Minister for Panchayat Raj JC Diwakar Reddy said on Saturday that elections to local bodies would be held in June or July 2006. He was participating in the Zilla Parishad general body meeting and ruled out early elections.
He said that the Government was contemplating introducing minimum educational qualifications for contesting candidates he said BCs and those from OC section should have passed SSC. Similarly, SCs and STs should have passed a minimum of fifth or seventh class.The minister said that they would increase the pension for old age, widow and disable persons from the existing Rs.75 per month to Rs.125 per month from 1st April 2006.
The Government had decided to allocate a budget of Rs.10,000 crores during the ensuring budget for completion of pending irrigation projects.