Team Herald

PORVORIM: Panchayats Minister Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday told the House that the government is considering the creation of a common cadre for panchayat staff in the State. The Minister further said that a policy is being formulated to ensure frequent transfers of panchayat secretaries to reduce corruption in local bodies.

“We are in the process of creating a common cadre for the panchayat staff. The process is on and I want everyone to support it,” Godinho told the State Legislative Assembly. 

Admitting that most panchayat secretaries indulge in corrupt practices, Godinho said the government has formulated a policy to ensure transfers of panchayat secretaries to reduce corruption. 

“Secretaries, who are posted for several years at a particular panchayat, develop vested interests gradually leading to corruption,” the Minister said, admitting to Congress MLA Aleixo Reginaldo Lourenco’s submission that secretaries are involved in corrupt practices. Lourenco brought to the notice of the House that panch members demand money for granting house numbers.

As per the policy, he said that a panchayat secretary will be transferred every three years. After five years, the secretary will not continue in the same block. After 10 years, the panchayat secretary will have to move to another district. “The file has currently been sent to the Law Department for vetting,” he said.

Minister was replying to a calling attention motion moved by NCP MLA Churchill Alemao, who pointed out to problems faced by panchayat secretaries in issuing separate house number to members of a joint family. “There are many applications pending in various panchayats where the family has been separated from joint households and not being issued separate house number,” he said.

Replying to the same, Godinho said that under the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, there is no provision for allotment of separate house numbers in the same buildings. “But as a matter of practice, however, village panchayats give separate house number to such buildings, if such a request is received,” he said. 

The Minister said that in order to avoid any hardship or inconvenience for issuance of separate house numbers, government will consider about framing guidelines or rules.