Other States - Uttaranchal   

50 per cent quota for women in panchayats

Dehra Dun: The BJP Government in Uttarakhand plans to bring in a law that provides 50 per cent reservation for women in panchayats.

A formal announcement to this effect is likely to be made in the current budget session of the Vidhan Sabha, official sources said here on Thursday.

“We are going to reserve 50 per cent seats for women under the Panchayati Raj system,” a top official said.

But the official refused to divulge more information over the issue saying a detail statement would be made in the house shortly. “We have almost finalised everything regarding this,” he said.

Women are having 33 per cent reservation in the Panchayati Raj system under the 73rd amendment. However, it was not yet known whether the government would bring similar kind of reservation in urban bodies too.

Women have played a big role in the Statehood agitation of 1990s that saw the birth of new State of Uttarakhand on Nov 9, 2000.

Besides, various social groups have been exerting pressure on the government for 50 per cent reservation for women.

“We feel it is a big victory for women in Uttarakhand,” said Avdhash Kaushal, Chairperson of RLEK, a Dehra Dun-based NGO working for the women empowerment in the country.

Significantly, BJP recently made provision for 33 per cent reservation for women in the party’s structure. -- PTI

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50 per cent quota for women in panchayats

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