Gender Component

The Nokma Empowerment Research Project places gender at the centre of strengthening local governance in Meghalaya. Building on the Government’s 2020 mandate for women’s representation in Village Employment Councils (VECs), the project seeks to understand how women’s participation is shaping decision-making, coordination, and development outcomes at the village level.

Across the Garo Hills, the research examines the roles women play within VECs, how they engage with traditional leadership structures, and the conditions that enable or constrain their meaningful participation. It explores whether representation translates into voice, influence, and leadership in planning and implementation processes, particularly in programmes such as MGNREGA

By documenting these dynamics, the project aims to identify pathways to strengthen women’s agency within local institutions, improve the responsiveness of governance systems, and ensure that decentralised development is more inclusive and equitable. Ultimately, this work contributes to building a governance ecosystem where women are not only present, but are active drivers of community-led development.