The Hindu  27.09.2010

50 p.c. quota for women in municipal polls: Anam

BHEEMUNIPATNAM: The State government has decided to positively implement 50 per cent reservation for women in the Council seats during coming the municipal elections, Municipal Administration and Urban Development Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy said. Making this announcement during the celebrations to mark Bhimili Municipality's completion of 150 years here on Sunday, the Minister said that Chief Minister K.Rosaiah was determined to implement this provision by amending the law as early as possible and provide equal opportunities to women in the municipal elections whenever they were announced.

Reiterating the State government's determination to make Andhra Pradesh a slumless State by 2014, he promised to take all possible measures to ensure that 7,450 slums in the State got developed with all basic amenities.

The Chief Minister, who was supposed to be the chief guest, could not make it as he was indisposed for the past two days and deputed four Ministers to attend the function. The term of the Municipal Council comes to an end within a few days. Demand for a fishing harbour and reopening of the Chittivalasa Jute Mills, where 6,000 employees were laid off were the key demands made by Bheemunipatnam MLA M. Srinivasa Rao during his address.