Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0 Programme: Empowering Women Tribal Leaders

Why in news?

• The National Commission for Women (NCW) launched the 'Panchayat Se Parliament 2.0' programme on January 6, 2025.
• This initiative is aimed at empowering elected women representatives from tribal communities across India, providing them with the tools and knowledge to enhance their leadership capabilities and participation in governance.

Key Details:

• Launch Date: January 6, 2025.
• Organized By: NCW in collaboration with the Ministry of Tribal Affairs and the Lok Sabha Secretariat.
• Participants: 502 women leaders from 22 states and Union Territories, primarily from tribal communities.

Objective:

• The primary goal of this initiative is to empower women leaders by deepening their understanding of constitutional provisions, parliamentary procedures, and governance.
• It aims to foster effective leadership that can transition from Panchayat to Parliament.

Program Highlights:

• Key Locations Visited:
  • Parliament House
  • Rashtrapati Bhawan
  • Samvidhan Sadan
  • Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya
• Focus Areas:
  • Workshops on constitutional provisions such as the 73rd Amendment and PESA Act (Panchayats Extension to Scheduled Areas Act).
  • Discussions on government schemes addressing tribal welfare.
  • Leadership development for rural and tribal women leaders, particularly in governance and community empowerment.
• Notable Attendees:
  • Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated the event.
  • Union Ministers: Annapurna Devi (Women and Child Development) and Jual Oram (Tribal Affairs) addressed the participants.
  • NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar highlighted the significance of empowering women for effective governance.
• Building on Previous Success: The programme builds upon the success of the ‘Panchayat Se Parliament’ (2024) initiative, which involved over 500 women Sarpanch from across India.
• Significance: This initiative plays a crucial role in encouraging greater women representation in Parliament, especially from rural and tribal communities, where women's participation is often underrepresented.

Context:

• The programme commemorates the 150th birth anniversary of Birsa Munda, a revered tribal freedom fighter.
• Munda led a revolt against the ‘DIKUS’ (outsiders), including missionaries, landlords, and officials, in the 1890s.
• The revolt, known as the Ulghulan or Great Tumult, was a pivotal event in India’s tribal history.
• To honor his contributions, 15th November is celebrated as Janjatiya Gaurav Divas.