Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan
Why in News?
On March 12, 2026, the Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan is marking its first anniversary with a major national milestone.
About
- Progress Report: The government announced that over 7.18 lakh Women Elected Representatives (WERs) were successfully trained during the 2025–26 period under this initiative.
- Launch of "Nirbhay Raho": During the conference, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj launched the "Nirbhay Raho" initiative under the Nirbhaya Fund to enhance women’s safety and legal awareness in Panchayats.
- Model Panchayats: The government highlighted the identification of 744 Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats across 32 States and Union Territories.
Overview and Launch
- Launch Date: Formally launched on March 4, 2025, ahead of International Women’s Day.
- Nodal Ministry: Implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoES).
- Purpose: A dedicated nationwide capacity-building initiative designed specifically to empower women leaders at the grassroots level.
Core Objectives
- Leadership Strengthening: To sharpen the leadership acumen and administrative skills of women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs).
- Eliminating "Sarpanch Pati" Culture: A primary goal is to ensure women representatives independently exercise their constitutional authority, reducing interference from male relatives (proxy sarpanchs).
- Decision-Making: Increasing the active participation of women in rural policy-making and governance.
Key Components & Training
- Specialized Modules: Training is conducted under a module titled "Championing Change: Empowering Women Leaders in Local Governance and Beyond".
- Legal Awareness: Includes a Primer on Law Addressing Gender-Based Violence to educate women leaders on legal rights and safety infrastructure.
- Master Trainers: Over 1.21 lakh representatives, including master trainers, have been capacitated to scale the training nationwide.
Impact & Reach
- Vast Beneficiary Base: Aims to reach the more than 1.4 million women currently elected to PRIs in India.
- Representation: Women currently account for approximately 46% of total elected representatives in local bodies across the country.
- Integration with RGSA: The Abhiyan operates under the revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) framework.
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