TEAM HERALD
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CORTALIM: Expressing the need for accountability in Gram Sabhas to ensure its effective functioning in a transparent way, three individuals have recently petitioned the Director of Panchayats (DoP) to ensure complete videographing of gram sabhas.
In a letter to the DoP, three individuals — Samira Cardoso and Jose Miranda, both from Nuvem and Anthony Mendes of Cortalim — referred to the office memorandum from Ministry of Panchayati Raj circulated to the State governments/UTs which mandates full video-graphing of Gram Sabhas and also holding of regular gram sabhas, which is to be fixed in advance.
The petitioners alleged that the video-graphing of Gram Sabhas was all the more necessary, in view of reports of charges of attempt to murder, forming of groups so as to deliberately disturb gram sabhas which many times results in their adjournments or even cancellation of the meetings.
They also felt that the videography would also help track all discussions which sometimes are deliberately not recorded in the minutes books or in some cases, decisions are recorded after the Gram Sabha proceedings are over, to benefit a particular section.
Stating that video-graphing would help boost public confidence in gram sabhas, Mendes told Herald that such a step would help ensure good public participation in the process of governance of matters that directly impact their lives.
