Villages to get independent secretaries within a month
TEAM HERALD
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PANJIM: Panchayat Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Wednesday announced creation of 32 new posts of panchayat secretaries assuring independent secretaries to all panchayats within next one month.
Parsekar said that currently state has only 188 panchayat secretaries, of which 18 are working in more than one panchayat. Twenty two secretaries are working at headquarters of various block development offices while there are 12 pending vacancies, he said on the Floor of the House.
The Panchayat Minister said that the government has already proposed creation of 32 new posts, which would be placed before Cabinet for approval. “Within next one month, all panchayats would have independent full time secretaries,” he assured while replying to Ponda MLA Lavoo Mamledar during Question Hour, when the latter pointed out the hardship faced by people in absence of full time secretaries.
In yet another question, Congress MLA Alexio Reginaldo Lourenco questioned the government over frequent transfers of the secretaries, alleging political victimization of government servants.
Defending government’s decision, Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar said ‘transfers are made on administrative grounds and in public interest’.
“Government knows how to run the administration,” Parrikar said alleging State assembly is not an avenue to put up the issues related to one particular government servant. “Government servants have several avenues to raise their issues. They can approach court for justice,” he said.
As per the reply tabled on the floor of the House, 37 panchayat secretaries have been transferred from original posting to more than 20 kms from their residence.
Replying to the query, Parsekar said that a secretary when appointed is not appointed for a particular panchayat but for entire State. “He has to go as and when transfer orders are passed,” he stated.
Meanwhile, Parrikar assured to take action against medically unfit panchayat secretaries, who fail to do their duties thus causing hardship to public.
Parrikar said that respective panchayats will have to submit an official complaint against the secretaries with the director of panchayat. “Government will act based on the complaint,” he said. The chief minister said that medically unfit secretaries would be directed to take retirement or VRS. “One cannot compromise with the work by citing health problem as a reason,” he clarified.
Lavoo Mamledar brought to the notice of the House during the question hour that the secretary of Kurti-Khandepar panchayat is seen working only half an hour a day citing medical reasons. He said that people have to face hardship in the absence of this secretary.
