Want to Stand for Panchayat Elections in Haryana? Get a Toilet & an Education First!

As per a new ruling in Haryana, those contesting panchayat elections should have a minimum educational qualification of 10th grade. Among a few other categories, they will also be required to have a functional toilet at their homes.

In an extremely positive move by the Haryana government, it has been ruled that any person contesting panchayat elections should have a basic educational qualification and a functional toilet in his/her home. To accommodate the new rule, the Haryana government, on Tuesday, decided to amend the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.

The minimum academic qualification for contesting at all levels of panchayati raj institutions (PRI) elections, will now be 10th grade.

Women and schedule caste candidates will be given a slight benefit, considering their living conditions. The minimum requirement for them will be class eight. Apart from this, candidates with criminal charges punishable with more than 10 years of imprisonment, and cooperative loan defaulters will also be barred from contesting.

Every contestant also needs to file a self-certified statement that there is a functional toilet at his/her residence.

And contestants need to clear all their outstanding dues of rural domestic electricity connections before contesting.

This step has been taken to improve the efficiency of the Panchayat, since many elected representatives state illiteracy as an excuse for poor functioning in the village. The move will also improve leadership qualities and governance in PRI.

Hence, no excuses for poor functioning of Panchayats in Haryana anymore!

All pics: Flickr

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