Jun 14, 12:28 PM| Prasar Bharathi
Assam Government is likely to increase reservation for women in local bodies to 50 per cent, up from the current 33 percent. Addressing the gathering at Panchayat Mahila Shakti Abhiyan at Guwahati Yesterday Rural Development Minister Rockybul Hussain said, the move has taken to ensure better functioning of the local bodies. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that active participation of women self -Help Groups in rural areas boost up the state’s economy.
The state has 1 lakh 70 thousand women Self Help Groups out of the total 2 lakh 50 thousand.
Emphasising the need of more women representation particularly in rural areas, Assam government has decided to increase the women reservation. Assam has considerably recorded an increase of women representation in local bodies. Official data revealed that in the last local bodies election, women candidates won 38 percent in gram panchayts, 36 percent in anchalik panchayats and 35 percent in zilla parishads.
As the next panchayat poll in the state is scheduled for early next year, government also announced that panchayat bodies with over 50 percent representation will be awarded. Last year, 6 panchayats, which are adequately represented by women, awarded for their performances.
