ANNUAL REVIEW OF STATE LAWS 2020 - Anoop Ramakrishnan N R Akhil

In the area of health, the biggest challenge in 2020 was the containment of the COVID-19 pandemic. [...] See the PRS Legislative Brief for an analysis of the Bill.144 The Bill received the assent of the Governor in February 2021.145 Migrant Workers: Meghalaya enacted a law that provides for the identification and mandatory registration of migrant workers.146 The law defines the migrant worker as: (i) any individual not belonging to the State of Meghalaya, and (ii) who is not domiciled in the state, b. [...] Madhya Pradesh had promulgated an Ordinance changing the nature of the election of the Mayor of the Municipal Corporation, and the President of the Municipal Council or a Nagar Panchayat from indirect to direct elections.149 Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra changed the elections of certain heads of local bodies from direct to indirect mode.150,151,152 The Tamil Nadu Municipal Laws (Amendment) Act, 2020. [...] Maharashtra also enacted a law to postpone the elections to the offices of the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of some Municipal Corporations, on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.7 Reservation for women: Haryana enacted a legislation amending the Haryana Panchayati Raj Act, 1994.155 The 1994 Act provides for the reservation of one-third of the total number of seats in Gram Panchayats, Panchayat Samitis and. [...] Punjab established the Punjab Prisons Development Board for strengthening of prisons and correctional administration across the state.191 The mandate of the Board includes enhancing the living conditions of the prisoners in the jails and ensuring the welfare of employees of the prisons department.