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J&K grants 33 p.c. quota for women in panchayats

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu Sept. 19. In a historic step, the Jammu and Kashmir Government today decided to grant 33 per cent reservation for women in panchayats by amending the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989, to bring it in line with the 73rd Amendment of the Constitution. The Cabinet meeting, chaired by the Chief Minister, Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, also announced its decision to do away with nominations to grass root-level democratic institutions.

Announcing the decision, the Chief Secretary, Sudhir S. Bloeria, said today's decision would ensure greater participation by women in the affairs of grass root-level democratic institutions. In Jammu division, there were only 246 women sarpanchs against 20,548 panchas and 2,700 sarpanchs in the State.

Dr. Bloeria said it was also decided to accord voting rights to the nominated panchs for elections to the Block Development Councils. Henceforth, the competent authority will nominate one woman from among a panel of five names prepared by the panchayats and this process has to be completed within one month. The election of chairpersons of Block Development Councils where panchayats have been constituted should be completed within two months.

Various women's groups in the State have welcomed the Government's decision on women's empowerment for which they had campaigned for long.

The Cabinet also approved a proposal for setting up two economic zones at Ompora in Budgam and Kartholi in Jammu to give a boost to the export of various handicrafts, handloom and other items produced locally. A move for laying toll roads in the State to provide better communication facilities was cleared and the Works Department asked to finalise specific proposals before seeking the Cabinet's approval.

It was also decided to include the 66,500-strong gilkar (mason) community in the list of socially and educationally backward classes. The recommendations of the First National Judicial Pay Commission (Shetty Commission) for higher pay scales to the members of the State's subordinate judiciary will be implemented and the revised pay scales paid from October 1, 2003. The arrears with effect from July 1, 1996, will be paid in a manner decided by the Government after the award of the 12th Finance Commission.

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