Team Herald
PORVORIM: The gram sabha of Salvador Do Mundo ended unceremoniously on Sunday after the temporary secretary and newly-elected sarpanch failed to give satisfactory answers to the villagers’ questions. The attendees then demanded that the sabha be adjourned and organised again on the coming Sunday.
The chaos started with panchayat secretary Satish Gawas being absent from the meeting as he was
attending the gram sabha of Socorro panchayat which was organised on the same day. Gawas has been given charge of both panchayats.
The newly-elected sarpanch Roshni Sawaikar started the sabha, and Akash Naik from the BDO’s office was present as the temporary secretary. After the secretary read the minutes of the previous sabha and presented it for approval, locals questioned what action was taken in regard to the issues raised during the previous gram sabha. The sarpanch and temporary secretary failed to answer the locals’ questions, which agitated them.
The locals then resolved to appeal to the Directorate of Panchayats, to ensure that if a secretary has charge of two panchayats, then the gram sabha of both villages should not be held on the same day and at the same time.
Panchayat Inspector Maria Rodrigues, deputy sarpanch Dattarm Redkar and several other panchas were also in attendance.
