Union Minister Meneka Gandhi said that she will write to all chief ministers of the states to make it mandatory for all the village heads to have minimum educational qualification.
In 2015, Panchayati Raj laws were amended by the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan under which the government stated minimum educational qualification required to contest the panchayat elections.
"All state governments must implement what Rajasthan government has done," Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi said in response to a suggestion from a woman sarpanch at an event.
She further said that her ministry will write to all the state governments regarding the issue.
"Rajasthan had done a really good thing. There was a lot of protest against it initially, but I think it is a very good decision. I think it should be adopted all over. It will give women some incentive to study," the minister said.
State legislative Assembly of Rajasthan passed its amendment (Panchayati Raj) in 2015 under which it is required by a person to have studied till class 10 is he/she is contesting Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti polls and till class 8 for the post of sarpanch.
The Haryana Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2015 fixed class 10 as the minimum essential qualification for the candidates for contesting the panchayati elections, while the qualification for the women and scheduled caste candidates was Class 8.
Candidates from both the states are also required to construct toilets in their homes compulsorily.
Tags: Maneka Gandhi
Qualification For Becoming Village Chief
Panchayati Raj Ammendment
