04-20-2010, 07:56 PM
Quote:UP Govt to end caste-based system in panchayat polls
pioneer.com
Pioneer News Service | Lucknow
In a significant decision, the UP government has decided to introduce rotational system of reservation in the forthcoming panchayat elections drawing the curtains on caste-based reservation in gram panchayats.
The state Cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Mayawati, which met here on Tuesday, gave a go ahead to the rotational system of reservation suggesting it would help in "infusing a new life" in panchayats. The rotational system of reservation would also be implemented in the ward elections.
A government spokesman said that in the 2005 elections, the gram panchayats were reserved on the basis of castes thereby meaning the gram sabha, which had a dominance of Dalit population, was reserved for Scheduled Castes (SCs). Similar was the case with Backward Caste panchayats. The rest were general constituencies or panchayats.
"This would have meant that Dalit-dominated villages would continue to be SC constituencies. Likewise, there would be backward constituencies and general constituencies. The government believed that the development would lack fresh ideas and, therefore, has now decided to introduce a rotational system," the spokesman said.
Under this system, the gram panchayat that were in the SC category in the 2005 elections can become backward or general constituency in the 2010 elections. It will be ensured that the reservation is not repeated in that constituency.
The government has also decided to amend the Uttar Pradesh Panchayati Raj (Place and Post Reservation) Act, 1994. In 1995, panchayat polls were held under the rotational system but it was changed to caste-based reservation in 2000 and continued till the 2005 elections.
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