In what could be a catalyst for women empowerment in Haryana, for the first time ever as many as 333 girls have been elected to various posts in the Panchayati Raj institutions in Haryana.
Haryana Development and Panchayats Minister OP Dhankar on Thursday said that 333 unmarried girls have been elected in the three phased panchayat polls in the State.
It is for the first time that a large number of girls have been elected to various posts in the panchayati raj institutions in Haryana, said the Minister while addressing a press conference here.
Overall, over 40 per cent of women candidates have been elected to various posts in the recently concluded panchayat polls.
The Development and Panchayat Minister said 41 per cent of women candidates were elected to the post of Sarpanch, 42 per cent to Member Panchayat Samiti and 43 per cent to Member Zila Parishad.
As the amendments in the Haryana Panchayat Act, 1994, barred the uneducated people to contest the polls, a large number of educated youth were elected this time.
According to the State Election Commission, the average age of those elected as Sarpanch is 34 years in the third phase. In the second phase of PRIs elections held on January17, the average age of elected sarpanches was 37 years while it was 34 years in the first phase held on January 10.
As per the new Panchayati Act, general-category candidates for panchayat polls were required to have a minimum qualification of completing class 10. Scheduled caste and women aspirants were required to clear class 8 while women from the SC category were eligible only if they have passed V class.
Apart from mandatory educational qualifications for the candidates, the Act made it mandatory that poll candidates have a functional toilet at home. Anyone found defaulting in payment of agricultural loan and electricity bills were also disqualified from contesting the poll.
The swearing-in ceremony of newly-elected members of panchayati raj institutions would be organised on February 12, 15, 16 and 17. All panchayats would formally begin their functioning from February 21.
Dhankar said that State level function for members of Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samitis would be organised in Karnal on February 12 and Chief Minister Manohar lal would be the chief guest in this function. Also, oath would be administered to all Sarpanches in Rohtak on February 15 in the presence of Chief Minister.
The oath ceremony of Panches would be organised at divisional level on February 16 and 17. The swearing-in ceremony of Panches of gram panchayats of districts in Rohtak and Gurgaon division would be organised in Jhajjar on February 16
The oath taking ceremony of Panches of districts in Hisar and Ambala division would be organised in Jind on February 17.
The Minister added that Members of Parliament, Ministers, Chief Parliamentary Secretaries and MlAs of the respective areas would be present in the oath taking ceremonies.