Srinagar: The State Administrative Council (SAC) on Friday has set schedule for four-phase Municipal elections and eight-phase Panchayat polls between October to December.
The SAC met under the chairmanship of Governor Satya Pal Malik, an official spokesperson said.

After extensive deliberations on various aspects and feedback received from the Department of Housing & Urban Development, Rural Development & Panchayati Raj, the SAC decided to commence the formal process for conducting Municipal and Panchayat elections in the Jammu and Kashmir and take all other consequential action as per law, he said.

The SAC decided that the elections to Municipal bodies will be conducted in four phases with polling dates between October 1, 2018 and October 5, 2018, he added.

The Panchayat elections will be conducted in eight phases with polling dates between November 8, 2018 and December 4, 2018, the spokesperson said.
The Chief Electoral Officer, J&K was asked to adjust the schedules keeping in view security, operational and the polling requirements.

The SAC also decided to grant one month’s extra salary/wages/remuneration in favor of the staff engaged in the conduct of elections besides insurance cover to mitigate risks.

Voter education will be given special focus. For this purpose, the government will launch a sustained campaign to sensitise the voters about the importance of these elections in the socio-economic development.

Panchayat and Urban Local Body elections will enable people to take decisions on their own, without having to go to the state capital or the district headquarters for their basic requirements. Local Bodies will handle a substantial amount of funds and truly empower people all over the state, the spokesperson said.