A landmark measure towards decentralization of power at the grassroots level, the 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) was also intended to achieve equality for women under the law. The status of women leadership in Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs), however, differs from one state to the other – though in some parts of India, they have become viable political power in their own right. Their effective functioning in different states, thus, needs to be reviewed frequently. This book is an attempt in this direction exploring, as it does, the extent and nature of participation of women leaders in PRIs, their socio-economic and political background, and how far their role as leaders is meaningful – all this with primary focus on the north-eastern state of Sikkim. Dr G.D. Bhatt is Associate Professor of Political Science at Sri Aurobindo College, University of Delhi, Delhi.