MARGAO: In 2018, only two gram sabhas were held in Chincinhim village instead of four meetings as mandated by the Panchayat Raj Act. 

This year, the situation doesn’t seem to have changed. The Panchayat has missed the January window to conduct a gram sabha. The deputy sarpanch informed that this was because the secretary and the sarpanch took a leave in January. He said that Block Development Officer Milindra Velip has issued a notice to the Panchayat to conduct a gram sabha on February 24, but the panchyat is considering conducting a gram sabha in March.

“Doesn’t the sarpanch and secretary know that January is the month Gram shabhas have to be held? Why did they take leave in January? It looks like they don’t want to face the people,” said Savio Lopes who hails from Chinchinim.

Lopes said that the BDO does not know the Panchayat Raj Act and that he is not fit for the job. When contacted, the BDO confirmed that he issued a notice to the panchayat.

However when asked that why did he not issue the notice in mid-January when he should have realised that no gram sabha would be held in January, he reiterated that he sent the notice in February. Herald then asked him whether he was aware that according to the Panchayat Raj Act, if the gram sabha is not convened in January, the BDO has to convene the gram sabha in February. The BDO did not answer the question.

It was unclear whether the BDO deliberately flouted the law or whether he was simply unaware of it. Lopes said that the BDO has subverted not just the law but the Constitution of India in which the principles of the Panchayati Raj and gram sabhas are enshrined.

“The delay has thrown the entire gram sabha schedule out of sync. The first gram sabha should be about reviewing the progress of the previous year and what to plan for the next year. Instead, since it will be held in March, the Panchayat will be presenting the budget. There are so many other issues that need to be discussed immediately like the pollution of Digaband, the secret proposal to set up housing board in Chinchinim and other pending development works. If the Panchayat body doesn’t want to face the people it should resign. The BDO should also be replaced with someone who is serious about ensuring that gram sabhas are held regularly according to the Act,” he said.

Interestingly, the BDO informed that Chinchinim is not the only village in Salcete where gram shabhas for the first quarter of the year have not been scheduled.