President of India Emphasizes Importance of Women’s Participation in Panchayats

In the National Panchayat Awards ceremony held on Monday, President Droupadi Murmu emphasized the importance of women’s participation in Panchayats and urged that the elections should not create bitterness among people in villages.

President Murmu expressed that the provision for Panchayat elections every five years allows for all social groups to participate, but unfortunately, these elections sometimes cause bitterness among locals. She added that to avoid this, political parties have kept away from Panchayat elections.

Currently, the Panchayat Raj polls in villages are held without the involvement of any party’s symbol as non-party-based elections. The President highlighted the Samaras Gram Yojna in Gujarat, which was introduced in 2006 by then-Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She noted that such schemes are necessary to
avoid animosity and tension in society and groups.

It is crucial to ensure greater participation of women in Panchayats as they constitute half of the population. The involvement of women in decision-making processes at the local level can lead to better policies and outcomes for their communities. President Murmu’s call for more significant participation of
women in Panchayats is a step towards a more inclusive and equitable society.

Re-reported from the story originally published in newindianexpress