Women sarpanches seek reforms in panchayat poll process

JAIPUR: Ahead of the panchayat polls, women sarpanches have demanded reforms such as giving election symbols 10 days ahead of polling, counting of votes be done at the block level and adequate time to candidates for campaigning.

The women sarpanches put up their demands to the state election commission and panchayati raj department officials at an interaction programme with officials Around 25 women sarpanches from Rajsamand, Udaipur, Sirohi, Jaipur and Tonk districts took part in the programme that was organised by the Hunger Project. The women also shared their experiences and works undertaken by them.

The women gave a memo to assistant secretary, state election commission Uttam Singh Maderna seeking reforms in the election process such as polling booths in each village, holding polling on the same day at all three levels of panchayati raj, setting up a helpline to give information regarding elections.

Sarpanch Rukmini Jatia said “During the election, the filing of nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal of names and allotment of election symbols is all done in one day and the polling begins from 7 am the next day. We want that candidates should get proper time to campaign.”

Addressing the gathering, former bureaucrat Rajendra Bhanawat said the elected women representatives should not shy away from demanding their rights. “You have been elected by the people. They are your real strength. The works that you take up for the panchayat should be for the welfare of the people and with their concurrence.”

Bhanawat said polling should be held at village level instead of panchayat because otherwise people have to travel long distances to vote. The counting should be held at the block level to avoid tension and violence, he said.

He said women candidates should not be barred for having more than two children. “Many times the decision on having children is not in the hands of women.

Virendra Shrimali, Programme Officer of The Hunger Project, said another issue is of the funds given by the state finance commission and the centre. “Instead of having guidelines on how the funds should be spent, we want that the funds should be untied and panchayats decide how to spend the money according to their needs.”

You (woman sarpanches) have been elected by the people. They are your real strength. The works that you take up for the panchayat should be for the welfare of the people and with their concurrence

RAJENDRA BHANAWAT , former bureaucrat