The pilot project is started in nine panchayats in Mankada block in Malappuram district.  This project is likely to be carried on to every district of the state with the help of local bodies.

There are proposals of starting insurance schemes as well as other welfare schemes for the NRKs. Government is also looking at different methods to curb the anti-socials involved in human trade associated with NRKs.

The state-run Keltron had been entrusted with the task of preparing the cards, he added.

But the local residents of the respective areas are showing enthusiasm in election work, the political workers in the local area are also start working and the political and local leaders are showing their aspirations to participate in the local polls.

EC explained that they are advancing as declared in the road map and the local election in no way will be a hindrance to the general election to be held in December, 2008. Caretaker Government s is saying that strengthening the local bodies is one of the ways to strengthen the democracy in our country. So far the political governments didn’t take any step in this regard. The parties were committed to decentralize power to the local bodies but they didn’t do that.

Some are raising the objection saying that the constitution does not give the Caretaker Government the power to hold the local body elections. But the government is saying it is in obligation to hold the election as it is due. Dr. Kamal Hussain, constitutional expert said that there is no bar in the constitution to hold the local body elections mow.
Citizens groups are also in favour of holding the local body elections as Professor Mujaffar Ahmed, Chainman of Sujan (Citizens for Good Governance) said the political governments failed to do what was expected in relation local governments in the last 15 years.

Delwar Hussain of BNP said that they will resist the local election throughout the country. Major Hafiz, the leader of the other faction of BNP said that they are not against the municipal elections but he is against the city corporation election. Khaleda Zia, while coming to court appearance for her cases, said to the journalists that this government has no constitutional right to hold any local body election. Lately, they said that if the emergency is withdrawn, they will think of participating in the local body elections.

AL is swinging its stand with time. After release of Hasina, they said they are going to participate in the local election, but when the election date was formally declared Zillur Rahman, acting party president said that local body election is a joke and this government has no right to hold the local body elections. Now, they are again thinking to allow the workers and leaders to work in the local elections.
Small parties are in favour of holding local election-JP, PDP, IOJ etc.
But Jammat-e- Islami Secretary General Ali Ahsan Mujahid said in a blunt reference that little tactics will be required to prevent the local body elections.
And somebody was saying that the local body elections will bring back the country to the state of before 1/11.

But people are showing progressive enthusiasm in preparatory activities of the local body elections. They are eager to hold the opportunity to be more empowered and to participate in the development of the local area more directly.

The ordinary citizens hope that the political leaders in the center will gradually feel the need to support the local government elections or they will remain at odds with the local people that may also affect the relation of the political parties and local people also in the coming general election.

An ordinary citizen

Post script:

Executive Committee of AL opined that local government elections can't be obstructed[PA]

Sreelatha Menon / New Delhi May 18, 2008, 2:24 IST

A Planning Commission report points at lack of empowerment of local communities as the main reason for the fast spread of the Naxal movement.

The UPA government will be known for many achievements, notably the National Rural Employment Guarantee Act, the Right to Information Act, and if all goes well, the Women's Reservation Act as well.
But the finest may yet come if the recommendations of an expert group of the Planning Commission on development challenges in extremist-affected areas are translated into action.
The report is honest and harsh about the mistakes governments have made over the last 60 years that have led to Naxalism thriving in so many districts of the country. It asks governments to undo the damage and do everything, including talking to Naxalites, "to rectify a historic wrong.''
The report says lack of empowerment of panchayats is one of the key causes for lack of development in rural areas with the Provision for Extension of Panchayat Act (PESA) only partially implemented in tribal areas.
It raises the issue of states' unwillingness to part with their power and functions to share them with panchayats. The fact that the writ of the state does not run in as many as 125 districts in extremism-affected areas makes it clear that the state bureaucracy has abjectly failed in delivering good governance in these areas. Hence, empowerment of panchayats would practically be the only way for effective governance of these areas.
It also looks at the huge underbelly of deprivation below the crest of 9 per cent growth rate. Even the government's attempt to bridge this has resulted in more divides.
"We have two worlds of education, two worlds of health, two worlds of transport and two worlds of housing..,''it says.
It also points at the many conflicts that are going on in mining zones even as new steel companies are exploring ground to do business without any intention of including communities as stakeholders.
It says "even those who know very little about the Naxalite movement know that its central slogan has been ‘land to the tiller' and that attempts to put the poor in possession of land have defined much of their activity."
In this context, the report questions the wisdom of having special economic zones (SEZs), saying "the notion of an SEZ, irrespective of whether it is established on multi-cropped land or not, is an assault on livelihood''. It again points at intrusion into the vital life vein of tribal and rural communities viz their common property resources, which contribute significantly to the rural economy and provide sustenance to local communities in rural areas.
It says privatisation is carried out through extension of the boundaries of private farms, forcible grabbing, and distributive policies of the government, and hints that all these are making it a cakewalk for Naxalites.
Nandini Sundar, a teacher and scholar who has written vastly on Naxal issues, says it is one of the finest reports and looks at the matter exactly as it should. She welcomes the suggestion that the government should talk to Naxalites. If it can succeed in Nepal, why not with the Maoists in India, she asks.

