Salcete panchayats not happy with CM’s teleconference

MARGAO: Salcete panchayat members were totally disappointed with the teleconference with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant on Friday and complained that they were not even given an opportunity to raise their questions or doubts and suggested that the conference should have been held at taluka level instead of getting all the panchayats in Goa together on one platform.

The chief minister had a teleconference with all the panchayat members at 3:30 pm and for the first around 20 minutes he spoke listing out what the government is doing to control COVID-19 spread and how the panchayats should help people in the villages.

He suggested that panchayats spend Rs 50,000 to help the needy and poor in the villages and assured to reimburse Rs 25,000 to weaker panchayats. 

However, this plan will result in making the villages turn against the panchayat members or accusing the panchayat member of helping only his or her supporter, said panchayat members from Salcete.

“The Rs 50,000 figure is too little,” said Edward D’Silva Chandor-Cavorim Sarpanch who also pointed out that most panchayats are weak and the government will have to reimburse the full amount.

He disclosed that the panchayat members had decided to donate one month’s salary to the CM fund to combat COVID-19 and said similarly the government servants should also contribute, he said adding that the teleconference should have been held at taluka level.

Deputy Sarpanch of Chinchinim Deussua, Valentino Barreto was also of the same opinion and lamented that they did not even get an opportunity to discuss the difficulties faced by them. “We cannot help anyone with Rs 50,000 and the amount should be at least Rs 1 lakh,” Valentino said.

John Beda Pereira, a member of Chinchinim Dessua panchayat from Deussua said the government usually takes panchayat’s for granted and was grateful that for the first time the panchayat was consulted over an important matter and hoped this practice will continue in future.

Siddesh Bhagat former sarpanch of Aquem Baixo also expressed unhappiness over the teleconference which he said did not have any positive outcome as only a handful people could interact with the chief minister.

Only two Sarpanchas from Salcete were permitted to speak namely Esmeralda Gomes from Raia who thanked the chief minister for consulting the panchayat and Camurlim Sarpanch Basilio Fernandes who urged the chief minister to expedite the solution to the problems faced by seafarers.