Pune, 8 January 2026

 

A two-day National Workshop on Best Practices of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats commenced today at the Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration in Pune, showcasing successful initiatives from across the country as the Ministry of Panchayati Raj works to develop Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats in every District of India.

Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj inaugurated the workshop in the presence of Shri Eknath Rajaram Dawale, Principal Secretary, Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Niranjan Kumar Sudhansu, DG, YASHADA, Over 200 participants from 13 States and UTs namely Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Daman & Diu and Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Goa, Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Telangana, are sharing ground-level success stories and innovative practices.

Addressing the National Workshop on Best Practices of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Shri Sushil Kumar Lohani, stated that community awareness and social change are more critical for advancing women-friendly governance than financial resources alone. He called for ending proxy leadership practices and emphasised the provision of basic services such as safe drinking water, functional toilets, women’s safety measures, and equal participation of women in all village-level activities without discrimination. He further stated that the Ministry of Panchayati Raj is advancing the initiative through a structured, outcome-oriented framework by integrating gender-responsive planning within GPDPs and strengthening the capacities of Panchayati Raj Institutions across States, supported by focused training, data-driven monitoring, peer learning, and institutional convergence to ensure effective implementation and scalability of best practices.

Principal Secretary (RD&PR), Maharashtra, Shri Eknath Dawale, highlighted the State’s commitment to women’s representation in Panchayati Raj Institutions through fifty percent reservation in local bodies. He emphasized that empowerment must translate into effective participation and substantive involvement of women in routine governance processes and decision-making at the grassroots level. He mentioned the State’s Mukhyamantri Samruddha Panchayat Raj Abhiyan that supports women-friendly initiatives, noting that economic independence is fundamental to overall empowerment.

Director, MoPR Shri Vipul Ujwal explained how the initiative’s framework is covering women’s participation in village decisions, health and nutrition programs, education and skills training, income generation opportunities, and safety measures. He emphasized that genuine, verified information is essential for meaningful progress tracking. Dr. Deepa Prasad stated that UNFPA is supporting the initiative through technical collaboration, knowledge support, and promotion of locally relevant, evidence-based practices aligned with the Localization of Sustainable Development Goals. She also shared inspiring examples from Madhya Pradesh showing real transformation in rural women’s lives.

The workshop featured presentations by best-performing Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats demonstrating tangible results achieved on the ground. Panchayat representatives shared practical experiences on involving women in planning and budgeting, improving maternal and child health services, promoting girls' education, creating livelihood opportunities through skill training, and establishing safety committees. These real-life examples from villages across participating states illustrated how focused efforts can bring meaningful change in women's lives and strengthen grassroots democracy.

Interactive sessions allowed participants to learn from each other’s experiences and discuss ways to implement successful models in their own areas. The day concluded with a cultural program highlighting local traditions.

Also present were Dr. Mallinath Kalshetti, Deputy Director General of YASHADA & Director, SIRD&PR Maharashtra, Shri Vipul Ujwal, Director, MoPR, and Dr Deepa Prasad, Chief, Programmes and Technical Support, UNFPA India. Shri Gajanan Patil, Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Parishad Pune, Shri Girish Bhalerao, Director of Panchayat Raj Maharashtra, and Shri Sachin Ghadge, Additional Director of Panchayat Raj Maharashtra.

Tomorrow’s sessions will focus on economic opportunities and safety measures, followed by training on the online monitoring system. The workshop aims to strengthen women’s leadership in village governance nationwide by sharing proven approaches and practical solutions.

 

PIB Pune | Harshal Akude/ Priti Malandkar

 

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