- NET Web Desk
In a bid to enhance women’s representation in the governance & decision-making processes in the northeastern state of Assam, the state government on Monday has introduced amendment bills in the assembly to allow 50% reservation of seats for women on a rotational basis for 10 years along various wards of civic bodies.
During the first day of the Winter Session of the Assam Legislative Assembly, the Housing and Urban Affairs minister Ashok Singhal introduced the bill.
The “Assam Municipal (Third Amendment) Bill, 2021” proposes that 50 per cent of the total number of seats will be reserved for women along any municipality, which will filled by direct elections.
According to the amendment proposed in the Assam Nagar Act, 1956 or Assam Municipal Act, 1956, these reservation of seats will be alloted by rotation to different constituencies in a municipality every 10 years.
“Providing women reservation for a ward for ten years will be an encouragement to women to participate in the democratic process of elections and will enable them to bring sustainability of schemes implemented by the ULBs (urban local bodies),” – stated the bill.
Besides, during the first day, the Guwahati Municipal Corporation (Amendment) Bill, 2021 was also introduced. It sought to extend tenure of women reservation for 10 years in the civic body elections.
The bill seeks to include strict penal provisions for violations committed under the Act.
As per PTI report, “several new sections to the principal Act have also been proposed in the amendment bill, including the introduction of new subjects like acquisition of modern technology, a citizen charter for efficient services for residents of the city and provision for speedy disposal of litigation related to assessment of taxes on property or refusal of trade licences.”
However, the another amendment Bill introduced by Singhal, it has been proposed that the state government can appoint the chief engineer of the Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA).
The Guwahati Metropolitan Development Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2021 seeks to extend the scope for selection of the concerned engineer.
