CHANDOR: The approval of the 2024-25 budget of the Chandor-Cavorim Panchayat at a sparsely attended gram sabha on Sunday was overshadowed by concerns raised over its deficit nature and fiscal management.
Gram Sabha member Joy D’Silva highlighted that despite being labeled as a surplus budget due to the inclusion of the over Rs. 1.74 crore opening balance, the projected expenditure of Rs. 2.57 crore far exceeded the estimated receipts of only Rs. 86.20 lakhs, indicating a clear deficit. Retired banker Joy D’Silva argued vehemently against the misleading portrayal of the budget’s financial status.
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Another gram sabha member pointed out that a significant portion of the opening balance was allocated for works either tendered or awaiting tendering, suggesting that the actual available balance might be considerably lower once payments are processed.
Although the gram sabha was sparsely attended, there were questions galore and the panchayat was asked to not only be proactive in enhancing receipts, but also to follow up on the various proposals made to the different authorities.
“The MLA recently informed that works are executed in neighbouring panchayats but not in Chandor only because the proposals are not being followed up by the panchayat,” disclosed Joy.
Noting that tax collection is unsatisfactory, Jaret da Silva asked the panchayat to be proactive in at least collecting the House Tax and urged panchayat members to contact residents in their ward to pay the same in time.
Given the fact that taxes can be paid by March 31, the Secretary was asked to issue demand notice to all who have not paid their taxes by May this year instead of waiting till the end of next financial year.
“Issue demand notice for the arrears as on March 31, 2024 and issue them by May besides also publicly requesting the villagers to pay the arrears at the earliest,” suggested VDC chairman J D’Silva.
Jaret also demanded that those putting up banners or even posters promoting anything, should be asked to pay a fee to the panchayat, failing which the said banners or posters be removed by the panchayat, said Jaret.
“Besides, the panchayat should lodge a complaint against these persons with the Collector and Police for defacement of public property and also creating nuisance,” suggested another villager.
There was a strong demand to increase the rent levied upon the Telephone Department which has not been revised for more than 10 years now.
“First collect the Rs. 10 lakhs which is the pending rent from the telephone department and then immediately move for enhancing the rent,” was the chorus even as former deputy sarpoanch Marcelo Fernandes pointed out that during his time the rent was increased to Rs. 10 thousand per month, but agreement could not be signed as their term ended.
Villagers also castigated the government for only making promises but not fulfilling them and lamented that the panchayat has not even got grants from the government to pay staff salaries.
“While the government is talking about cleanliness with different slogans, it is indeed quite sad that it is not providing funds to a weak panchayat like ours to manage the garbage,” said one villager.
The villagers strongly objected to preparing the budget without having the latest audit report.
“The audit reports points out the mistakes make in the budget and hence those can be avoided in the new budget,” pointed out VDC chairman.
Secretary Narayan Azgaonkar while pointing out that the budge was mere projections to enable the panchayat to spend money from April 1, promised to present the Audit Report to the villagers as soon as they receive it.
Velim P’yat approves budget estimates
MARGAO: The gram sabha of the Velim village panchayat, which had been adjourned earlier for the discussion of the budget, granted approval of the budget estimates for the upcoming financial year 2024-25.
A three-member village committee that had been formed earlier to study the budget also gave the go-ahead for the budget after a brief discussion on the matter.
The budget meeting concluded quickly.
Earlier, the discussion on the budget was adjourned due to the absence of the main panchayat secretary,
However on Sunday, the budget was approved as it was informed that the panchayat had to complete this budget gram sabha at the earliest.
