MARGAO: The Telaulim gram sabha that was very sparsely attended decided to approach the police to curb drug and alcohol consumption at Tolleaband while also questioning the continuous absence of former Sarpanch Prudencio Carneiro at the gram sabha that lasted only half an hour.
Raising the issue of panchayat members’ absence at the gram sabha, Benjamin Peres and Tony da Silva argued that if panchayat members are not interested in gram sabhas then somebody else would have been elected to the panchayat.
Sarpanch Estevan Goes disclosed that one member Nelsa Peres is on leave for six months while had no explanation for Prudencio’s absence and also disclosed that the Panchayat Raj Act does not make it mandatory for panchayat members to be present for the gram sabha.
“In the absence of the panchayat member, the Sarpanch or secretary will reply to any question asked by the villagers,” the sarpanch said.
Responding to the correspondence from Tony da Silva, the sarpanch said the panchayat would contact the Goa Animal Welfare Trust to do something about the stray dogs troubling the villagers. Tony pointed out that while earlier the stray dogs used to kill piglets, they have now started attacking and killing calves.
One woman suggested that the panchayat make it mandatory for domesticated dogs to be chained during the day as there are domesticated dogs that are also killing livestock and not only the stray dogs.
When one villager privately raised the issue of youth consuming drugs and alcohol near the bridge in the village, the sarpanch said he would ask the police to take action but also disclosed that the police had advised the panchayat to install CCTV cameras at the spot.
However, the villagers argued that the youngsters would destroy the cameras and they suggested that the villagers form a group and speak to the youth consuming alcohol and drugs at the spot. It was also decided to stop vehicles being parked on the approach road to the bridge.
The gram sabha approved registering one villager under the Below Poverty Line. Incidentally, at the last gram sabha this decision was deferred and as the applicant was present for the gram sabha, it was decided to let him get the benefit under BPL category.
Only 14 villagers attended the gram sabha and seven signatories to the gram sabha register came after the discussions were over and the sarpanch served snacks to the villagers.
The sarpanch while taking up the discussion on the parking on the bride and consumption of alcohol and drugs told those present that the panchayat body would have to decide upon these matters as nobody had given in writing that these matters needed to be discussed at the gram sabha.
