PRAYAGRAJ, Oct. 20 -- The Pratapgarh administration has selected two gram panchayats to be developed as models of women-friendly governance, aiming to strengthen women's participation in village-level decision-making and ensure better implementation of women-centric welfare schemes. Barai gram panchayat in Kunda tehsil and Isipur in Sadar tehsil are the first two villages selected under the initiative. Pratapgarh is the first district in the Prayagraj division to implement the programme, district officials said. "The initiative aims to create a safe, inclusive and discrimination-free environment for women and girls in rural areas, with a focus on education, healthcare, safety and economic self-reliance," district panchayati raj officer D Shrikant said. The objective is to ensure that women are not merely beneficiaries of welfare schemes but also actively participate in panchayat decision-making, education, employment and self-employment, he added. The selected panchayats will focus on promoting institutional deliveries, reducing maternal and infant mortality, and preventing girls from dropping out of school at the primary, upper-primary and secondary levels. Measures to improve women's safety, including women's help desks and CCTV surveillance, are also planned. The initiative seeks to increase the participation of women and girls in panchayat meetings and strengthen efforts to prevent child marriage and gender discrimination. Another key focus will be to link women with skill-development programmes and ensure that eligible beneficiaries receive the benefits of welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Elected representatives and officials will also be trained in laws related to women, officials said. The initiative will also focus on linking women with skill-development programmes and ensuring eligible beneficiaries receive benefits under welfare schemes, including the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana. Elected representatives and officials will also be trained in laws related to women, officials said. The administration plans to intensify work under the initiative from November, with support from the departments concerned. Funding may be mobilised through state and central finance allocations and the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G programme....