India Showcases Women's Leadership in Panchayati Raj System at UN Event

India's Permanent Mission to the United Nations, in collaboration with the Ministry of Panchayati Raj and the United Nations Population Fund, is hosting a side event titled "Localising the SDGs: Women in Local Governance in India Lead the Way" on May 3, 2024, during the 57th session of the Commission on Population and Development at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. The event will showcase Elected Women Representatives (EWRs) from India and their impact on local development aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj will inaugurate the event, emphasizing India's commitment to empowering women in local governance as torchbearers of sustainable development. The event will feature a panel discussion with India's Elected Women Representatives on local self-governance, including Smt. Supriya Das Datta, Smt. Kunuku Hema Kumari, and Smt. Neeru Yadav.

Why this matters: The empowerment of women in local governance has far-reaching implications for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, as it enables more inclusive and representative decision-making processes. By showcasing India's progress, leadership, system, highlighted in this area, the event highlights the potential for women's leadership to drive positive change at the grassroots level.

India's Panchayati Raj system, a decentralized rural governance model, has made significant strides in promoting women's leadership at the grassroots level. Currently, 1.4 million women serve as elected members of Panchayati Raj Institutions, making up 46% of the total number of elected representatives. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has taken a proactive leadership role in localizing and achieving the SDGs in rural India, with women spearheading local self-governance initiatives.

During its G20 Presidency, India reaffirmed its commitment to gender equality and women-led development by establishing the Working Group on Women's Empowerment. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has endeavored to localize the SDGs through Panchayati Raj Institutions, consolidating the 17 SDGs into nine overarching themes, including 'Theme 9: Women-Friendly Panchayat'.

To empower women to assume leadership roles effectively, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched various initiatives, including providing quality training through the Leadership and Management Development Programme at premier management institutes such as IIM Ahmedabad. These efforts aim to equip women leaders with the necessary skills and knowledge to drive positive change in their communities.

The side event at the United Nations Headquarters will be live-streamed from on the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, GoI's social media pages, starting at 10:45 PM (IST) on May 3, 2024. It will provide a platform for India's Elected Women Representatives to share their experiences and insights on how they are leading the way in localizing the SDGs and fostering inclusive development at the grassroots level.

India's showcase of women's leadership in the Panchayati Raj system at the UN event underscores the country's commitment to advancing gender equality and empowering women as key drivers of sustainable development. With 1.4 million women serving as elected representatives in local governance, India's experience provides valuable lessons on the transformative power of women's leadership in achieving the SDGs at the grassroots level.

Key Takeaways

• India hosts UN side event on May 3, 2024, to showcase women's leadership in local governance.
• 1.4 million Indian women serve as elected representatives in Panchayati Raj Institutions, 46% of total.
• Ministry of Panchayati Raj empowers women through training and initiatives to drive positive change.
• India's Panchayati Raj system promotes women's leadership, achieving SDGs at the grassroots level.
• The event highlights India's commitment to gender equality and women-led development.