The Minister of Panchayati Raj held a meeting with
Ministers In-charge of Panchayats and Municipalities of the States,
State Election Commissioners (SECs) and Secretaries of concerned
departments. The meeting was organized by the Ministry of
Panchayati Raj to share experiences on various aspects of the
recommendations of the Task Force constituted by the Ministry to look at
the issues of strengthening the institution of the State Election
Commission and electoral reform. Almost all Sates were represented in
the meeting. Addressing the meeting, the Minister said that the State
Government must value the importance of Local Self Governments. He
informed that the Panchayat Sashktikaran Abhiyan for the 12th Five Year
Plan is under the formulation in the Ministry and this has been approved
in principle by the Planning Commission. He said that the Ministry is
working out the guidelines to support the State Election Commissions as
recommended by the Task Force. He expressed the hope that it would be
approved during 2012-13. He further said that such assistance will be
available only to the duly constituted and empowered State Election
Commissions, as recommended by the Task Force.
During the meeting, the issues discussed related to proper status of SECs, reasonable autonomy to them, availability of sufficient financial powers, funds and manpower to SECs, vesting of powers of Civil Courts on State Election Commissioners, on-line voting, curbing of the practice of paid news carried by print and electronic media etc. There was almost unanimous endorsement of the suggestions and steps to be taken as recommended by the Task Force and the Standing Committee on the SECs for making SCE a sufficiently robust institution to enable it to perform its functions in a more pointed, effective and meaningful manner. The Ministry, on its part, impressed upon the representatives from States to vigorously pursue these suggestions and recommendations to realize the true value and importance of Local Self Governments. The most important action required on the part of the States was identified as the amendment of the respective State Laws/Rules to strengthen the institution of State Election Commission so that the intention of democratic governance at grass-root level enshrined in the Constitution is fully met in its true and effective essence.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj constituted a Task Force in March 2011 primarily to look at the issues of strengthening the institution of the State Election Commission and electoral reform. The Task Force submitted its report in October 2011 to the ministry and this was shared with the Standing Committee of the State Election Commissioners, who gave their comments in December 2011. The report of the Task Force was accepted subject to the modifications proposed by the Standing Committee. This was also discussed in the conference of the State Election Commissioners held in Kolkata in the first week of January 2012. There had been broad unanimity about the recommendations.
During the meeting, the issues discussed related to proper status of SECs, reasonable autonomy to them, availability of sufficient financial powers, funds and manpower to SECs, vesting of powers of Civil Courts on State Election Commissioners, on-line voting, curbing of the practice of paid news carried by print and electronic media etc. There was almost unanimous endorsement of the suggestions and steps to be taken as recommended by the Task Force and the Standing Committee on the SECs for making SCE a sufficiently robust institution to enable it to perform its functions in a more pointed, effective and meaningful manner. The Ministry, on its part, impressed upon the representatives from States to vigorously pursue these suggestions and recommendations to realize the true value and importance of Local Self Governments. The most important action required on the part of the States was identified as the amendment of the respective State Laws/Rules to strengthen the institution of State Election Commission so that the intention of democratic governance at grass-root level enshrined in the Constitution is fully met in its true and effective essence.
The Ministry of Panchayati Raj constituted a Task Force in March 2011 primarily to look at the issues of strengthening the institution of the State Election Commission and electoral reform. The Task Force submitted its report in October 2011 to the ministry and this was shared with the Standing Committee of the State Election Commissioners, who gave their comments in December 2011. The report of the Task Force was accepted subject to the modifications proposed by the Standing Committee. This was also discussed in the conference of the State Election Commissioners held in Kolkata in the first week of January 2012. There had been broad unanimity about the recommendations.
