The 73rd Constitutional Amendment of 1992 was indeed monumental in giving a voice to villagers by ushering in grassroots democracy and decentralised governance. It provided constitutional status to Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), making it compulsory for local self-government bodies in rural areas to be elected every five years. More importantly, control of local resources was given to these elected local bodies, empowering them with real decision-making authority.

A significant aspect of this amendment was the reservation of seats. It ensured that one-third of the total seats in all elected offices of local bodies were reserved for women. Additionally, 17 per cent of seats were specifically reserved for women belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. This was the first time women were brought into elected bodies with decision-making powers.

The impact was immediate and historic. The 1993–94 elections brought 800,000 women into political processes in a single election, which was a big step in enfranchising women. The amendment prescribed a three-tier system of local self-governance for the entire country.

However, challenges remain. In a society with a long history of inequality based on caste, community and gender, true democratisation is difficult. Often, the Gram Sabha members are controlled by a small group of rich landlords from upper castes, who make decisions on development activities while leaving the majority as mere onlookers.

Despite these challenges, the 73rd Amendment transformed the Directive Principle on Village Panchayats into a Constitutional imperative, extending the meaning of social justice to the grassroots level.