Women Empowerment Through Political Leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions: A Study in Telangana

Women’s political participation is a crucial component of democratic governance and gender equality. The introduction of reservation for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 has significantly enhanced women’s representation at the grassroots level in India. Telangana, with its policy of 50 per cent reservation for women in local self-governments, provides an important context for examining the relationship between political leadership and women’s empowerment. The study concludes that while Panchayati Raj Institutions in Telangana have successfully promoted women’s political participation, achieving substantive empowerment requires sustained capacity-building, institutional support, and social transformation. Strengthening leadership training and ensuring genuine autonomy are essential for translating political representation into meaningful empowerment.