The Tamil Nadu government has proposed amendments to two important laws—the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act, 1998 and the Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act, 1994. These changes aim to allow the differently abled to take part in local governance without the need to run for elections.
Key Highlights of the Proposed Amendment
On Wednesday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M. K. Stalin presented the Bills to the Assembly. He emphasized that the amendments would guarantee proper representation for persons with disabilities. This change ensures they have a voice in local governance.
“The proposed amendments will provide equal opportunities and privileges to persons with disabilities,” said Chief Minister Stalin.
A Step Towards Social Justice
The amendments follow the Chief Minister’s earlier commitment to nominate persons with disabilities in all local bodies across the state. This initiative aims to empower the differently abled and ensure their inclusion in local administration.
This move represents a step towards social justice, offering equal rights to all citizens, including those with disabilities.
Nomination Process and Representation
The government will nominate persons with disabilities to various local bodies such as town panchayats, municipal councils, and municipal corporations. Under the amendment:
- One person with a disability will be nominated to the municipal corporation.
- Two people will be nominated to councils with more than 100 members.
The term for the nominated members will be the same as the panchayat’s term.
Impact on Local Governance
Currently, 35 members are elected in urban local bodies. With these changes, 650 differently abled individuals will be nominated in urban local bodies, 12,913 in gram panchayats, 388 in panchayat unions, and 37 in district panchayats.
Conclusion
The proposed amendments to the Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Act and Tamil Nadu Panchayats Act are a significant step toward making local governance more inclusive. By nominating persons with disabilities, Tamil Nadu is moving closer to equitable governance for all citizens.
