A proposal to amend the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act 1993 to provide 50 pc reservation for women in the three-tier panchayat system - Gram Panchayats, Taluk Panchayats and Zilla Panchayats, is likely to be placed before the State Cabinet for approval, sources told Deccan Herald.
If implemented, then the taluk and zilla panchayat elections scheduled to be held in November-December this year will witness 50 per cent of the seats across all categories - SCs, STs, BC(A) and BC (B) being earmarked for women.
Electronic voting
The enhanced reservation for women in Gram Panchayat can be implemented only during the next term in 2015 as the process of conducting elections to more than 5,700 GPs just concluded this week. The State government also proposes to make use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) in future panchayat elections. Another amendment allows recruitment of panchayat development officers (PDO).The amendments to the Karnataka Panchayat Raj Act will first have to be passed by both Houses of the Legislature and later get the assent of the Governor. Saturday’s Cabinet meeting will also finalise the dates for the monsoon session of Legislature (likely to start from June 24), rename Ashraya housing scheme in urban areas as “Vajpayee City Housing Scheme”, besides give its approval for constitution of the “Mango Development Board.” The Cabinet is likely to set up a sub-committee to decide the types of incentives to be offered for mega industrialists who are interested in investing in the State during the Global Investors Meet in June.
It may give its nod for withdrawing cases against farmers of Haveri, Hubli-Dharwad, Davangere, Mandya, Hassan, Tumkur and Mysore who were protesting against the shortage of fertilisers. The meeting may issue guidelines for taking up development projects under the Swiss challenge mode.
Flats in Kumara Krupa
The State Cabinet is likely to consider giving permission to construct muti-storeyed housing units for VVIPs and ‘D’ group employees in the premises of Kumara Krupa government guest house in Bangalore.
At its Saturday meeting, it may give its consent for demolishing the Cauvery government guest house on Palace Road to allow a multi-storeyed building.
The Saturday meeting may also discuss the ways of developing Lalbagh and Cubbon Park through BDA, official sources said.
