Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Federtion President Asha Punacha said that Act should be amended to extend the gram panchayat president and vice-presidents’ term to five years. Out of 28.1 lakh elected representatives, the percentage of women is only 36.87.
There is a need for increasing the representation of women members in the local administration, she added.
States incuding Uttarkhand, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh have already implemented 50 per cent reservation for women. Rajastan too has declared 50 per cent reservation for women which will be implemented in 2010. Kerala too has taken initiative to implement the reservation. Hence, the government should immediately implement 50 per cent reservation for women in Karnataka too before gram panchayat election.
The Federation is functioning in 87 taluks of 21 districts, she said adding that it works towards the empowerment of women representatives in gram panchayats.
Office-bearers Sujatha, Radha, Helen Linet, Susheela Hanagal, Pavithra Achaiah and Kavitha Bojamma were present.
DH News Service
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