MARGAO: Claiming that village panchayat of Sao Jose de Areal failed to take the agenda of the previous gram sabha to its logical conclusion, irate locals have now strongly objected to the next gram sabha scheduled on August 27. On Monday, a group of villagers met the Block Development Officer and stated that they had discussed the issue and found out that the panchayat had not submitted the minutes of the last gram sabha to the higher authorities.
Addresssing the media, Fredy Travasso, a villager said that they met the BDO and brought to his notice that amid the chaos and standoff at the gram sabha held on May 14 this year between the gram sabha members and the panchayat body, and with both sides refusing to back down, the sarpanch had concluded the meeting and left mid-way.
“Thus the proceedings of the last gram sabha are incomplete and the panchayat announcing the next meeting is wrong as per the panchayati raj act,” Travasso alleged.
He further said that the panchayat body failed to take up several proposals of the villagers pertaining to the developmental works in the village.
Travasso informed that villagers were shocked that the panchayat body had failed to submit its minutes besides reply to the three memorandums issued by the BDO, when cross checked with the officials.
We are not against the gram sabha scheduled on August 27, but villagers want the previous gram sabha should be taken to its logical conclusion wherein the proposals pertaining to the village needs urgent attention from the panchayat, Travasso added.
