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@article{192234,
        author = {Mukta Chaturvedi and Dr. Ashish Jorasia},
        title = {Strategic Pathways for Enhancing Women’s Decision-Making Roles in Panchayati Raj Institutions: A Kota-Centric Framework},
        journal = {International Journal of Innovative Research in Technology},
        year = {2026},
        volume = {12},
        number = {9},
        pages = {1730-1735},
        issn = {2349-6002},
        url = {https://ijirt.org/article?manuscript=192234},
        abstract = {The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act of 1992 was a landmark in India’s democratic framework, introducing the concept of reserved seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) to promote gender equality in local governance. In Rajasthan, and specifically in the Kota district, this policy has led to a significant increase in women’s representation at the grassroots level. However, while numerical representation has improved, meaningful participation in decision-making processes remains limited. Many women representatives occupy positions in PRIs symbolically, with real decision-making often influenced or controlled by male family members or community elites.
This paper examines the status of women’s participation in PRIs in Kota, exploring the socio-cultural, institutional, and political factors that affect their roles as decision-makers. Socio-cultural barriers, including traditional gender norms, societal expectations, and family pressures, often constrain women’s autonomy and limit their ability to assert leadership in local governance. Institutional challenges, such as inadequate training, lack of access to information, and limited exposure to governance mechanisms, further impede their capacity to make informed decisions. Political dynamics, including the influence of male relatives and party hierarchies, often reduce women’s authority to a symbolic or proxy role.
Through a mixed-methods approach combining qualitative interviews with elected women representatives and quantitative surveys across multiple gram panchayats in Kota, this study identifies the key challenges to effective women’s participation in PRIs. The findings reveal that while women are increasingly present in local governance, their ability to influence policy, allocate resources, and drive development initiatives is constrained by structural and cultural barriers.
The paper proposes strategic pathways to enhance women’s decision-making roles in Kota’s PRIs. These include capacity-building programs focusing on leadership, governance, and legal awareness; community sensitization initiatives to challenge patriarchal norms; policy advocacy to institutionalize gender equity in decision-making processes; and the creation of support networks among women representatives to facilitate knowledge sharing and collective action. By implementing these strategies, it is possible to nourish an enabling environment where women can participate actively, confidently, and effectively in local governance, contributing to more inclusive, equitable, and sustainable development outcomes.
In conclusion, this study emphasizes that increasing the number of women representatives alone is insufficient for genuine empowerment. For PRIs to serve as instruments of democratic inclusivity, deliberate efforts must be made to strengthen women’s decision-making capacities, ensuring that their voices are not only heard but also reflected in the policies and development initiatives that shape rural communities in Kota.},
        keywords = {Women Empowerment, Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), Decision-Making Roles, Gender Equity, Kota District},
        month = {February},
        }