Team Herald
VASCO: Giving a clear cut warning to the panchayat bodies, Minister for Panchayat and Dabolim MLA Mauvin Godinho on Tuesday announced that the government has decided to bring an amendment to the Panchayati Raj Act.
He informed that after discussing with all the stake holders the government would decide the tenure of a sarpanch and deputy sarpanch.
Mauvin was addressing a gathering at the Chicalim Panchayat hall during the oath taking ceremony of the newly elected sarpanchas from nine Panchayats under Mormugao Block Development Office (BDO). Cortalim MLA Alina Saldanha, Panchayat Director Sandya Kamat and others officials also spoke on the occasion.
“I don’t like musical chairs as far as the panchayats are concerned. Previously, we have seen how sarpanchas were changed within six months of taking charge. I can understand half term given to any member, I can understand changing of sarpanch in two years, but musical chair game every six months will not be permitted as we want stability which is an important tool for development. Thus if it necessitates, I will bring an amendment in Panchayati raj act wherein once a sarpanch is elected, then definitely the tenure will not be less than one year, but whether it should be one or two years will be decided after taking all stake holders into confidence,” he said.
Another important issue which all the newly elected panchas should understand, he said “is the fact that government schemes are not reaching the people at the grassroots level. Why do the panchayat bodies have to wait for the people to come to the panchayat? Why can’t the panchayat hold a fair for creating awareness on government schemes in their respective villages? I propose to have such small type of scheme fairs in the villages in days to come. I also appeal to the panchayat bodies to come forward and suggest practical changes in the Panchayati Raj Act.”
Giving concrete assurance to the newly elected panchayat bodies on proposals sent to government, Godinho said, “I want to assure on behalf of the government that no proposals sent by the panchayat bodies would be unnecessarily kept pending. Also, there will not be any shortfall of funds from government side.”
We only want that villages should be clean; defecation free; there should be toilets in each household and we would give powers to sarpanchs to utilize funds of Rs 25 thousand during any urgent requirements. But we don’t want to hear any news of flooding in people’s houses; I don’t want drains to be chocked. Also I will be visiting each and every panchayat across Goa in days to come to listen to the grievances and to address the same on priority.”
