The instability in the ruling body is the main reason why basic infrastructural development works are hampered and delayed in the villages, say sarpanchas.
State panchayat elections are scheduled for May this year and most of the panchayats are reluctant to take up last minute works due to the code of conduct in force in the state
The instability and frequent toppling of the ruling body has led to the situation wherein the expectations of the people from the village are not fulfilled.
However, most of the village panchayats in Goa have seen a single sarpanch and deputy sarpanch lasting for the entire term (four/five years).
The St Cruz Village Panchayat in Tiswadi taluka was toppled for four times in the present tenure with two no-confidence motions in one month.
Chicalim Village Panchayat has seen four sarpanchas in the last four years despite the post was being reserved for women. With hardly any time left for the panchayat elections the greed for power is more evident in Chicalim where post February assembly election, no-confidence motion was moved against serving Sarpanch Nilam Naik. She had taken over as sarpanch two months back.
Indira Fernandes, sarpanch of St Cruz Village, said that the developmental works in the villages are mostly affected due to the toppling game and political interference for power.
“It is not that you can perform well being a sarpanch or carry out developmental works only if you are in power. Elected members can take up all their works in their wards even if you are not in the ruling body,” Indira said.
The custodian of the panchayat is the secretary not the sarpanch, she added.
Chicalim panchayat suffered in its developmental works due to the change in guard on many occasions which reflects on the overall performance of the panchayat body.
However, the Village Panchayat of Anjuna-Caisua in North Goa has seen only one Sarpanch and Deputy Sarpanch in the entire term which, they say, helped in decision making of the panchayat.
Savio Almeida, Deputy Sarpanch said initially “there was an attempt by the local MLA to break the council but it didn’t happen.’
“This has resulted in planning and completing all the village developmental works which were possible within powers given to us,” he said.
He said the political interference was not able to change the ruling panchayat body but eight secretaries were transferred. This interference severely affects the working of the panchayats, he added.
