The practise of male family members of female village leaders, known as Sarpanch, exercising power on their behalf is known in India as the "Sarpanch Pati system." It is a type of discrimination against women that weakens their rights and agency in rural settings.
Women now have the ability to run for and hold elected office in local governmental entities, including the position of Sarpanch, according to the Indian Panchayati Raj Act of 1992. Male relatives of the elected female leaders, however, have frequently taken on the role of decision-making power in their place, making significant choices on their behalf while frequently disregarded the interests of the women they are supposed to serve.
In India's rural areas, the Sarpanch Pati system is a significant barrier to gender equality and women's empowerment. It supports the long-standing patriarchal norms that restrict women's participation in public life and undercut their power as elected officials. Additionally, it reinforces the notion that women are powerless to make decisions and require male protection or supervision.
In order to overcome this problem, rural communities need to be made more aware of it and educated about the importance of promoting gender equality and women's empowerment. This includes the requirement to confront and eliminate patriarchal beliefs and behaviours that limit the agency and rights of women. Stronger procedures must also be implemented to guarantee that elected women leaders can execute their authority free from interference or influence from male relatives.