Research to be conducted to identify reasons behind resignations of WDC members

Hulhumale’ MP Ali Niyaz has revealed that the relevant parliamentary committees are jointly conducting a research to identify the reasons behind the frequent resignation of members elected to Women’s Development Committees (WDCs).

The lack of interest for WDC membership, and frequent resignation by those elected leading to an increase in by-elections have become a pertinent issue.

Fuad Thaufeeq, the president of the Elections Commission (EC), has also expressed concerns over the issue of having to hold by-elections frequently. In order to address the issue, a bill has been submitted to the parliament proposing amendments to the Local Council Elections Act in order to limit by-elections for vacancies in local councils and WDCs to once a year.

Speaking on the report formulated by the Parliament’s Decentralization Committee following their review of the bill during a convening of the Committee held on last Wednesday – MP Niyaz said that over 30 by-elections have been held over the past two years over the resignation of WDC members.

“Their complaint is that they should not be receiving a part time equivalent salary after working that hard to contest in an election of such a scale. These committee members do not receive maternity leave. Nor do they receive Ramadan allowance. This is as this is a part time post,” he had said.

MP Niyaz said that similar issues have been identified through a research being carried out jointly by the Decentralization Committee and another parliamentary committee. He added that the research would aid in finding solutions to difficulties in running WDCs.

The bill proposing amendments to the Local Council Elections Act in order to limit by-elections for vacancies in local councils and WDCs to once a year submitted by the government, sponsored by Velidhoo MP Mohamed Abdulla Shafeeq, was passed by the Parliament on last Wednesday.

The amendment states that duration between two by-elections must not be less than 300 days.