Team Herald
MARGAO: A tense situation unfolded at the gram sabha of the Sao Jose de Areal village panchayat in Margao on Sunday, requiring police intervention to prevent a potential law and order problem. The village’s panchayat secretary left the meeting, complaining of chest pain, which caused frustration among the villagers who had gathered in large numbers to discuss the budget for the upcoming financial year and various other proposals.
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Villagers accused the panchayat body of not functioning in the best interests of the village. Even opposition panchayat members expressed disappointment over passing the budget without thorough discussion. The villagers demanded a discussion on their proposals before deliberating on the budget for the next financial year, taking the panchayat body to task.
At the last gram sabha meeting held on April 2, a similar situation arose when villagers slammed the panchayat body over minutes and property development, resulting in an uproar at the meeting. On Sunday, the panchayat body tried to move forward without deliberations, which drew strong objections from the villagers.
Later, the panchayat secretary proceeded with the budget, and the deputy sarpanch, Valente Fernandes, stated that the budget had been passed by a show of hands, after asking the attendees who was in favour, and opposed. Shockingly, the panchayat body adjourned the meeting shortly after announcing the budget’s passage, angering the villagers.
As the locals tried to block the panchayat secretary from leaving the meeting, the police were called in. One villager, Freddy Travaso, alleged that the panchayat body was not ready to discuss the villagers’ proposals and budget, calling it “disgusting,” and claiming that the panchayat body did not have the village’s best interests at heart.
Joyce Dias, a former sarpanch and panch member, expressed disappointment over the gram sabha’s proceedings. She questioned how a budget could be passed without discussion and claimed that the ruling group had already passed the budget without deliberation during an executive meeting of the panchayat body.
Dias demanded an audit of all panch members to be conducted. It is essential to note that the panchayat body cannot move forward without the approval of the gram sabha.
