Questions to CSJP:
1. Why is there no talk of the much needed 'amendment to the Panchayat Raj
Act vis a vis the disqualification of the Sarpanch for any/all
illegality/irregularity?
This is the single most needed amendment if the Panchayat Raj Act has
to work for the people.
2. Could CSJP come clear on " disqualification of candidates who take
support of MLAs/MPs or panels in the elections"?
It is agreed that the above must be enforced if the said 'panel/s' are
promoted by MLAs/MPs, but the word 'their' is missing in the last part of
the above quote.
What happens if the civil society /citizens of the village/city constitute
'panel/s' with their own pro-village/city manifesto to go with it? I am
vigorously promiting civil society panel/s for Municipal and Panchayat
Elections to neutralize the clout of MLAs/MPs and their anti-development
panels.
Cheers
floriano
GEAG/GSRP/GRA
9890470896
.
----- Original Message -----
From: <so...@bsnl.in>
To: <goa...@goanet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, October 05, 2011 11:22 AM
Subject: [Goanet] CSJP calls for reforms in Panchayat election process
(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.
