TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
MERCES: Controversies dogged the election to the managing committee of Morombi-O-Grande Tenant Association even as the polls were postponed due to lack of quorum.
While some members claimed that their names have been excluded without their knowledge, some farmers informed that their applications for inclusion of names have been rejected without any reason and it was also brought to light that majority of the members have expired.
As only 31 of the total 371 members were present at the meeting held in the Merces Panchayat, which was way below the minimum requirement of 50%, presiding officer Awal Karkun P G Pandit declared that the elections have been adjourned as the minimum quorum was not formed.
Pandit informed the members that a report will be sent to the Tiswadi Mamlatdar who will decide on the next date for holding the elections, where the quorum would not be necessary. However controversies surfaced at the meeting as several members complained that their names have been excluded from the voters list without their knowledge. In fact, treasurer Keshav Naik was at the receiving end as his name did not figure in the list.
Another member, Gurudas Ramchandra Naik, was also surprised at the exclusion of his name from the voters list, which has existed since 1986. The names of Luisa Maria Fernandes, included over 10 years back and that of Eduardin Fernandes, included over 5 years back, also did not figure.
Another controversy surfaced as several farmers informed that their names were not included as members even after them applying for the same well in advance.
Farmers Xavier Corte and Charles D’Souza blamed committee members for playing politics in keeping their names out since they do not want persons who will question them over the functioning of the tenant association.
Amidst the controversies, it was also brought to light that a majority of the members in the tenant association have expired.
Speaking to Herald, Secretary Blaise de Sa informed, “I have gone through the entire list of members and have found that over 70% of them have expired. How could a quorum be formed in such circumstances?,” he questioned, while stating that it is the responsibility of the Mamlatdar to update the list as the committee does not have the powers to delete any names under any circumstances.
When contacted, Tiswadi Mamlatdar Sudhir Kerkar however said that it is the duty of the tenant association committee to maintain and update the members list. “I have only published the members list as submitted by the committee of Morombi-O-Grande Tenant Association,” he clarified while adding that they have the powers to delete names of members who are dead.
On the non-inclusion of several farmers as members, Kerkar said the committee has powers to decide on the issue and accordingly they have decided not to include the names of 17 farmers who had applied for inclusion as members.
Kerkar said these farmers have an option to approach the court or address their grievances in writing to him, so that they can get justice if they feel that they have been wrongly kept out.
