Ending the 'Sarpanch Pati' System: Empowering Women in Panchayati Raj

Union Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj emphasizes the need to end the 'sarpanch pati' system where husbands of elected women wield power. Addressing a gathering, he announces plans for special training programs to empower women representatives and enable them to fulfill their responsibilities independently.

Union Panchayati Raj Secretary Vivek Bharadwaj on Wednesday called on panchayat representatives to put an end to the 'sarpanch pati' system, where the husbands of elected women sarpanchs exercise actual power. He announced that the ministry is planning a special training program to empower women representatives.

Addressing an event attended by around 400 Panchayati Raj Institution representatives, Bharadwaj spoke about the web series 'Panchayat,' which highlights the issue. He shared his disappointment upon realizing the show mirrored the real-life situation of women representatives being overshadowed by their husbands.

Bharadwaj urged the PRI representatives to ensure women's independence in their roles, noting that 46% of the 32 lakh panchayati raj representatives are women. He stressed the need for specialized training for women to effectively fulfill their roles and contribute to societal development, drawing comparisons with higher female participation rates in China.

(With inputs from agencies.)