Jammu: In a landmark step, the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly today (Dec 17, 2003) amended the Panchayati Raj Act and paved the way for 33 percent reservation to women in panchayats.

With this, the State has joined few other States in the country to move towards emancipation of women and their active role in decision-making right from the grassroot level.

The Assembly passed by a voice vote a Bill introduced by Minister for Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, Peerzada Mohammad Sayeed, seeking amendments in the Jammu and Kashmir Panchayati Raj Act, 1989.

Justifying the proposed amendments in the Act, he said that besides empowering women, these would further strengthen the panchayats as grassroots Democratic institutions apart from ensuring timely elections to the remaining panchayats.

PTI