Now only educated people will become Sarpanch and Councilor, educational qualification becomes mandatory here

A major change is believed to be certain in the elections of Panchayati Raj institutions and local bodies to be held in Rajasthan in the coming year. The state government has prepared a proposal to make educational qualification mandatory in the election process.

Under this, in Panchayati Raj institutions head For the post, it will be necessary to pass minimum 10th class, whereas for the post of councilor in local bodies, it will be mandatory to pass 10th and 12th class. This decision (under Panchayat Election Qualification) is being considered important towards making the administrative and democratic system more effective.

According to the proposal prepared by the Panchayati Raj and Local Bodies Department, the objective of linking education with the basic competency of public representatives is to ensure better governance in rural and urban bodies. It is noteworthy that in the year 2015, during the then Vasundhara Raje government, educational qualification was implemented for the first time in Panchayat and civic elections. At that time, it was mandatory for Sarpanch to pass eighth class and for Councilor to pass tenth class, whereas in tribal areas, the condition of fifth class was kept for Sarpanch.

Now under the proposed changes (Panchayat Election Qualification) is being made more strict. The State Election Commission will start the election process only after the amendment in the law. Autonomous Government Minister Jhabar Singh Kharra said that the proposal related to educational qualification is being finalized and a decision on it will be taken soon.

A bill to amend the Panchayati Raj Act and the Municipality Act will be introduced in the upcoming assembly session. After the implementation of the amendment, it will not be possible to contest the elections of Sarpanch, Zilla Parishad member, District Head, Councilor, Municipality Chairman and President without the prescribed educational qualification. The government believes that (Panchayat Election Qualification) will strengthen decision-making capacity, transparency and accountability in local self-governance institutions.