  वाराणसी के 'कैंटोन्मेन्ट बोर्ड' तथा 'मुगलसराय रेलवे सेटेलमेंट एरिया' के स्वतंत्र स्थानीय निकाय हैं जिनका नियमित चुनाव होता है.संविधान की केन्द्रीय अनुसूची का एक विषय ' काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय ' भी वाराणसी में स्थित है.विश्वविद्यालय की स्वतंत्र टाउन एरिया कमिटी और नोटीफाईड एरिया कमिटी रही है जिसके द्वारा परिसर में सफाई का काम किया जाता है और जन्म मृत्यु प्रमाणपत्र दिया जाता था.इस कमिटी का चुनाव विश्वविद्यालय प्रशासन द्वारा नहीं कराया जाता .परिसरवासियों के स्थानीय निकायों में अधिकार का प्रश्न उठाए जाने के बाद गत तीन चुनावों से परिसर की कालोनियों को वाराणसी नगर निगम के तीन वार्डों से जोड दिया गया है.परिसर के अन्तेवासी अथवा विश्वविद्यालय प्रशासन नगर निगम की की गृह कर अथवा जल कर की मद में एक पैसा टैक्स नहीं देते इसके बावजूद इन्हे नगर निगम से इस इसलिए जोड दिया गया है तकि नोटिफाईड एरिया कमिटी का चुनाव न कराना पडे.वारा्णसी जिले की जनगणना रपट में भी शहरी क्षेत्र,ग्रामीण क्षेत्र और काशी हिन्दू विश्वविद्यालय नोटीफाईड एरिया कमिटी अलग अलग प्रविष्टि के रूप में दिए जाते रहे हैं. गत दस वर्षों से छात्रसंघ , अध्यापक संघ और कर्मचारी संघ के चुनाव न कराने वाला विश्वविद्यालय प्रशासन लाजमी तौर पर नोटीफाईड एरिया कमिटी के चुनाव कराने से बचना चाहता है.

शहरी आबादी की तेज वृद्धी के साथ साथ एक ओर जहां हजारों करोड रुपए की  'शहरी पुनर्निर्माण योजनाएं' नगर निगमों में कालोनाईजरों , बिल्डरों, ठेकेदारों और भ्रष्ट अदिकारियों के गठजोड को फलने - फूलने का अवसर देंगी वहीं शहरी जीवन में अपने छोटे छोटे योगदान देने वाले कारीगरों , बुनकरों , पटरी व्यवसाइयों ,फेरीवालों,रिक्षेवालों जैसे सभ्यता के हाशिए पर मौजूद तबकों पर विस्थापन का दबाव बढ जाएगा.गौरतलब है कि उत्तर प्रदेश में हुए स्थानीय निकाय के चुनाव में मुख्यधारा के दलों ने इसे चुनावी मुद्दा न बनाना ही श्रेयस्कर समझा.

                                                - अफ़लातून.

वाराणसी नगर निगम द्वारा गंगा की सफाई की बाबत सर्वसम्मति से पारित दो प्रस्तावों को आधार मान कर उच्चतम न्यालय ने केन्द्र सरकार के 'गंगा एक्शन प्लैन' पर स्थगन आदेश दिया है.