In a new first, the Nitish Kumar government today issued an ordinance to provide 50% reservation to women in both reserved and unreserved categories for the Panchayat elections in Bihar in April-May.The Chief Minister also kept his poll promise of providing reservation to the Extremely Backward Castes. The state cabinet okayed 20% reservation for the EBCs, 16% for the SCs and 1% for STs in the three-tier Panchayati Raj system.Stressing the need for larger representation of women in the Panchayati Raj system, Nitish Kumar said: “Women exhibit greater sincerity than men while doing their duty. This will also ensure harmony in society.’’To enforce this “historic” decision, the state cabinet repealed the Panchayati Raj Ordinance 1993 while issuing the Panchayati Raj Ordinance 2006. Elections to Panchayat and other local bodies are scheduled to be held in April-May this year.
