MARGAO: The High Court’s order pointing out several illegal structures in the name of the Arambol Sarpanch and his family members has evoked a storing public outcry in Salcete as well. Calls for greater probity into the source of wealth of elected representatives of local bodies are increasing.
Candidates for panchayat elections should be made to file a statement of their income and assets, which is the general opinion of present and former panchayat members in Salcete.
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Even though they are not required to file their accounts under the Panchayat Raj Act, they are required to file them before the Lokayukta, pointed out Xavier Fernandes member of Raia panchayat adding that he would be filing his before the end of the financial year.
“Panchayat members must make public their assets, especially in present times when corruption has gone to the grassroots,” said Xavier.
Salcete BDO Nimisha Phaldessai said that they conduct an enquiry whenever they receive any complaint of corruption or wrongdoing by any sarpanch or panchayat member.
“Lokayukta is an autonomous body and we cannot interfere with it,” she said when asked if their office would make it mandatory for the panchayat members to file their statements before it.
This reaction appears strange because the Lokayukta will only encourage elected representatives to file details of their assets with it.
Freddy Travasso, an activist from Sao Jose de Areal strongly demanded that not only panchayat members but even their family members’ assets and income should be checked.
“Following the Arambol revelation, it is now established that illicit wealth is collected not by the person in office but through their family members,”
he said.
Agostinho Antao, former sarpanch of Guirdolim said not only the elected panchayat member but even panchayat staff should be asked to submit their accounts.
“Panchayat staff is known for corruption and checks and measures should be put in place for them,” he said, adding that while panchayat members can be replaced, the panchayat staff remains in the same place till their superannuation.
Chinchinim-Deussua Sarpanch Valentino Barreto said he files his accounts before the Income Tax Department every year and pointed out that the law does not require them to present it to the Directorate of Panchayats.
He pointed out that all candidates are asked to fill up a form where basic information about their income and assets is sought and which is provided by the candidates along with their nomination form, but after that there is no further check.
“Panchayat members are not paid any wages or salary but are given a remuneration which is around Rs 6,000 per month for Sarpanch and Rs 4,500 per month for panchayat members,” he said, pointing out that this amount would not attract any tax.
He further lamented that even this meagre amount is not paid regularly but after a gap of three or more months.
Socorro Gomes from Davorlim-Dicarpale, whose wife was a member of the panchayat, said the bank details sought from candidates are mere eyewash as the authorities can easily be hoodwinked.
“Anybody can open a fresh account in any bank showing minimum deposit and furnish its copy to the authorities as sought by them,” he said, while pointing out that there is no specification on how old the account should be.
