India’s Progress in Women’s Leadership Highlighted at UN Event on Local Governance

During a side event at the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development (CPD57), India’s Permanent Representative to the UN, Ruchira Kamboj, showcased the significant strides made in women’s leadership within India’s Panchayati Raj system. Kamboj emphasized the unique nature of India’s decentralized rural governance model, describing it as a beacon of grassroots empowerment.

#WATCH | India's Permanent Representative to the United Nations Ruchira Kamboj says, "…India prides itself on a unique system of rural governance known as the Panchayati Raj, an emblem of decentralized power at the grassroots level. Unlike municipal governance systems found… pic.twitter.com/ATvu6JD26d

— ANI (@ANI) May 3, 2024

In her address at the event titled “Localising the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Leads the Way,” Kamboj underscored the transformative impact of women’s empowerment at the grassroots level. She highlighted the Panchayati Raj system as a prime example of direct democracy, enabling active participation from all residents through the Gram Sabha, thus distinguishing it from conventional municipal governance models worldwide.

Kamboj lauded India’s commitment to gender equality, citing the constitutional amendment of 1992 that mandated the reservation of at least one-third of all elected roles in local governance for women. She celebrated the elevation of women’s representation to 50 percent in 21 states, with over 1.4 million women among the 3.1 million elected representatives.

The integration of gender considerations into local planning processes within the Panchayati Raj system, Kamboj explained, has led to transformative outcomes, ensuring effective addressing of women’s needs and priorities. She commended women leaders for breaking traditional barriers and driving positive change in education, healthcare, sanitation, and livelihoods at the grassroots level.

However, Kamboj acknowledged the challenges faced by women in leadership and emphasized the importance of supportive legal frameworks, capacity building initiatives, and collaborative partnerships to advance gender equality. She concluded by renewing the call to foster women’s leadership in local governance, citing Mahatma Gandhi’s words on the strength of women.

India’s experience in promoting women’s leadership serves as a valuable model for advancing gender equality and achieving sustainable development goals, as highlighted at the UN event.