87,459 posts reserved for women

For upcoming panchayat polls

Raipur, January 23, 2010

About 87,459 women will contest for the upcoming three-phased panchayat elections to be held on January 28, 31 and February 3. The number of female contestants in these polls increased after the government raised their reservation quota from 33 percent to 50 percent. In last panchayat polls during 2004-05, according to the 33 percent reservation, 54,097 women had tried their luck.

With an objective to consolidate panchayatiraj system and to provide equal opportunity to the people of all categories, the government had raised the women reservation slab under Chhattisgarh Panchayatraj Amendment Act 2008. For this, the government had proposed an amendment bill in Vidah Sabha.

According to officials of Panchayat department, there are 1,58,619 posts of panch, sarpanch, janpad member and district panchayat members. In the upcoming panchayat polls, about 33,363 more women contestants will be in fray.

There are 1,45,791 posts of panch in 20,112 gram panchayats of the state for which 80,829 posts will be reserved for women. Similarly, of the total 9724 sarpanch posts, 4938 will be meant for females. While, 1512 posts will be reserved for women among the total 2783 janpad panchayat posts. Likewise, the voters will cast their vote for 180 women contestants of the total 321 posts of district panchayat members.