CM defends single post reservation in Panchayatiraj

Patna, Mar. 3 (UNI) Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar today defended the reservation of single post provided by the state government in the Panchayati Raj system.

Replying to the debate on thanks giving motion in the legislative council to the governor's address to the joint session of the state legislature, Mr. Kumar justified the reservation of single posts in the Panchayati Raj adding it was constitutional and within the ambit of law.

Mr Kumar said that provision had been made for granting reservation to members of the scheduled castes and the scheduled tribes according to their population ratio including to the post of chairperson.

Advoctaing reservation for the single post in the Panchayati Raj, he observed that individualistic considerations should be set aside for the welfare and prosperity of the society.

He said 50 per cent seats in the Panchayati Raj had been allotted to the women in all categories but the reservation was for only 37 per cent in the Panchayati Raj system. He said 20 per cent reservation had been provided to extremely backward classes, while 16 per cent and one per cent seats were reserved for scheduled castes and scheduled tribes respectively.

Emphasising on properly utilising the water resources, Mr Kumar said the state government was seriously contemplating to launch the ambitious project to interlink different rivers of the state but views of the experts, people's representatives and others intellectuals would be taken into consideration before moving in this direction.

He announced that a meeting of experts and people's representatives and other intellectuals would be held next month on the issue of interlinking of rivers.

Mr Kumar reiterated that persons found guilty in engineering the Bhagalapur riots and those officer resposible for the acquital of the accused would not be spared.He said that a judicial Commission would enquire into the all these aspects and action would be taken on the basis of the said commission.

He said a demand from union government was made by the state government to declare the package on the pattern of 1984 riots victims after the assassination of the then Prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi.

He said land would be acquired if necessary for the construction of the roads while connecting the villages with population of 500.

Mr Kumar said the state government had implemented its own Employment Guarantee Scheme (EGS) in 15 districts which were not covered under the similar schemes sponsored by the Central government.

Sharing concern with issue of unaided education policy raised by members, Mr Kumar said the state government was seriously mulling to find a solution to this problem which would be beneficial to the teachers and students. He said attempts were on to bring the teacher student ratio to 1:40.

UNI/XC/DH SJC DB1919