Women’s Participation in Rural Local Bodies in India: Gender Empowerment and the Constraints of Structural Realities The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) marked a transformative moment in the landscape of Indian democracy by institutionalizing Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and mandating the reservation of at least one-third of all seats for women in rural local bodies. … Continue reading To what extent has the participation of women in rural local bodies in India advanced the goals of gender empowerment and grassroots democracy, and what structural, socio-cultural, and institutional challenges continue to constrain their substantive political agency?