New Delhi: The Modi government, which is trying to ensure the participation of every section in development schemes from the grassroots level, has a special emphasis on women. With this objective, Mahila Sabhas and Balika Sabhas have been made compulsory before making Gram Panchayat development schemes. Now the government wants that at least one Gram Panchayat in every district of the country should develop as a women-friendly Gram Panchayat.

The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has handed over this target to all the states and union territories and now to work on how they have to work in this direction, a national workshop is going to be held in Pune from 4 to 6 November, in which officials and representatives of panchayats from all over the country will participate.

Emphasis on women-led development

Prime Minister Narendra Modi constantly emphasizes on women-led development. He wants women to participate in development schemes and programs, but at the rural level, the problem is still felt that women are not getting an environment for active participation. Due to this hesitation in women, the bad system like Pradhan Pati or Sarpanch Pati is still going on, which is being thought about to be eliminated.

Women friendly Panchayat is also included in the nine identified goals of sustainable development

In such a situation, the Panchayati Raj Ministry has taken an important decision that in order to provide a safe and favourable environment to women, first of all, at least one Gram Panchayat in every district of the country should be made women-friendly and presented as an example. Women-friendly Panchayat is also included in the nine identified goals of sustainable development.

Ministry officials said that this target has been assigned to all states and union territories. To provide training on how to create a women-friendly Gram Panchayat, states have been asked to nominate faculty members or other representatives from State Rural Development and Panchayati Raj Institutions, State Panchayat Resource Centers and Panchayati Raj Training Institutes.

The aim is to promote women empowerment

All of them will be trained at Pune-based Yashwantrao Chavan Academy of Development Administration from 4 to 6 November and will be made master trainers. These master trainers will also train other representatives of the panchayats and will lead the model women friendly Gram Panchayat. After these panchayats are developed in an ideal form, the aim is to increase women empowerment by implementing their methods in other panchayats as well.

Such will be the ideal women friendly Gram Panchayat

- All girls should go to school-college.

- Women and girls will be equipped with skills useful for employment and life.

- Women should get complete health related information and get full benefit of health services.

- There should be maximum participation of women and girls in the Gram Sabhas.

- There should be better social awareness towards women's rights.

- Gram Panchayat officials and elected public representatives should have complete knowledge of gender-related laws.

- Panchayat Samiti should work strictly and proactively to prevent child marriage and gender discrimination including gender based violence.