PERNEM
Uttam Veer may have been elected unopposed as sarpanch of Torsem-Pernem, but his election was hailed by locals on Tuesday for a different reason.It was the first time in the village that a member from the Dalit community was elected to the top post.Veer was elected unopposed at a special meeting in the panchayat, after the post had fallen vacant due to the resignation of Ashok Sawal in a mutual agreement among fellow panchas. Veer's candidature received the support of Deputy Sarpanch Sundari Naik, panchas Suryakant Toraskar, Baban De Souza, Ashok Sawal, Prarthana Mote and Vilas Shetye, who were present at the meeting. BDO officer Gaude presided as an election officer and was assisted by panchayat secretary Mukund Uskaikar and Amar Kanolkar.
