In a major step towards nurturing leadership skills and promoting civic awareness among adolescent girls, the Gujarat government has set up Balika Panchayats in more than 13,000 gram panchayats across the state. With this initiative, Gujarat has become the first state in the country to implement the model on a statewide scale.
The concept, which began as a pilot project in Mota Angiya and Maska villages of Kutch district, has now been expanded to all districts. The Balika Panchayats aim to provide girls with practical exposure to democracy, governance and civic participation at an early age.
Aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao campaign, the initiative is seen as a key milestone in the state’s ongoing efforts to improve the status of girls by encouraging education, awareness and self-reliance. Under the guidance of Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Women and Child Development Minister Dr Manisha Vakil, the government has strengthened its focus on empowering girls through structured programmes.
To support the initiative, the state government, in collaboration with UNICEF, has developed a detailed Balika Panchayat Training Module. The curriculum covers essential topics such as nutrition, anaemia, leadership, Panchayati Raj institutions, child rights, safety laws, adolescent health and gender discrimination.
In the first phase, Training of Trainers programmes were conducted for ICDS and women welfare personnel. In the second phase, over 1,900 master trainers will be trained across districts, who will then impart knowledge to girls even in the most remote villages.
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to eliminating social evils such as female foeticide, child marriage and child labour, emphasising that the initiative reflects its resolve to protect the rights, dignity and aspirations of every girl child.