UNFPA India 58d ago

A few days ago, UNFPA India Honorary Ambassador Kriti Sanon sat down with the powerhouse women of the Women & Girl Friendly Panchayat (WGFP) initiative in Bhopal. These aren't just leaders; they are the people redefining what rural governance looks like. What you’ll see in this video: Real Leadership: Meet the women who have helped Madhya Pradesh surpass the 50% reservation quota, with women now holding over 53% of Sarpanch positions. No More Proxies: Hear how these leaders are breaking the "Sarpanch-Pati" (proxy) culture to ensure women’s voices are the ones making the decisions. Tangible Change: From building "Pink Toilets" and libraries to declaring villages child-marriage free and launching local ambulance services. Gender-Responsive Planning: A look at how village priorities shift toward safety, health, and dignity when women are at the table. Special thanks to the Panchayat & Rural Development Department, Govt of Madhya Pradesh, for their vision in supporting these grassroots changemakers.