Thursday 28 Mar 2024

Salcete VPs slam govt for trying to stifle voice of villagers

| APRIL 23, 2018, 04:16 AM IST

the goan I network
MARGAO
Government’s move to bar discussion on “any other matter” at the gram sabhas echoed at the gram sabhas of Salcete village panchayats on Sunday, with the gram sabha of Dramapur vehemently opposing the amendment to the meeting rules. 
 The issue figured at the gram sabha of Dramapur-Sirlim, Camurlim and Ambelim on Sunday when agitated members slammed the government for trying to silence the villagers under the guise of barring discussions on any other matter.  
 At Dramapur-Sirlim, former Sarpanch Domnick Norohna pointed out that the proposed amendment, if approved, will stifle the voice of the villagers from raising issues concerning the village and the state as a whole.
After much discussion on the issue, the gram sabha decided that the panchayat would lodge its objection to the draft amendment kept open for public objections by the government. 
 Domnick has appealed to the all right-thinking Goans to join hands and oppose the amendment to the panchayat rules on gram sabha meetings, saying the decision will go against the very tenets of democracy. 
 At Camurlim, the issue was raised by some gram sabha members, who pointed out that the members will be henceforth denied the opportunity and the right to raise issues of public importance with the permission of the chair.
Sarpanch Basil Fernandes, however, sought to allay the apprehensions of the members by reassuring that the Camurlim panchayat would accept any proposal to be taken up at the gram sabha even a day prior to the meeting.
He, however, later told the members that they may raise any issue at the gram sabha even if the same is not listed on the agenda, but made it clear that the discussion will not be recorded in the minutes book. 
 Gram sabha member Romano Jesus later told the media that members will lodged their objections to the proposed amendment to the gram sabha meeting rules. 
 The issue was raised at the Ambelim gram sabha by former Sarpanch Cruz Silva, who pointed out that the Amendment, if passed, would deny the members the right to raise issues of urgent public
importance.
Sarpanch Danica Correia, however, made it clear that the government circular has barred the sarpanch from taking any other business if the same is not listed on
the agenda. 
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Utilise jubilee funds for toilet, not godown: Ambelim
MARGAO: Ambelim gram sabha on Sunday raised objection to the utilization of the golden jubilee fund to construct a godown in the market complex and demanded the panchayat use the money for construction of a toilet block instead.
 The issue of rent arrears also figured at the gram sabha as the panchayat placed the annual budget estimates for FY 18-19.
Locals also demanded to know why the panchayat has been slow in recovering rent arrears, and urged the current body to initiate steps for the recovery of all arrears, including rent.

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