The sarpanchas and deputy sarpanchas in all 186 village panchayats were elected on Monday. What comes as a pleasant surprise is that in several of the village panchayats women have become either sarpanchas or deputy sarpanchas or both. In addition, many women have been elected as panchas. This is a positive step towards women empowerment in governance at the village level. As per a study it has been found that women make better leaders because they seek to develop others and listen more effectively, in addition to generally thinking more outside-the-box than their male counterparts. Gender equality and women's empowerment are both human rights and are necessary for achieving comprehensive, unbiased, and sustainable development. Women's political participation results in tangible gains for democracy, including greater responsiveness to citizen needs, increased cooperation across party and ethnic lines, and more sustainable peace. Local-level positions equip women with the skills necessary for higher levels of public office and careers in regional and national politics. Better representation will ensure women's voices are heard and their issues fairly recognized.
