Abstract

Women’s empowerment has emerged as one of the most transformative socio-political developments in post-independence India particularly after the constitutional institutionalisation of grassroots democracy through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act 1992 which gave constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). The decentralisation of power and the mandatory reservation of seats for women in local self-government bodies marked a paradigm shift in India’s democratic and developmental trajectory by formally integrating women into political decision-making processes at the village intermediate and district levels. This research paper examines the relationship between women’s empowerment and local self-governance through an analytical study of Panchayati Raj Institutions focusing on political participation leadership transformation socio-economic impact challenges of proxy representation institutional constraints and structural patriarchy. The study argues that while constit