Strengthening the political agency of women
elected to local government in India

In 1992, India launched one of the world's most ambitious gender quota systems, requiring that at least 33% of rural government seats be reserved for women, a figure extended to 50% in the majority of states (Dinesh Kumar, 2025). These provisions apply to both elected city council chairs (known as Sarpanch) and local Ward members, under the Panchayati Raj system (local self-government framework in villages).

However, formal representation policy does not automatically guarantee actual influence over policy. A survey conducted by the research team of 6,000 people in 600 districts has shown that only 47% of elected female council chairs have the final say on their governance decisions, compared to 89% of men. Entrenched patriarchal norms, resistance from male colleagues (Karpowitz et al., 2012; Franceschet & Piscopo, 2008) and the practice of "proxyism", where elected representatives defer political authority to male relatives, prevent women from exercising real political power (Chattopadhyay & Duflo, 2004; Beaman et al., 2009).

This disparity between formal inclusion and substantive agency is all the more damaging given that women's representation in politics is a powerful vehicle for development. Elected women are more likely to understand and advocate for the priorities of their constituents (Weeks, 2022). Their appointment to leadership positions helps break down patriarchal norms, increase citizen engagement among women, and reduce corruption (Parthasarathy et al., 2019; Barnes & Burchard, 2013). They also have an impact on budgetary decisions, directing more public spending toward essential sectors such as health care, education, and basic services.

The project plans to trial three complementary and mutually-reinforcing initiatives to help overcome barriers to women's political empowerment, both among representatives and citizens.

• An 18-month leadership training program for elected women, with training sessions every three months. This initiative is primarily focused on women's empowerment, employing experiential learning methods rather than formal lectures, with training sessions delivered without male supervision, in contrast to existing government training courses, 80% of which lack this requirement.

• Peer networks of 10 to 15 elected women, grouped by local geographical area, meeting once a month for 18 months. These networks provide a space for dialogue on professional issues and strategy, as well as collective action. At present, no government program promotes this kind of networking among elected female officials, even though only 30% have spoken to another female chair, compared to 74% of their male counterparts.

• Women-only citizen forums (Mahila Sabhas) will be held for all female village residents every two to three months, providing a forum to express their needs and hold their representatives accountable. While officially recognized but rarely organized in practice, these meetings will aim to address all of women's political concerns, above and beyond local development policy.

The impact evaluation will consist of a randomized controlled trial involving 3,200 Gram Panchayats (village councils) across four states (Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, and Jharkhand).

The project's main deliverable is to increase women's participation in local policymaking and address their priorities. The research team will assess the impact of these initiatives on the proportion of municipal budgets allocated to women's priority issues, as well as their access to public goods and inclusion in public programs (employment, pensions, health, and education).

Besides this primary objective, the project will evaluate various secondary effects by conducting surveys at the beginning and end of the program:

• Strengthening elected women's political agency and substantive authority
• Increasing political participation among women citizens beyond election periods
• Encouraging more women to run for local office
• Changing attitudes toward women's role in the community