As units of local self governance, panchayats have critical role to play in rural governance and development. Though they have been given constitutional status following 73rd Constitutional Amendment, little headway has been achieved as per intent of the Amendment. Among the few notable changes are regular elections to the panchayats and election of women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to panchayats.

But to panchayats function as they should as per intent of the epoch-making Constitutional Amendment, it is necessary that responsible, responsive and accountable leadership is elected to the panchayats. 

During the third elections to panchayats in 2005 under new dispensation, Sampark launched pre-election voter awareness campaign to make people aware of the attributes of candidates they have to keep in mind while electing a candidate for them. During the campaign, prospective women candidates were specially targeted through street plays and workshops to make them aware of the electoral process. It was impressed upon the women that they could contest even from those seats which were not reserved for them.

A positive effect of the campaign was visible in the elections. Women in large numbers contested the elections and won at the elections.