Introduction

The empowerment of women in governance is a critical aspect of achieving inclusive development and strengthening democracy at the grassroots level. The Panchayati Raj system, established with 33-50% reservation for women, aimed to bring marginalized voices into local governance. However, the "Sarpanch Pati" phenomenon—where male relatives, particularly husbands, wield authority in place of elected women representatives—has undermined the intended impact of these reservations.

• Recognizing the urgency of addressing this issue, the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched several initiatives to curb proxy leadership and enhance the capacities of women leaders in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Among these efforts, the Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan, a first-of-its-kind training and capacity-building program, and the use of community radio and digital platforms for awareness stand out as significant steps toward strengthening women's leadership.

The "Sarpanch Pati" Phenomenon: A Barrier to Women's Leadership

The "Sarpanch Pati" system refers to the practice where the husband of an elected woman sarpanch assumes power and makes decisions on her behalf. This issue arises due to deep-rooted patriarchal structures, lack of education among elected women representatives, and insufficient institutional support.

Many women elected to panchayats lack prior experience in governance and decision-making. In the absence of proper training, they often become dependent on male relatives for administrative tasks, financial management, and infrastructure projects. While some men claim to assist their wives with good intentions, this undermines the very purpose of political reservations—which is to enable women to exercise independent leadership.

Government’s Initiatives to Address Proxy Leadership

1. Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan: Capacity Building for Women Leaders

To empower women leaders in local governance, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched the Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan. This initiative aims to:

• Enhance leadership skills and decision-making abilities of elected women representatives.
• Provide structured training on governance, budgeting, conflict management, and digital literacy.
• Equip women leaders with legal knowledge on issues like gender-based violence, domestic abuse, and workplace harassment.

A key component of this initiative is the legal training manual, which includes laws and reporting mechanisms for:

• Domestic violence and child abuse
• Gender-biased sex selection and child marriage
• Workplace harassment and human trafficking
• Cyberstalking, online sexual harassment, and digital abuse

By strengthening women representatives' legal and governance awareness, this initiative ensures they are better equipped to serve their communities effectively.

2. Awareness Campaigns Through Community Radio and Media Engagement

Alongside training programs, the government has launched widespread awareness campaigns using community radio, public service films, media outreach, and educational seminars to challenge the Sarpanch Pati system.

Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, SP Singh Baghel, informed the Rajya Sabha that initiatives such as "Jan Jan Tak Jankari" are being broadcast on 15 community radio stations in Bihar, Karnataka, and Maharashtra on a pilot basis. These programs aim to:

• Educate rural communities about the importance of independent female leadership.
• Raise awareness about the legal and administrative consequences of proxy leadership.
• Promote government schemes and digital governance initiatives, such as:
• SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology for digital mapping of villages).
• e-GramSwaraj, Meri Panchayat, and Panchayat Nirnay (online portals for transparent decision-making).
• AuditOnline, a digital platform for financial accountability in local governance.

These communication strategies play a crucial role in changing public perceptions, ensuring greater respect for women leaders, and encouraging communities to reject proxy leadership.

Policy Recommendations and Institutional Strengthening

To further strengthen women's leadership in PRIs, the government advisory committee has proposed several key reforms:

1.   Strict Legal and Administrative Measures Against Proxy Leadership

o    Enforcing penalties for proven cases of proxy governance.

o    Strengthening monitoring mechanisms to prevent male relatives from unlawfully exercising authority.

2.   Continuous Capacity-Building and Training

o    Quarterly governance training programs for at least two years after elections.

o    Introduction of AI tools and digital literacy modules to modernize local governance.

3.   Minimum Education Qualification for Elected Representatives

o    Mandating a minimum of 12th-grade education to ensure independent decision-making by women leaders.

4.   Financial and Technological Empowerment

o    Increasing honorarium for sarpanches (e.g., Rajasthan currently pays only ₹4,500 per month).

o    Providing smartphones and official transport facilities for independent governance activities.

5.   Institutional Support and Whistleblowing Mechanisms

o    Inclusion of government officials in women sarpanches' WhatsApp groups for real-time guidance.

o    Establishing robust whistleblowing mechanisms to report proxy leadership while preventing political misuse.

6.   Encouraging Family and Community Support

o    Sensitizing local officials and communities to support independent decision-making by women leaders.

o    Ensuring that male relatives are excluded from official panchayat meetings so that women can exercise their authority.

Conclusion: A Path Toward Genuine Women’s Empowerment in Governance

The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan, community radio awareness campaigns, and digital governance initiatives are crucial steps in dismantling the Sarpanch Pati system and ensuring true female leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions. However, their success depends on long-term policy commitment, continuous capacity-building and strong institutional safeguards.

By addressing the structural barriers, societal biases, and institutional gaps that hinder women’s leadership, India can move toward a more inclusive, participatory, and gender-equal democracy. When women leaders are given the right support and independence, governance improves, and issues concerning women, children, and marginalized communities receive the attention they deserve.

The fight against proxy leadership is not just about ensuring women hold power in name—it is about creating a governance system where women lead with authority, confidence, and effectiveness.