STATE : In pursuance of the Order dated 06.07.2023 of the Supreme Court of India has constituted an Advisory Committee to examine the issue of Women Pradhan’s being represented by the male members of their families and also to examine the other problems related thereto. Accordingly, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India has selected some States to organize a Two-Day Consultative Seminar with the Women Elected Representatives, and Tripura is one among them.

The Two-Day Consultative Seminar was inaugurated in the presence of the Secretary of the RD (Panchayat) Department, Government of Tripura, Dr. Sandeep R Rathod, Ramit Maurya, Director of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj, Government of India, and Dr. Mallinath Kalshetti, Deputy Director General of YASHADA, Pune. Participants from six (06) States, namely Sikkim, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Manipur, and Tripura, participated in the seminar. From, Tripura, four (04) Women Sabhadhipati of Zilla Parishads, Chairpersons of Panchayat Samity, Pradhan of Gram Panchayats, SHG Members, representative from SIPARD, National Law University and women Commission also present in the seminar. The Seminar becomes a grand success by attracting the participation of around 80 participants across the North-Eastern zone and will be beneficial in developing democratic empowerment of the women public representatives.

This type of seminar will help in eradicating this type of evil practice by sensitizing and building the capacity of the women elected representatives. The Secretary, Dr. Rathod has extended gratitude towards the Central Panchayat Ministry for selecting Tripura for organizing this type of seminar and also delivered about the importance of the seminar. The Joint Secretary, Central Panchayat Ministry, Mamta Varma joined the seminar online and delivered key note about the seminar. The Director of MoPR, Ramit Maurya discussed the objective of the seminar. The DDG of YASHADA, Pune, Dr. Kalshetti discussed the issue of Proxy Women Participation in PRIs. The Director of Panchayats, Government of Tripura, Prasun De delivered on initiatives taken by the Department in the recent past for women’s empowerment. . De mentioned that after this year’s Panchayat Election, five (05) local bodies became fully women-fledged in Tripura where all the elected representatives and officials are women. The local bodies are Matabari Panchayat Samity, Khilpara Gram Panchayat, Tahkcharra Gram Panchayat, Karaiyamura Gram Panchayat, Halhuli Gram Panchayat which aim to ensure that women not only participate but also lead decision-making processes within their communities, thereby strengthening the socio- economic fabric of our rural areas.