Honouring its promise, the Andhra Pradesh government has amended some rules in the Panchayat Raj Act providing 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayat Raj institutions.

According to the amendments in the AP Panchayat Raj (Reservation of seats and offices of Gram Panchayats, Mandal Parishads and Zilla Parishads) Rules, 2006, half the seats in these institutions would henceforth be earmarked for women. Previously, women had a one-third quota in these institutions.