Team Herald

MARGAO: The problems caused by migrants in the village dominated the Dramapur Sirlim gram sabha on Sunday as practically every issue discussed was related to them while at the same time the government’s attempts to dictate the proceedings at the gram sabha were objected to.

The gram sabha unanimously objected to the government’s proposal to drop “Any Other Business” from the agenda of the gram sabha on grounds that it was nothing but an attempt to curtail the voice of the people.

Besides, the fact that many Goans are illiterate, it was also argued that very often people forget to write down what they want to be discussed and as a result it was argued that Any other Business should be retained on the agenda of the gram sabha to  give voice to the people of Goa.

Moreover, the government proposal to commence the gram sabha at 11 am was objected to and the people demanded that the gram sabha should be held at 9.30 am as it is postponed for nearly 43 minutes as per the law and generally commenced only at 10.30 am.

Besides, the villagers strongly objected to increasing the fees for procuring land documents particularly land revenue forms and survey plans and termed it an affront on the right of the common man to protect his rights to land.

In fact while the minutes of the previous gram sabha were being read, this issue came up with people objecting to the migrants developing some orchard land by constructing their houses there and the panchayat was compelled to agree to issue notices to such occupants as soon as the panchayat meeting was held.

The gram sabha strongly objected to migrants developing orchard land in the village and using a service road to the Selaulim irrigation canal for developing their illegal plots by even constructing houses there. In fact the villages demanded that a gate be erected to prohibit people from using the service road.

The villagers demanded that a gate be erected to block access to the service road that is being misused by the migrants to develop their private lands.