PANJIM: The Goa State Election Commission (SEC) has finally notified the ward delimitation of 186 village panchayats, which are due for elections in June.
In a notification issued, the SEC stated that for dividing a panchayat area into wards, factors such as population or the number of voters of each ward, geographical contiguity and natural boundaries, distance to polling booth (within 2 kms) have been considered.
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Also, while dividing panchayat area into wards, it was ensure that the members of a single household are in the same ward.
The SEC had received total of 913 public suggestions for corrections to the draft delimitation proposal. Of these, 650 were received in North Goa and 263 in South. The maximum number of suggestions had come from Bardez Taluka that is around 399 followed by 127 from Tiswadi.
“The Electoral Registrar Officers (EROs) prepared the final draft delimitation proposals for village panchayat wards after considering the observations raised by the Commission and suggestions or modifications received from the general public,” the SEC said adding that the proposal were approved by the government on April 25.
The State government has tentatively proposed to hold elections on June 4. However, due to delayed notification on delimitation and pending finalisation of reservation of seats, the elections are likely to be held around June 15.
The new body in 186 panchayats, comprising of 1,450 wards, has to be in place before June 19, when the term of existing body stands expired. The elections to remaining five panchayats, are due in 2024.
Meanwhile, the SEC has started the process of reserving the seats, which is being done based on the composition of population — General, Scheduled Tribes, Schedule Castes and Other Backward Classes.
“The Commission shall reserve the seats in village panchayats for Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST) and Other Backward Classes (OBC) considering the provisions of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, 1994 and Rules and directions issued by the Supreme Court of India from time to time,” the SEC said adding that the notification in this regard shall be issued separately.
