Bhubaneswar: Those who fight in the upcoming Panchayat elections can be faced for up to six months in prison for proposing a falitive written statement.
The state government has submitted a regulation to change the Panchayat Act where candidates must submit Affidavit related to antecedents, assets, liabilities, and educational qualifications when submitting nominations.
Ordonance – Odisha Pancayat Laws (Amandment) Ordonance, 2021- has provisions for a term that can be extended to six months, or fine or either if a candidate provides false information or hiding information in nominated paper.
With the promulgation of the ordinance, the state government has changed three Panchayat laws.
There is no criminal provision for previous false info.
Candidates fight for posts such as members of the ward, Sarpana, Samiti members, and members of Zilla Parisad.
Also, there is no criminal provision to provide false information or concealment of information relating to criminal antecedents, assets, liabilities and educational qualifications, “said Pancayati Raj Ministers Pratap Jena..
The government has taken the procedures for changing the law because the assembly is not in the session.
With the amendment, the government has included a new clause in the law regarding the preparation of disaster management plans in the village, Gram Pancayat and Pancayat Samiti (Block) and participation of Panchayati Raj Institution (PRI) members in disaster management activities.
As part of a disaster management plan, Gram Panchayats and Panchayat Samitis will integrate disaster management with a development plan, start the implementation of the capacity building of stakeholders, implement and facilitate relief activities, rehabilitation and reconstruction in the affected areas of the disaster according to the country and district plans.
“Karen A Odisha was hit by natural disasters, especially cyclones and flooding almost every year since the last decade, it is necessary to involve pri members in the management of an effective situation, “said a senior official Pancayati Raj.
Because various districts prepared a disaster management plan, the amendment to prepare a disaster management plan was made only in Pancir and Panchayat Samiti.
Without provisions in Panchayat Law, PRI is now involved in disaster management activities by executive instructions.