PONDA: In the absence of a full-time secretary, various works in Bethora-Nirankal-Konshe Kodar-Panchayat have been disrupted, prompting citizens to demand immediate attention from authorities for the appointment of a full-time secretary.
According to local residents, the absence of a full-time secretary is hampering various activities within the panchayat. The jurisdiction of Bethora Panchayat is quite large, covering 11 wards, primarily rural areas. However, the current secretary is tasked with overseeing two panchayats, Bethora and Querim, and is only available in Bethora Panchayat three days a week.
The irregular availability of the secretary poses challenges for citizens who often have to visit the panchayat office for official matters. With limited transportation options, citizens are compelled to use private or rented vehicles, leading to wasted time and money if the secretary is unavailable on their visit day. This delay affects scheduled work, particularly impacting daily wage earners who cannot afford to lose wages for their official panchayat-related tasks.
Presently, the secretary is available in Bethora Panchayat on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays. However, on public holidays, interactions with the secretary may be limited to one or two days a week. Locals emphasise the need for a full-time secretary to mitigate inconvenience and ensure smooth operations within the panchayat.
Responding to the hardship faced by locals, official sources at the BDO office in Ponda stated that with the ongoing enforcement of election codes, the issue is likely to be addressed only after the LS Election.
