It is said better late than never. Velim Village Panchayat had been targeted in the past by some villagers for not doing development work. The panchayat, however, deny the villagers’ claims and say the facts and figures speak otherwise. Sarpanch Melvin Vaz says contrary to the people’s claims, the village has seen lot of improvement.
It was the long pending demand of the villagers to upgrade Velim Sub health centre into a Rural Medical Dispensary (RMD), a proposal accepted by the Health department and the government, says the sarpanch. Panchayat body has decided to give the old Panchayat Office to RMD. This will facilitate the health need of locals, specially the fishermen of Cutbona. The panchayat body has decided to renovate the old office for RMD use.
Some villagers are arguing that for last four and half years the panchayat body did nothing for the welfare of village. Sarpanch Melvin Sanchez is not ready to accept this blame. He said in the government, red tapism takes time to move files. To the good luck of Velim villagers the Directorate of Panchayat has sanctioned 15 major works in the village.On the 25th of this month the panchayat will tender 15 development projects worth Rs 50 lakhs. There will be upgradation of library building, construction of toilets, drainages and roads.They have already completed many development projects like the new Panchayat building. Village Panchayat had spend Rs 18 lakh for the new panchayat building by upgrading the panchayat hall. They also upgraded the football ground of the School. Panchayat body has dreamt of constructing a gymnasium at Velim. They want to take up the beautification project at the side of Panchayat Ghar.
Velim remain always in news because of Cutbona Jetty. Village Panchayat has no role in jetty business but they are paying the sins of fisheries department mess. Panchayat body has asked several times to department like fisheries and Health to provide Health Cards and take police clearance from each and every worker working at Jetty. Only 100 Health Cards have been issued for the 300 fishing boats which have 3,000 workers already venturing into the sea without a health card and police clearance. The panchayat body has asked the list of fishing vessels registered at Cutbona Jetty. Surprisingly the Fisheries Department answer is “no statistics is available.”
To curb the open defecation on the jetty, the Fisheries Department wanted to construct 50 toilets but the land identified is not suitable for this project. The Health Department has asked the panchayat to look for alternate land. That projectnow appears to be in cold storage.
A positive sign is how the panchayat body has set up a system wherein they follow illegal works and complains of villagers on priority basis. They conduct site inspection and it’s a unique example were the panchayat body acts in a proactive role to resolve issues and problems. The Velim panchayat is also one of the few panchayats that haven’t had to deal with the usual musical chairs and haven’t seen a single no confidence motion in the last four and a half years.
