Role of PRIs in women empowerment
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- Political empowerment-
- 46% of elected PRI members in India are women
- Social empowerment-
- Women led PRIs saw 26% decrease in child marriages
- Attendance of women in Gram Sabha meetings has increased by 30-40%.
- Economic empowerment
- About 8 million women are part of SHGs through PRIs
- Women-led panchayats spend 48% more funds on women’s issues than male-led ones.
- Educational empowerment
- In women-led PRIs, female literacy rate improved by 9-12% in the last decade (NITI Aayog).
- Girl child enrollment increased by 15-18% in panchayats headed by women.
- Political empowerment-
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Case studies
Ø Improved village-level governance and streamlined the Public Distribution System (PDS). Ø Initiated a literacy campaign for women, enabling them to sign and write applications. Ø Revived traditional folk art troupes in the village.
Ø Despite dropping out in Class 7, led initiatives that earned her village multiple awards. Ø Achieved good sanitary conditions, a zero dropout rate, and the best sex ratio in Haryana.
Ø Implemented a well-planned drainage and sewerage system for wastewater management. Ø Established soak pits in every household to improve groundwater levels. Ø Transformed village from having only nine toilets to being declared Open Defecation Free (ODF).
Ø Ensured a regular supply of clean drinking water to the village. Ø Oversaw the construction of 40+ roads and toilets in over 800 houses. |
Challenges:
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- Patriarchy- Sarpanch pati system; dual responsibility
- Inadequate capacities- Lack expertise
- Leadership skills
- Lack of role models
- Lack cooperation by bureaucracy
PRIs and bottom-up planning
About:
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- PRIs are local self-government bodies, ensuring grassroots democracy and decentralized planning.
- Established under the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992, they function at village, block, and district levels.
Examples:
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- Kudumbashree, Kerela- People’s Campaign for Decentralized Planning (1998) focus on women and marginalized communities participation in local governance.
- Sujala Watershed Development Programme, Karnataka- Ensures sustainable watershed management with active PRI involvement.
Challenges
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- Lack of trained personnel and resources for effective planning & implementation.
- Inadequate Financing
- Poor coordination among different PRI levels.
- Lack gender and social inequality
Way Forward
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- Capacity Building
- Financial Strengthening
- Strengthening inter-governmental linkages
- Encourage participation of women, SCs, STs, and other marginalized groups in planning
The role of FC in empowerment of PRIs
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- 10th FC onwards started recommending local grants and have tried address fiscal gaps which were left unaddressed by SFC.
- 13th FC recommended for a formula to be followed by SFCs for sharing of funds between PRIs and ULBs.
- 15th FC recommended funds worth 63 lakh to be provided for local bodies-
- Grants to PRIs and ULBs.
- Health specific grants to improve health infrastructure at local level.
- Linked funding to SDGs like water conservation and sanitation.
- It has conditioned 60% of the local grants to improve conditions of SFCs:
- State should constitute SFC
- State should implement the reports of SFCs
