Means to stop proxy participation in PRIs suggested by Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR)

The Supreme Court in Mundona Rural Development Foundation vs. UoI (2023) directed the formation of a committee to look into the proxy involvement in the PRIs.

PRI constitutional mandate on women’s reservation A three-tiered panchayat system was introduced by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992). It also mandated one-third reservation of seats for women in PRIs.

21 States increased this to nearly 50% (Bihar was the first state to do so).

Present Representation: Women make up 46.6% of elected panchayat representatives.

Proxy representation: male relatives step in where elected women are only symbolic leaders

Such policies are counterproductive because they serve to perpetuate the idea that "women can't be leaders. "

Key Reforms Proposed by the Committee:

Strict Penalties: Penalty to be levied for any male interference confirmed, but what the penalty would be isn't clear.

More substantive policies: public swearing-in like in Kerala, women’s panchayat federations, gender-exclusive quotas

Technology-based solutions: To provide real-time legal advice in regional languages to WERs, the VR simulation training uses AI-powered query-driven responses, among other features.

Accountability mechanisms include watchdog committees, helplines, and whistleblower incentives for reporting proxy leadership.

Monitoring of attendance of elected representatives at meetings and decision taking through Panchayat Nirnay Portal.