The Government of Karnataka has played a pioneering role in strengthening women's participation in local self-governance by introducing systematic gender training for elected women representatives (EWRs) at the Panchayat level. Following the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, which reserved one-third and later fifty percent of Panchayat seats for women in many states, Karnataka recognized that political reservation alone could not ensure meaningful participation. Many elected women leaders faced challenges such as lack of education, limited knowledge of governance, patriarchal interference, financial illiteracy, and inadequate confidence. Gender training was therefore designed to empower women leaders with knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities. The primary objective of gender training is to develop awareness among elected women representatives about gender equality, women's rights, constitutional provisions, and their responsibilities in local governance. The programme seeks to transform women from symbolic representatives into active decision-makers capable of influencing policies and development programmes. It also encourages male representatives and officials to understand gender-sensitive governance and promote inclusive decision-making. The Karnataka government conducts these training programmes