Context: India’s first-ever girl Panchayat, called “Balika Panchayat”, was started in several villages of Kutch district in Gujarat.

About Balika Panchayat Initiative

• The Balika Panchayat Initiative was started with the aim of promoting social and political development of girls as well as ensure active participation of girls in politics.
• The Balika Panchayat initiative was started by the Women and Child Development Welfare department of Gujarat Government. It was launched under the ‘Beti Bachao Beti Padhao’ campaign.
• Currently, this initiative has been started in Kunaria, Motagua, Maska, and Vadsar villages of the Kutch district of Gujarat. Women and Child Development Ministry is planning to start girl panchayat across India.
• “Balika Panchayat” is managed by people aged 11-21 years.

Objectives of Balika Panchayat

• Main objective of the Balika Panchayat is to promote social and political development of girl child. It also seeks to remove evil practices like child marriage and dowry system from society. 
• It aims for girls to get their nominations done in decision-making process in Panchayat. It seeks to make girls active in politics since childhood.