ZP, TP Polls by Dec, No Postponement: Jagadish Shettar

From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore

Bangalore, Nov 4: The crucial elections to the local bodies in Karnataka for electing the members, presidents and vice presidents of Zilla Panchayats and Taluk Panchayats will be held by December as proposed and there was no question of postponement, declared state’s Panchayat Raj and Rural Development Minister Jagadish Shettar.
 
Addressing a news conference in Bangalore on Thursday November 4, he said polls would be held for the 997 zilla panchayat seats in 30 districts and 3,659 taluk panchayat seats in 176 taluks.

The elections to local bodies would be held in December as the term of a majority of zilla and taluk panchayats would end in the second week of January next year, he said.

The state Election Commission would soon complete the entire process for holding elections in December, he said explaining that all necessary preparations have already been started.

Unlike gram panchayat polls, which were held on non-party basis, the minister said elections to zilla and taluk panchayats would be held on political party lines.

A gazette notification has been issued for reserving 50 per cent of seats for women in all three tiers of the panchayat raj set-up.

50 % quota for women; OBC quota may be 25 % less

The Karnataka Panchayat Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2010 was passed in the last session of the state legislature to provide 50 per cent quota for women as against reservation of 33 per cent of seats for women in the previous elections.

In the ensuing elections, 498 and 1,829 seats would be reserved for women in all zilla and taluk panchayats respectively in the state.

The state Election Commission has completed the process of reserving seats for women and rotation of seats for Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other backward class (OBC) candidates in all taluk and zilla panchayats.

Following the Supreme Court’s ruling stipulating a maximum reservation of 50 per cent for SCs, STs and OBCs, the number of seats reserved for OBCs would decline by around 25 per cent, Shettar said.

For the first time, the Commission would also use electronic voting machines (EVMs) to notify election results quickly and precisely. Till now, ballot papers were used for these elections.

GPs to get enhanced grants

Meanwhile, the minister said the state government proposed to increase grants to each gram panchayats (GP) from the existing Rs 6 lakh to a minimum Rs 10 lakh a year.

The grants to GPs would be fixed on the basis of population. The minimum grants would be Rs. 10 lakh while the maximum would be Rs. 15 lakh per year to each GP, he said.

Following complaints from various GPs that the amount of Rs 6 lakh a year was insufficient to take up development works in a year, the Department had submitted proposal to the Finance Department for the approval.

Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, who also holds the Finance portfolio, would take a final decision on the matter, he said pointing out that the Third Finance Committee headed by A G Kodgi too had recommended to the state government to enhance the annual grants to GPs.

The Department has created a separate Engineering Wing for effective implementation of rural drinking water supply schemes across the state on a mission mode, he said explaining that the government spends nearly Rs. 1000 crore every year to ensure potable drinking water to villagers.

In addition to the World Bank aided project, the state government was also implementing rural drinking water supply schemes utilising the Central funds, he added.