Punjab’s 50% quota delivers representation, but ‘sarpanch patis’ limit real power

What Happened

Punjab's 50 per cent women reservation in local bodies since 2018 has increased female representation across 13,286 panchayats, but real authority remains limited. The 'sarpanch pati' proxy phenomenon persists, where elected women often serve as figureheads while male relatives exercise actual power, despite departmental directives to enforce compliance and attendance.

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