PONDA: There are many aspirants contesting the panchayat elections in Usgao Ganjem and likewise the problems faced are aplenty.
Usgao Ganjem Panchayat is slowly moving towards urbanisation with a majority of migrant population residing in the main area of Panchayat at Tisk Usgao. Tisk Usgao is the area where migrants have settled at various places. In absence of a crematorium the migrants face tough time during bereavement. Though there are crematoriums in Panchayat of Ganjem and Usgao they are used by original local Goans. They do not allow the non-Goan migrants settled at Tisk Usgao and other parts to perform final rites claiming that migrants are not original Goans.
According to Anand Naik, due to this mentality migrants were left with no option but to take the body to Ponda City where the Municipal Council allows them to perform final rites. Not only Hindu migrants but Muslim and Catholics settled here from outside face problem in burying the bodies and have to rush to distant places.
According to former Sarpanch Ramnath Dangi, the panchayat had in the past acquired 10,000 metres of land for performing final rites for all communities including Hindus, Muslim and Catholic migrants but as a dispute arose on the land acquired, the matter went to court.
A person who claimed right on land acquired for crematorium won the battle. This issue has remained unsolved in Usgao and locals felt the elected panch members would solve the major grievance at least this time.
There is also a demand from Usgao locals and vendors doing business in SGPDA market to either repair or renovate it as it is on the verge of collapse.
