PANJIM: The concerned villagers and activists are of the strong opinion that unless the government devolves powers to the village panchayats, the gram sabha meetings would hold no bearing.

Peaceful Society member and former Socorro panchayat member Soter D’Souza said, “We are fighting for devolution of powers to village panchayats as powers are still vested with the government.”

Stating that he was unaware of some citizens submitting representations to the Director of Panchayats, D’Souza said, “I have been involved in village panchayats for the last two decades and I know that panchayats cannot function without devolution of powers, especially 29 subjects. Empowering local self-bodies will be meaningless no matter how much you strengthen the panchayats if they are not given powers.”

D’Souza pointed out that even after constituting village plans the same is not respected by the Government of India. It is now time to formulate Goa-centric Panchayat Raj Act, he said accusing the government of amending the current Goa Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 umpteen times to suit their interests.

Former Moira sarpanch Virgilia de Sa, who is actively participating in the gram sabhas in the village, said that government has to devolve powers listed in the Eleventh Schedule to village panchayats.

“How can village panchayats function without powers,” she asked and pointed out that even basic services are not provided to the panchayats.

The constitutional mandate is for the formation of ward development committees in every village panchayat for proper planning while the gram panchayat committees are constituted to avail funds from the Centre.

This confusion has to be sorted out, she said adding that ward development committees should have a say as they are part of the village plan. She was also of the opinion that some of the villagers attending gram sabhas with one-point agenda should change and stop inappropriate behaviour and follow the rules and regulations.

Villages of Goa former president Joao Philip Pereira said that the villagers should be given copies in advance of the annual budget before it is passed by the panchayat so that the villagers can participate and make constructive suggestions.

He lamented that the decisions taken by the gram sabhas are not implemented and remained only on paper because many times the sarpanchas have their hidden agenda. Even decisions taken by village development committees and various other committees during gram sabhas are not implemented. It is high time that the director of the panchayat should take serious note of such things and respect the decisions of the gram sabha.

Former Curtorim sarpanch Santano Rodrigues said that the Curtorim Union is fighting for devolution of powers enshrined under the 73rd Constitutional amendment and alleged that the government is not giving powers to panchayats to function.

Many times some villagers attend gram sabhas with hidden agenda while few come with the issues, he said stressing the need of the participation of more villagers at the gram sabha.

He said that a circular was issued by the Director of Panchayats for video recording of gram sabhas and demanded that government release funds for the weaker panchayats for the same.

He further demanded that government should devolve powers or else gram sabha meetings would be reduced to a mere formality.