A cabinet meeting on Thursday presided over by PM Manmohan Singh made and cleared a change in a constitution amendment bill to enhance the representation of SC/ST women in village panchayats. The change makes the reservation of such bodies from 33% to 50%.

The change entitles SC/ST women to be represented in proportion to their population in rural areas and such number could be higher than their proportion in the urban areas.

I & B (Information and Broadcasting Minister) Ambika Soni said that such a provision would apply to the total number of seats filled up by direct election, offices of chairpersons and seats and offices of chairpersons reserved for SCs and STs. The bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha in June 2010 and seeks to raise reservation for women in panchayats from one third to at least 50% at all tiers. The Parliamentary Standing panel on rural development in its report to the Lok Sabha on July 28 last year had suggested the amendment

REPORT BY BIKRAM SINGH RANA