New Delhi, August 13: In a landmark initiative to empower grassroots democracy and encourage the Panchayat representatives, the Government of India has invited approximately 400 Elected Women Representatives (EWRs)/Elected Representatives (ERs) of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) as Special Guests to the 78th Independence Day celebrations at Red Fort, Delhi.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj is organizing a National Workshop on Women’s Leadership in Panchayats tomorrow at 10:30 AM onwards at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, Janpath, New Delhi, with participation of all the invitees Panchayat representatives.
The National Workshop will be addressed by Dr. Kiran Bedi, former Lt. Governor, Puducherry & Founder, Navjyoti India Foundation. Vivek Bharadwaj, Dr. Chandra Shekhar Kumar and other senior officers will also be present at the Workshop, which will explore the following among other key topics; Evolving role of EWRs in Panchayat Governance over three decades, Women's leadership in governance and public service delivery at the grassroots level, Role of EWRs in addressing issues of gender equality and social inclusion, EWRs' contribution to promoting equal opportunities for women and weaker sections and Addressing the practice of "Sarpanch Pati" at the grassroots level. This workshop will feature distinguished guests, including keynote speakers, senior officials, EWRs and subject matter experts. The workshop will explore challenges and opportunities for women leaders in Panchayats, showcasing success stories and discussing strategies for enhancing women’s participation in local governance.
As part of the felicitation ceremony, the Multilingual eGramSwaraj platform will be launched in collaboration with Bhashini. This innovative initiative will make the eGramSwaraj portal accessible in all 22 scheduled languages of India, greatly enhancing its reach and usability across diverse linguistic communities. On this occasion, the State/UT-wise Panchayat Profile, which includes Basic Statistics on Panchayati Raj Institutions, will also be released.
The visit of Panchayat representatives to the National Capital has been designed as a comprehensive and enriching experience, encompassing various events and activities. To provide a broader perspective on India’s leadership legacy, a visit to the Pradhan Mantri Sangrahalaya (PM Museum) has been arranged for the Special Guests on the afternoon of August 14. This visit will offer insights into India’s democratic journey and the contributions of the incumbent and former Prime Ministers.
The pinnacle of the visit will be the participation of EWRs/ERs in the main Independence Day function at Red Fort, Delhi on August 15. This once-in-a-lifetime experience will allow these grassroots leaders to be part of a historic national celebration, fostering a sense of pride and patriotism. Post the Red Fort ceremony, a Lunch Function for Special Guests will be organized at DAIC, New Delhi, on 15th August 2024. This event, attended by Vivek Bharadwaj and other senior officials of the Ministry, will provide an opportunity for reflection and informal discussions on the experiences of the past two days.
