Haryana Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain said on Monday that the State government has decided to remove women councillors if they personally remain absent for more than three consecutive meetings of the municipalities.
“The decision has been taken to prevent the practice of proxy attendance by relatives of women councillors in the meetings of municipalities. It has been noticed that the practice has been increasing,” she said.
Ms. Jain said the State government was giving impetus to ensure increased participation of women in politics and in decision-making so as to empower them.
“At present, 42% representation in municipalities is that of women. If instead of raising their voices, they allow their relatives to do so, their political abilities would not develop and grow. Hence, the spirit of the initiative taken by the government to politically empower them would be completely lost,” she said.
She said directions pertaining to the order have been issued to all the commissioners of municipal corporations, executive officers of municipal councils and secretaries of municipal committees.