No independent review of women's leadership in PRIs, Ministry says

The question asked by Shri Khagen Murmu and Dr. Rajesh Mishra sought details on measures to strengthen women's participation and leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), including training, funding, and initiatives, specifically for certain states and districts. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj provided the official answer.

Asked and answered by: Shri Khagen Murmu, Dr. Rajesh Mishra / Ministry of Panchayati Raj

What the government said

• Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) scheme implemented since 2022-23
• 23,83,765 Women Elected Representatives (WERs) trained during 2023-24 to 2025-26
• Sashakt Panchayat Netri Abhiyan launched in March 2025
• Specialized Training Module 'Championing of Change' for WERs
• Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) measuring performance on 9 themes including Theme 9: Women-Friendly Panchayat
• 1,53,616 WERs trained on the Specialized Module as of 10 July 2026

Also in the document

• The Ministry states that Panchayat is a State subject, so strengthening PRIs is primarily the responsibility of States/UTs.
• No independent review has been done on the implementation of programmes aimed at strengthening WERs' leadership and participation, as Panchayat is a State subject.
• Funds under RGSA are not allocated component-wise to States/UTs; States/UTs utilize funds as per their priority.
• The answer does not provide specific details for all requested districts (e.g., Kachchh, Jagtial, Dewas-Shajapur) beyond the state-level data provided in Annexures.