Panel seeks penalties to end proxy rule by male kin of women panchayat leaders

Panel seeks penalties to end proxy rule by male kin of women panchayat leaders

Sub: Polity

Sec: Local Govt (PRI)

Context

• The issue of male relatives usurping the leadership roles of elected women representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) has been widely reported.
• The 73rd Constitutional (Amendment) Act, 1992, mandated one-third reservation of seats for women in PRIs.
• This quota has been expanded to nearly 50% by 21 States and two Union Territories.
• Despite this, in several regions, women are reduced to figureheads, while their male relatives take decisions on their behalf.

Formation of Advisory Committee

• In September 2023, the Supreme Court directed the Ministry of Panchayati Raj to constitute an advisory committee to examine the issue of “women pradhans being represented by the male members of their families.”
• The committee was tasked with recommending measures to prevent this proxy leadership.

 Key Recommendations of the Advisory Committee

• Imposition of Exemplary Penalties
  • The committee has recommended the enforcement of “exemplary penalties” for proven cases of proxy leadership.
  • However, it has not specified whether these penalties should be pecuniary or physical in nature.
• Multi-Pronged Strategy
  • To discourage the practice of proxy leadership, the committee has suggested:
    • Policy Intervention and Structural Reforms
    • Technological Solutions for Better Monitoring
    • Peer Support Programs
    • Positive Affirmations
    • Punitive Actions
• Gender-Exclusive Quotas and Public Swearing-In
  • The committee has suggested Kerala-style “gender-exclusive quotas” in some panchayat subject committees.
  • It also recommended that women pradhans should take a public oath in the Gram Sabha federation of women panchayat leaders.
• Establishment of Accountability Mechanisms
  • A robust oversight mechanism has been suggested, including:
    • Helplines for complaints.
    • Women Watchdog Committees for confidential grievances.
    • Whistleblower Rewards in verified cases of proxy leadership.
• Education Eligibility for Panchayat Elections
  • One of the suggestions received during the committee’s field visits was to make minimum school-level education mandatory for contesting elections to the post of “panchayat president.”
  • However, this suggestion was not included in the final nine-point recommendations.
  • A precedent exists in Haryana, where a law was introduced setting a minimum education criterion for contesting panchayat elections (Class 8 for women).