50% reservation to women in Panchayat Raj institutions in AP

Honouring its promise,the Andhra Pradesh government has amended some rules in the Panchayat Raj Act providing 50 per cent reservation for women in Panchayat Raj institutions.

As per the amendments in the AP Panchayat Raj (Reservation of seats and offices of Gram Panchayats,Mandal Parishads and Zilla Parishads) Rules,2006,half the seats in these institutions would henceforth be earmarked for women.

Previously,women had a one-third quota in these institutions. The enhancement of quota for women comes ahead of the elections to panchayat raj institutions,due in August this year.

However,the state government is not yet ready to conduct the elections though the five-year term comes to an end in August.