Ranchi, July 25: Apprehending that the announcement of the dates for panchayat elections could trigger a widespread social unrest, the Jharkhand government is now contemplating to bring about an ordinance for providing reservation for women and members of the Scheduled Castes in the non-scheduled areas of the state.

The move comes following a suggestion to the chief minister by the rural development department in this connection.

Highly placed sources in the government told The Telegraph today that Munda has referred the matter to the law department, at present, to seek legal opinion before a formal ordinance is drafted and sent to Governor Syed Sibtey Razi for approval.

Sources admitted that holding the panchayat elections under the circumstances, with bodies of the sadans (original settlers), the kurmis and different other castes and sub-caste groups rising up in arms against the provisions of the Panchayat Raj Act, would not be an easy task for the state government. This is what the rural development department has apparently apprised the chief minister about.

While provisions of the Act clearly states that ?of every panchayat raj body, only a tribal shall be the chairperson? indicating that the head of the district council, the block and panchayat councils has to be a tribal in the scheduled areas, the act also indicates that ?of every panchayat raj body a minimum 50 per cent shall be tribal members.? The act also has a provision for 33 per cent reservation for women including the chairpersons of panchayat raj bodies.

But in the non-scheduled areas the reservation for women is provided only as members and not as the chairpersons of the panchayat raj bodies.

Even members of the Scheduled Castes have not been provided reservation as the head of the panchayat raj body.

However, political experts believe that even if the ordinance is brought about, holding the elections would not be that easy since the government has also to frame the ?rules? for it.