VASCO: The Quelossim gram sabha members resolved to sit on hunger strike, if the issue of pending transfer of funds from Cortalim panchayat’s account to Quelossim account, as directed by the Director of Panchayat is not resolved in the next 15 days.
Hosts of issues were discussed during the gram sabha meeting that was attended by merely by 15-odd villagers on Sunday.
The issue of pending transfer of funds was raised jointly by Vincent Pereira and Lopinho Xavier (both gram sabha members). Citing lack of development in the village, they questioned the panchayat as to what steps it has taken to ensure that Quelossim gets its rightful funds from Cortalim as agreed in the past. To this, Sarpanch Maria Colaco and Deputy Sarpanch Sebastiao Serrao said that though the panchayat has been regularly following up the issue with officials of the State administration but are not getting full support from them.
“It is our money, it is our right and we should get the funds immediately. I think that the government is not supporting the Panchayat. If they (Cortalim) had any issues then they should have consulted or taken legal advice first but after everything is clear why they have been delaying to release our funds, they can’t take us for granted. Why we have to beg for our own money. Why they are not following order of director of panchayat,” Pereira questioned.
Later, it was unanimously decided by the gram Sabha members that since the issue is unnecessarily prolonging and as panchayat is unable to take up any developmental projects in the village, the panchayat should take a delegation involving gram sabha members and meet the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho as well as Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha. If things are not getting resolved in next 15 days, then, the panchayat along with gram sabha members will sit on hunger strike to protest.
