Panchayati Raj

The Cabinet, presided over by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, also cleared the proposal to amend Article 243(D) of the Constitution for the purpose. The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has been directed to draft a bill for making the amendment.

Panchayati Raj Minister C.P. Joshi said the bill, providing for greater participation of women in the public sphere, would be moved in the next session of Parliament.

The Urban Development Ministry would also initiate a similar proposal soon to enhance women's representation in urban local bodies.

The proposed amendment seeks to increase reservation for women in the number of seats to be filled by direct election for the office of chairperson, right from the panchayat to the panchayat samiti and the zilla parishad.

Even with respect to the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, reservation for women will stand enhanced to a minimum of 50 per cent within the quota reserved for these two categories. Since there is no reservation at the Central level for other backward classes, it would be up to the State governments to increase the quota for women under this segment as well, Mr. Joshi clarified.

Source: The Hindu 50% quota for women in all tiers of panchayat raj

"At the local level, people do not even ask the state leaders of the party who should be the gram panchayat president," she said. "Our instruction to the party is that the boards should be formed in accordance with the party's principles and maintaining transparency." These should be formed "in the interest of the people" (read to keep CPM out) "and if in some place our party cannot form it on its own strength, it can try other mechanisms".

Although the Left Front has won the North 24-Parganas zilla parishad, winning 27 sets against the Opposition's 24, it will find it difficult to run the administration, said Mamata. For, Trinamool has won 18 panchayat samitis and LF only four.

She explained that under the panchayat rules, in the election of karmadhyakshas (office-bearers) of zilla parishads, the votes of panchayat samiti presidents also count. "By virtue of our larger number in panchayat samitis, we will manage to get our men elected as karmadhyakshas," Mamata pointed out.

She reiterated that Tata Motors would have to return 400 acres in Singur, forcibly taken from unwilling farmers. "Although we are not giving any ultimatum about returning land, we will not be able to restrain the people for an indefinite period of time," said the Trinamool chief.