The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992 marked a historic step in democratic decentralization by reserving not less than one-third of seats for women in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Many states have further increased this reservation to 50 percent, resulting in millions of women entering local governance. Despite this remarkable achievement, elected women representatives (EWRs) continue to face numerous challenges and obstacles that limit their effective participation and leadership. One of the most significant challenges is patriarchal social norms. In many rural communities, traditional beliefs consider politics to be a male domain. Women representatives often encounter resistance from family members, village elders, and male colleagues who question their leadership abilities. This societal mindset discourages independent decision-making and restricts women's active participation in governance. The phenomenon of the "proxy representative" or "Sarpanch Pati" is another major obstacle. In several Panchayats, the husbands or male relatives of elected women unofficially exercise authority, attend meetings, and make decisions on behalf of the women representatives. This practice defeats the purpose of political reservation by denying women the opportunity to develop leadership and administrative skills. Lack of education and political awareness also affects the functioning of many elected women representatives. Illiteracy or low educational attainment makes it difficult for them to understand government schemes, legal provisions, financial procedures, and official documents.