(PRESS RELEASE issued by CSJP)
The Council for Social Justice and Peace (CSJP) has urged the Government of Goa
to carry out urgent reforms in the Electoral Process for the Village Panchayats
in Goa. The demand comes in the wake of wide discussions held with citizens
across Goa to ascertain if the electoral process for the Village Panchayats
were free and fair. Several lacunae in the laws governing the elections under
the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 were gathered from experiences of various
citizens in the villages.
The first reform proposed to the Government is about bringing the entire
process of Elections in the Village Panchayats under the State Election
Commission (SEC). This will include the delimitation of electoral wards,
preparation of voters’ lists and the declaration of election results. Some
proposed criteria for the delimitation of wards include the need for
geographical continuity and a balanced voter density in the wards of the
Village Panchayat. A time frame for the delimitation of electoral wards,
voters’ lists and reserved wards has been proposed which also includes
reasonable time for voters to scrutinise the same and make suggestions if any.
Other proposals are for the process for reservation of wards for SCs/ST/OBC to
be clearly spelt out and for providing for disqualification of candidates who
take support of MLAs/MPs or panels in the elections.
At present, the delimitation of electoral wards, reservation of wards for
SC/ST/OBC and preparation of voters’ lists are carried out by the Director of
Panchayats who is an administrative officer of the State Government and could
be susceptible to pressure from various political quarters.
These reforms if carried out by the State Government will go a long way in
restoring the trust of the people in the grass-root political institutions and
help curb corruption in these bodies. The Council will conduct meetings to
create awareness throughout Goa about the need for Electoral Reforms in Village
Panchayats and help the community to take steps to ensure that the forthcoming
elections to the grass-root bodies are free and fair.
