Team Herald
MARGAO: The Secretary of Chinchinim Panchayat Rocozina Fernandes was left red-faced after a gram sabha member Savio Lopes pointed out several mistakes in recording the previous meeting.
Accusing the Secretary of being inefficient, he pointed out several errors made by the secretary while recoding the minutes.
In one instance, where the word unanimously passed was wrongly written as passed with majority. The secretary justified the recording, by saying that many people such as the nuns of the local school are not gram sabha members. To that, Sister Flavia Vaz objected saying that all the seven sisters in the convent are enrolled in the election roll of Chinchinim. “We come here not for our sake but for the sake of our girls (students)”, she said emphatically.
Sister Vaz also stated that the secretary has not recorded the names of many other villagers who had raised issues and posed questions.
As the discussion between the panchayat members and villagers reached a high pitch, police gathered outside the hall. The gram sabha members slammed the panchayat members for calling the police stating that it is an insult to the village.
“Has there ever been a law and order problem in Chinchinim gram sabha’s history?” questioned a villager. The sarpanch was then forced to apologise to the villagers and the police were sent back.
After the Secretary confirmed the minutes, Sarpanch Inacinia Rebello found herself in the firing line. A gram sabha member had given several questions a few days ago however the sarpanch came unprepared. The sarpanch did not know what schemes are available for the girl child and she did not know how many migrants are living in Chinchinim. She also expressed her helplessness to clear out hawkers who were selling items along the roadside. The villagers slammed the sarpanch for not being prepared to answer their questions and for being ignorant of the Panchayat Raj Act.
Savio Lopes asked the panchayat members whether they had taken a decision about the sports complex. A panch stated that the panchayat members unanimously passed a resolution to build the panchayat cum sports complex and to identify another land elsewhere for the market.
One gram sabha member stated, “First MLA Filip Neri had brought his project, then MLA Benjamin brought his project, next someone else will come and get his project.” He also stated that the village needs a new market. However, villagers stated that the project is proposed by them and not by any MLA. Savio Lopes stated the number of fish vendors in the current tinto has gone down so there is no demand for more space.
The recent transfer of development rights (TDR) was also discussed and it was proposed not to allow TDR in the village for commercial projects.
