Downplaying speculation that villagers would be deprived of choosing their public representatives due to fixation of minimum educational qualification to contest panchayat elections, Haryana Rural Development and Panchayat Minister Om Parkash Dhankar on Friday said no village will remain without a panchayat.
Replying to a query on the assumption that a large number of outgoing panchayat members will be barred to re-contest due to the educational bar. Dhankar said that the Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Act, 2015 was moved to bring better qualified people into the rural administrative frame work. Admitting that a number of outgoing members are expected to be left out of the contest this time, he said the move would definitely augment the rural structure with young energy.
He said the speculations were being based on the educational qualification of the existing number of panchayat members. We are hopeful that the decision would provide an opportunity to the youth of the state to be exposed to the democratic system.
Rejecting media reports that in district like Mewat, it is unlikely to get sufficient number of contestants possessing the required educational qualification, Dhankar said that such a situation is unlikely. He said that picture will be clear by this month end when the nomination process for the first phase of Panchayat elections get over.
Assuring of setting the democratic set up in each village, Dhankar said that if such a situation arises where suitable and required number of Panchayat members are not found available, then government would definitely look for other options.
Haryana State Assembly in September, 2015 had passed the Bill fixing the minimum educational qualification for panchayat elections. Upholding the validity of the amendments brought by the Haryana in the Panchayati Raj Act, Supreme Court had asserted that other states should follow suit.