TEAM HERALD
PONDA: Ponda Municipal Council (PMC) has formed a nine-member committee for prevention of sexual harassment at workplace, based on the Vishaka Guideline laid down by the Supreme Court.
The decision to form the committee was taken during the council meeting on Monday.The committee will be headed by PMC Chairperson Dr Radhika Naik and will have PMC Chief Officer, three councillors including two women councillors and PMC staff members on the committee. PMC will also appoint NGO on the committee.
Dr Naik admitted that the anti-sexual harassment committee should have been formed during the last council. “Owing to recent news reports of sexual harassment at workplace, I inquired whether PMC has an anti-sexual harassment committee. The committee should have been formed during the last council, but today we decided to form the committee,” said Dr Naik.
During the meeting, the council also formed vigilance committee to monitor Public Distribution System (PDS). “The committee will monitor PDS within the jurisdiction of PMC, whether there is black marketing of commodities at fair price shops, whether there is over charging of prices, etc,” informed Dr Naik.
With rising number of chain snatching incidents in the city, Ponda Police had requested PMC to install CCTV cameras along one of the roads. However, PMC during the meeting decided to install such CCTV cameras throughout the city. “We will request for funds through MPLAD scheme. Apart from CCTV cameras, we will also ask for funds to purchase an ambulance,” said Dr Naik.
PMC also passed a resolution to appoint two legal advisors, one for matters pertaining to Ponda jurisdiction, while another for Panjim, which according to Dr Naik has been done to save on transportation costs.
The council also passed a resolution to waive interest on rent towards shops at Indira Market-old bus stand and Budhwarpeth, Upper Bazzar, Ponda.
According to information, couple of years back owing to construction of both the market projects, payment of shop rent was pending and now the interest has surpassed the total rent amount.
The Indira market project did not start however the new market project at Budhwarpeth is complete.
