MARGAO: Three of the 30 village panchayats from Salcete have not only failed to adhere to the Goa Panchayat Raj Act but will also not be able to spend any money from April 1, as their budget for the financial year 2024-25 are not presented to the villagers.
Section 5 of the Goa Panchayat Raj Act clearly states that every village panchayat shall hold a gram sabha on any Sunday in the month of January. The Aquem Baixo Panchayat was the only panchayat to hold a gram sabha on January 28, 2024.
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Following directions from the BDO on February 26, other panchayats held their gram sabhas in the February or March and all of them presented the budgets at the gram sabha meetings.
However, Cana-Benaulim, Loutolim and Betalbatim are the only three panchayats that did not hold the gram sabha nor have they presented their budgets to the villagers.
“We could not have our gram sabha as our panchayat hall was given to the church for use, since the church is undergoing repairs,” said Loutolim Sarpanch Joanna Fernandes, who incidentally has resigned since.
Incidentally, the 9-member Loutolim Panchayat has two couples as members including Joanna and her husband. While candidly agreeing that there was an agreement between them to share the office of the sarpanch, Joanna assured that the budget will be presented at the next gram sabha to be held in April.
Benaulim Sarpanch Xavier Pereira explained, “We had a problem, as our secretary was suddenly suspended and that is why we could not hold our gram sabha.” He assured that the budget will be presented at the next gram sabha.
Betalbatim Sarpanch Minu Antonio Fernandes, while admitting that they did not hold the gram sabha, said he will discuss with the secretary what should be done next, while pointing out that their secretary is presently on sick leave.
Salcete BDO Pranit Naik was categorical in stating that the three panchayats will not be able to spend any money till the budget is presented before the gram sabha and implied that from April 1, the three panchayats will not be able to utilise any funds.
“The Director of Panchayats will have to decide what action should be taken for not holding the mandatory gram sabha in January,” he said, while pointing out that the Act empowers the BDO to convene the gram sabha, which he said they had done.
“Any aggrieved villager can complain to the Director of Panchayats for failure to convene the mandated gram sabha in January,” he said.
