Abstract Decentralisation and participatory governance are foundational elements of inclusive development in India. The Grama Sabha, introduced through the 73rd Constitutional Amendment, serves as a central institution for facilitating citizen engagement in local governance. This study examines women’s attitudes, participation, and empowerment within the framework for village-level governance in Kerala. Using data collected from women beneficiaries across various Grama Panchayats, the study explores how gender, representation, and self-efficacy influence participation levels. Findings reveal that women in Kerala actively involve themselves in grama Sabha sessions and demonstrate a high level of confidence and freedom of expression. However, reduced decision-making power and persistent gender biases limit their full empowerment. The paper concludes with policy recommendations for empowering women in local governance through capacity building, gender sensitive planning, and institutional reforms.Keywords: Women Empowerment, Grama Sabha, Decentralisation, Local Governance, Kerala, Gender Participation.
Kuriakose et al. (Sat,) studied this question.