The 73rd Constitutional Amendment was celebrated for opening the doors of grassroots governance to women through the reservation of seats in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). However, what happens when these seats are no longer reserved? Do women sustain their political momentum, or does the system relapse into its traditionally male-dominated structure?

This article, published in Gandhi Marg (Vol. 46, No. 4, January–March 2025), critically explores the trajectory of women’s political participation in panchayat elections after the expiration of reservation quotas. Based on field observations, electoral data, and qualitative insights, it interrogates whether the presence of women in governance structures has translated into lasting empowerment or merely served as a time-bound policy intervention.

The study revisits the core questions of representation, autonomy, and political sustainability. It reflects on the factors that either encourage or deter women from contesting elections in the absence of legislative compulsion. Is reservation merely a stepping stone, or is it an essential crutch in a patriarchal polity where systemic barriers remain unresolved?

The article also dives into the nuanced realities of “proxy politics,” where women are often placeholders for male relatives, and examines whether such dynamics persist or diminish post-de-reservation. While some women emerge as assertive leaders who successfully carve their political identity beyond quotas, others fade into the background once reservations lapse.

Call for Scholarly Input:

This article opens up a larger conversation about the nature and limits of institutional empowerment. While legal mandates can initiate inclusion, what sustains it? The question is not only about gender justice in rural governance but about the health of democratic decentralization itself.

If you are researching gender, local governance, political participation, or public policy — I welcome your comments, suggestions, and regional comparisons. What has been the experience in your state, region, or country with similar affirmative action initiatives? What models or interventions have succeeded in translating symbolic representation into real power?

Please feel free to engage with the article, offer constructive feedback, and extend the conversation to new contexts. Together, let’s explore whether women’s leadership at the grassroots is evolving from a matter of policy to a matter of principle.

📄 Full article available (Follow the Link): Article Empowering Women Through Panchayat Elections: Challenges and...