PRACTICE OF PROXY REPRESENTATIVE

Subject: Polity

Section: Local Govt

Context:

Union Minister of State for Panchayati Raj, Shri Kapil Moreshwar Patil in a written reply in Lok Sabha mentions about the practice of sarpanch pati / pradhanpat in our Panchayati Raj System.

About Proxy Representation:

The practice of sarpanch pati/pradhanpat highlights the necessity and importance of capacity building of Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) and generating awareness among them.

Steps taken in this regard:

Extensive exercise of capacity building of Elected Representatives, including EWRs, through the scheme of Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan.
The Ministry has been engaging with the EWRs through a series of workshops, conferences, committees and expert groups on the issues of women empowerment and women leadership.
The Ministry has issued advisories to States to facilitate holding of separate Ward Sabha and Mahila Sabha meetings prior to Gram Sabha meetings.
Advisories have also been issued to States for enhancing the presence and participation of women in Gram Sabha and Panchayat meetings, allocation of Panchayat funds for women-centric activities, combating the evil of women trafficking, female foeticide, child marriage etc.
The Ministry has also been encouraging increased involvement of women in the functioning of Panchayats through active participation in the Gram Sabha meetings for preparation of Gram Panchayat Development Plans and various schemes being implemented by the Panchayats.

About Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan

Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan (RGSA) was launched on 24th April 2018 as an umbrella scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Govt. of India.
It is a unique scheme proposed to develop and strengthen the Panchayati Raj System across India in the rural areas.It is a centrally sponsored scheme

Objectives of RGSA

Develop governance capabilities of PRIs to deliver on the SDGs.
Enhance capabilities of Panchayats for inclusive local governance with focus on optimum utilization of available resources and convergence with other schemes to address issues of national importance.
Enhance capabilities of Panchayats to raise their own sources of revenue.
Strengthen Gram Sabhas to function effectively as the basic forum of people’s participation, transparency and accountability within the Panchayat system.
Promote devolution of powers and responsibilities to Panchayats according to the spirit of the Constitution and PESA Act 1996.