Four months from now, the dynamics of local bodies is set to change. Half of 1.32 lakh posts in municipal corporations, municipalities, town panchayats and panchayats will be represented by women up from one-third now.
The AIADMK government has notified the law guaranteeing 50% reservation for women in all local bodies. The legislation was passed in the last assembly in February .
In an extraordinary gazette notification on May 23, the rural development and panchayat raj department secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi has further notified the amended TN Panchayats (Reservation of Seats and Rotation of Reserved Seats) Rules, introducing the enhanced quota for women, substituting the 'one-third' quota in vogue. Governor K Rosaiah gave assent to the bill on February 27. With the notification, the 50% quota will operate for the local body elections to be held in a few months.
Critics have held that the 33% reservation in existence till now is more symbolic than substantial with many of the women serving in poll positions in local bodies being proxies for their husbands and male family members. But, the quota does seem to have made women strong contenders for party tickets even in those seats not reserved for them, thus showing that the quota increase will have spinoff effects in the long term.
State election commission (SEC) data says that 51,810 women were elected representatives in 2011polls, which is 7% higher than the mandated one-third reservation. Six out of 10 mayors and 54 out of 125 municipal chairpersons are women. Women's participation is also higher in panchayat union ward members (41.97%), panchayat presidents (39.28%) and panchayat ward members (39.28%).
With just months to go for polls, the official machinery has swung into action, compiling the list of the
The AIADMK government has notified the law guaranteeing 50% reservation for women in all local bodies. The legislation was passed in the last assembly in February .
In an extraordinary gazette notification on May 23, the rural development and panchayat raj department secretary Gagandeep Singh Bedi has further notified the amended TN Panchayats (Reservation of Seats and Rotation of Reserved Seats) Rules, introducing the enhanced quota for women, substituting the 'one-third' quota in vogue. Governor K Rosaiah gave assent to the bill on February 27. With the notification, the 50% quota will operate for the local body elections to be held in a few months.
Critics have held that the 33% reservation in existence till now is more symbolic than substantial with many of the women serving in poll positions in local bodies being proxies for their husbands and male family members. But, the quota does seem to have made women strong contenders for party tickets even in those seats not reserved for them, thus showing that the quota increase will have spinoff effects in the long term.
State election commission (SEC) data says that 51,810 women were elected representatives in 2011polls, which is 7% higher than the mandated one-third reservation. Six out of 10 mayors and 54 out of 125 municipal chairpersons are women. Women's participation is also higher in panchayat union ward members (41.97%), panchayat presidents (39.28%) and panchayat ward members (39.28%).
With just months to go for polls, the official machinery has swung into action, compiling the list of the