Panchayat kept in the dark on host of issues: Sarpanch
TEAM HERALD
bureau@herald-goa.com
CORTALIM: The government takeover of the Sancoale dispensary which has been a long pending demand of the villagers and the panchayat was finally realised with the Director of Health Services set to take over its functioning from December 30.
But the takeover does not appear to be a smooth affair with Sarpanch Ramakant Borkar expressing disgust over the manner and accusing the government of sidelining the panchayat.
Addressing a press conference, Borkar while expressing happiness over the takeover, regretted that local MLA Alina Saldanha had not taken the panchayat into confidence despite the panchayat being the owners of the dispensary.
“We have only received a notice/invitation of take over. The panchayat wanted to discuss a host of issues like the availability of doctor during night hours, in-patient beds, the fate of the present dispensary staff and other issues. But we (panchayat) have been sidelined despite the dispensary being panchayat property,” said Borkar and added that he had handed over the dispensary keys to the Cortalim PHC medical officer on Sunday to avoid embarrassment at Monday’s takeover function and so also to avoid further delay.
“We have already fixed December 30 for the panchayat meeting. Had we discussed the issue earlier, the meeting could have fixed on some other date,” Borkar said. He however demanded that the health centre should have doctors at night with beds otherwise it would not serve much purpose.
Former sarpanch Rocky Vales said process of government takeover of the dispensary had started some years back and recalled that the former health minister Vishwajeet Rane had also promised to take over but the process was stalled due to the code of conduct in view of the Assembly elections.
