MARGAO: The results of the Assembly elections had no palpable effect at the gram sabha meeting of Varca panchayat where the budget and affairs of the village dominated the proceedings which were conducted in a somber atmosphere.
Three of the seven members of the panchayat abstained from the meeting that was attended by about 40 members where a Rs 2.25 crore budget was approved. While Rs 17.90 lakh were expected from the government, the panchayat proposed to raise Rs 17.60 lakh by way of various taxes.
Gram gabha members questioned the panchayat whether the various outlets in the hotels including starred hotels were paying trade tax and advised the panchayat to undertake a survey to increase the revenue for the panchayat.
Sarpanch Tercy Fernandes announced that a farmers’ camp would be organized on March 15 and asked the members present to promote this event as Agriculture Department officials would be visiting the panchayat to tell the people about kitchen garden and backyard farming.
She also sought the cooperation of villagers for the anti-rabies vaccination programme fixed on March 17 when Veterinary Department staff would visit each and every household to vaccinate the dogs living therein.
Some of the villagers suggested that a sterilization programme be also organised which the sarpanch accepted.
The sarpanch offered to organize a seminar on women’s safety after one of the villagers raised the issue of safety of women and children in the village.
The gram sabha on Sunday was held after a gap of eight months and the sarpanch explained that it could not be held earlier as the panchayat did not have a secretary attached to it and added that the secretary was allotted only in the month of December when the code of conduct was in force.
