependence: Financial reliance on male family members restricts EWRs’ autonomy and decision-making capabilities in political matters.
• Dual Responsibilities: Balancing household duties with political responsibilities poses significant challenges, limiting the time and energy EWRs can dedicate to governance.
• Social and Caste-Based Discrimination: EWRs from marginalized communities, such as Dalits and Adivasis, encounter additional layers of discrimination, further hindering their participation.
• Digital Divide: Limited access to digital tools and low digital literacy impede EWRs’ ability to engage with modern governance processes effectively.
• Lack of Knowledge and Training: Many EWRs lack an adequate understanding of the Panchayati Raj Act and related governance rules, affecting their performance.
• Limited Decision-Making Power: Despite holding office, EWRs often have less influence in decision-making processes within village councils compared to their male counterparts.

Government and Other Initiatives to Increase Women’s Participation in PRIs

• Constitutional Provisions: The 73rd Amendment mandates a one-third reservation for women in PRIs, with several states increasing it to 50%.
• Capacity Building Programs: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj conducts training under the Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) to strengthen the governance skills of women representatives.
  • Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan trains women elected representatives to enhance their leadership.
  • States are encouraged to organize separate Mahila Sabhas and Ward Sabhas to increase women’s engagement.
• Digital Literacy Initiatives: Programs like Digital India and e-Panchayat provide women leaders with digital tools for better decision-making and governance.
• NGO Support: Organizations like PRIA (Participatory Research in Asia) and UN Women offer training, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women sarpanches.
• State-Level Innovations: States like Kerala and Rajasthan have introduced gender-sensitive policies and support mechanisms to empower women in local governance.

Key Reforms Suggested in the Report by the Panel of MoPR

Strict Penalties for Proxy Leadership

Introduce ‘exemplary penalties’ for proven cases of male relatives acting as proxies for elected women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).

Structural and Policy Reforms

• Implement gender-exclusive quotas in panchayat subject and ward-level committees (similar to Kerala’s model).
• Introduce annual ‘Anti-Pradhan Pati’ awards to recognize efforts against proxy leadership.
• Conduct public swearing-in ceremonies in Gram Sabhas to reinforce the authority of women pradhans.
• Establish a federation of women panchayat leaders for peer support and collective decision-making.
• Helplines and women watchdog committees for confidential complaints about proxy leadership, with whistleblower rewards in verified cases.

Technological Interventions

• Provide VR simulation training to improve governance skills.
• Develop AI-powered query-driven guidance in vernacular languages for real-time legal and governance support.
• Create WhatsApp groups linking Women Elected Representatives (WERs) with officials for quicker issue resolution.
• Launch the Panchayat Nirnay Portal to track pradhans’ participation, ensuring transparency and accountability.

Capacity Building

Collaboration with IIMS, IITs/NITs, involvement of international development agencies and women MLAs/MPs to leadership training to women pradhans, etc.

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