Delimitation seems missing rural poll bus

GUWAHATI, Oct 20: Delimitation of panchayat constituencies has been underway in the State with a view to holding this panchayat poll in ‘delimited’ constituencies. However, as of things go till now, the exercise seems to be missing the rural poll bus. 

The delimitation of panchayat constituencies has been necessitated in the State as some of the gaon panchayats are too big and their sizes have cascading effects in the implementation of various schemes. A constituency with more population getting the same facilities as its counterparts with less population is an injustice, and hence there is the necessity of the delimitation exercise.         

Things, however, have not been going on as it is thought. The ground reality is altogether different. It seems that preparations for the panchayat poll in the State have outpaced the process of panchayat constituency delimitation. State Election Commission (SEC) has been working overtime to hold panchayat poll soon after the Magh Bihu in four or five phases. However, State P&RD Department that has been in the constituency delimitation exercise is lagging much behind, and if the department misses the bus this time the delimitation process will  have to be deferred for five years in the next panchayat poll. Assam has as many as 2,202 gaon panchayats and it is taking time to ascertain the number of population in each of these gaon panchayats.