The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will hold a one-day National Conference of Women Elected Representatives of Panchayats in New Delhi on 11 March 2026 under the Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan. The event marks one year of the initiative and aims to strengthen women-led grassroots governance through capacity building, recognition of leadership, and sharing of best practices.
Key Participants
The conference will be attended by Union Ministers from the Ministries of Panchayati Raj, Women and Child Development, Youth Affairs and Sports, along with senior officials. Around 700 participants are expected, including women elected representatives from Panchayats and representatives of UN agencies.
Purpose of the Conference
The programme is designed as a national platform to celebrate women’s role in local self-government. It will focus on leadership, decision-making, and the governance responsibilities of Women Elected Representatives. Outstanding Beacon Women Panchayat Leaders identified by States and Union Territories will be honoured during the event.
Launches and Technical Sessions
The conference will also launch a Compendium of Best Practices of Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats and Stories of Transformation. Nirbhaya initiatives of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj will also be released. Two technical sessions are planned:
- Women leadership and decision-making in rural governance.
- Development of model women-friendly Gram Panchayats.
Background and Capacity Building
The Sashakt Panchayat-Netri Abhiyan was launched on 4 March 2025 as a targeted capacity-building initiative for Women Elected Representatives. Under the Revamped Rashtriya Gram Swaraj Abhiyan, the Ministry has trained 7,18,434 WERs in 2025–26 and capacitated 1,21,512 WERs, including Master Trainers, through a specialised module on women’s leadership in local governance. It has also identified 744 Model Women Friendly Gram Panchayats across 32 States and Union Territories, with dashboards tracking participation, health, nutrition, education, skills, economic opportunities, safety, and security.
Last Modified: April 28, 2026