Warangal: Women get leverage with amendments to Panchayat Raj Act

Warangal: The policy changes and amendments in the Panchayat Raj Act along with the division of Karimnagar zilla parishad has come as a boon for women. This has helped in reserving two of the four ZP chairperson posts in the four new districts, which were carved out of erstwhile Karimnagar district.

According to the new Panchayat Raj Act, the reservations will last for a period of 10 years. The government believes that this will enable the administration to function smoothly and take up development programmes on a large scale.

The Karimnagar zilla parishad was first formed in 1953. Juvvadi Chokka Rao was the first chairperson of erstwhile Karimnagar district. Later Srinivas Rao, Kishan Rao, Hanumantha Rao, Kethiri Sai Reddy, Suddala Devaiah, Rajesham Goud, K.V.  Rajeshwar Rao, Arepalli Mohan, Adluri Laxman Kumar and Tula Uma held the office of chairperson in the erstwhile Karimnagar district.

Among them, Tula Uma was the only woman candidate who headed the Karimnagar zilla parishad. There have been 58 ZPTC members, 650 MPTC members and four zilla parishad chairpersons in the erstwhile Karimnagar district. Of the four zilla parishad chairperson posts one each is reserved for SC women and BC women. The other two are for BC general.

The Karimnagar zilla parishad chairperson seat which was reserved for General women in the past, is now reserved for SC women. As per the 2011 census population, the ZP chairperson post of Rajanna Siricilla district is reserved for BC (women), in Jagityal and Peddapalli districts, the  zilla parishad chairperson post is reserved for BC general.

There are 15 mandals in the Karimnagar, 12 in Rajanna Siricilla, 18 in Jagityal and 13 in Peddapalli districts. The tenure of the Karimnagar ZP chairperson will end on June 4. Keeping this in view, the Election Commission is gearing up for conducting parishad elections.

Officials are making all the necessary arrangements under the supervision of the chief executive officers for setting up new zilla parishads in the newly formed Rajanna Siricilla, Jagityal and Peddapalli districts.

Tula Uma, the chairperson of the Karimnagar zilla parishad told this newspaper that it gives her immense pleasure to be called the first women chairperson of the Karimnagar zilla parishad.

She also said that 50 per cent of reservation for women in parishads is a great opportunity for women candidates.  

“In the recently held sarpanch elections, a majority of sarpanches, upa-sarpanches and ward member seats were won by women. With this it is clear that women will outnumber men as chairpersons’ in erstwhile Karimnagar district enabling women to take a lead in politics,” she added. Ms Tual said that if women work with commitment and determination, they will be able to bring about drastic changes in terms of development in the villages.