SRINAGAR/JAMMU: In a significant move towards fostering gender-sensitive governance, the Rural Development Department and Panchayati Raj (RDD&PR), Jammu & Kashmir, successfully conducted a two-day capacity-building program aimed at strengthening Women and Girl-Friendly Panchayats across the Union Territory.
The initiative aligns with the national launch of the Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat (MWFGP) program, inaugurated by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in New Delhi on March 5, 2025.
The training sessions, held simultaneously in Srinagar and Jammu, were inaugurated by Director RDD Kashmir, Shabir Hussain Bhat and Director RDD Jammu, Mumtaz Ali, along with Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal.
The program equipped Block Development Officers, Panchayat Inspectors and Panchayat Secretaries with the necessary knowledge and skills to promote safe, inclusive and gender-responsive governance at the grassroots level.
Twenty Panchayats will be developed as Model Women and Girl-Friendly Panchayats, serving as exemplars of gender-sensitive and inclusive governance in Jammu and Kashmir.
Director RDD Kashmir, Shabir Hussain Bhat, stressed the importance of fostering a gender-sensitive workplace environment, where every male employee actively contributes to creating an inclusive and respectful space.
He highlighted that gender sensitivity is not just a moral responsibility but a necessity for progress, urging officials to ensure that Panchayats become spaces where women can thrive, contribute, and lead.
“In Kashmir, women’s participation in Panchayats is unparalleled. However, if 50% of the population of women are excluded from development activities, progress becomes impossible. Women play an integral role in decision-making, even within households and their active participation is essential for comprehensive development,” he said.
Director RDD Jammu, Mumtaz Ali called for a focused approach toward creating child-friendly and women-friendly Panchayats. He further emphasized that on March 8, efforts should be directed towards identifying Panchayats where women’s participation is lacking and implementing strategies to empower them.
Director Panchayati Raj, Sham Lal, acknowledged the significant progress made by Jammu and Kashmir’s Panchayats in promoting gender-sensitive governance but emphasized the need to build upon these achievements.
Stressing the importance of continuous improvement, he urged stakeholders to strive for excellence at the national level and set new benchmarks in inclusive rural governance.
He highlighted that the primary objective of the initiative is to establish at least one Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayat in each district, serving as a beacon for gender-sensitive and girl-friendly governance practices.
During the two-day session, Thematic experts from State Panchayat Resource Centre (SPRC) Dr Sajad Ahmad Dar and Aliya Khan, experts from District Panchayat Resource Centre (DPRC) Hakeem Shahid and Nida Rafiq and consultants Dr. Mushtaq Ahmad and Dr Javeed Ahmad from the School of Excellence in Panchayati Raj (SoEPR) led discussions on critical topics, including addressing gender-based violence, combating child marriage, organizing Mahila Sabhas, and developing action plans for gender-inclusive rural development.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj will organize nationwide Mahila Gram Sabhas on March 8, 2025, coinciding with International Women’s Day.
These meetings will mark the grassroots-level launch of the Model Women-Friendly Gram Panchayats initiative, reinforcing the government’s commitment to creating safer, more inclusive, and socially just Panchayats in line with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of ‘Viksit Bharat through Viksit Panchayats’.
