I write this teary-eyed as the report of the Cuelim sarpanch not attending an important gram sabha meeting is indeed a serious affair. She claims it was unavoidable because of illness. We need to believe her but at the same time we need to have rules so in future it will not happen again anywhere in Goa. We need to learn from our mistakes!
At the gram sabha meetings the spokesman for the villagers’ opinions and sentiments is usually Dr Marconi Correia, a very much in demand medical practitioner. I suggest someone act as a stand by chauffeur and whisk the good and competent doctor to her side as she should be given immediate medical attention. A Priest could also accompany the doctor. Further, we are told that some pancha is away traveling in Europe or some other countries. In future the sarpanch and the deputy sarpanch after the finalization of the date of the gram sabha meeting needs to provide an official assurance to the villagers that they will attend the gram sabha meeting.
Members of the Panchayat, and especially the sarpanch and deputy sarpanch from all over Goa need to assure members of the gram sabha they will be in town a day before the gram sabha meeting. They have a job to do. If this convention is established – as it is in the private sector – there will be no problem in future. If the elected members cannot assure the members of their attendance at gram sabha meetings, they should be asked to resign. If a sarpanch is genuinely there will be a standby and so there is no problem.
With Carmona on the boil even though it is still raining in Goa the days when panchas could take their job lightly are over. It is a paid job; their task is to protect the interest of the village and villagers. The people of Carmona are angry because the real stakeholders who are the villagers are emasculated and the power-brokers are in Delhi or the Goa government or the Town and Country Department; they are everywhere except in the village! Zero power for the villagers to decide the future of their villages?
The people of Carmona are demanding the implementation of the 73rd and 74th amendments so the mega disaster which is taking place in their village will not happen again, and will not happen in any other village in Goa. Now, this is a reasonable request and they are asking for unity from the other 180 plus Panchyats in Goa.
Goa’s Deputy Chief Minister who is a lawyer wants greater peoples’ participation in the decision-making process in municipal affairs. His view is in line with devolution of power in favor of the people, and where else is it more important than in our villages which are the heart of the Goan identity? Goa simply cannot afford to become a real estate project for super rich people from around the world. This invasion of our villages is against natural justice and is laissez-faire capitalism. Goans should not forget: We are the village!
Deputy CM Francis D’souza has spoken in favor of decentralization of power. Will he walk the talk?
