PANAJI
Quite a few legislators cutting across party lines expressed concerns over the functioning of the Village Panchayats (VPs) and questioned the credibility of some VP Secretaries.
During the discussion on grants for the Panchayat Department, Goa Forward Party (GFP) MLA from Fatorda constituency Vijai Sardesai came armed with documents indicating irregularities in the VPs.
“There is corruption at the Secretary level,” he alleged as he began his speech on the floor of the House. The legislator further referred to government records revealing that around 165 VPs have not been audited by the Accounts Department till the last financial year.
“Out of 191 VPs, audits of 165 VPs are not done… In the previous years too, no audits were conducted of several VPs. From 2018-19, 15 major VPs of Calangute, Anjuna-Caisua, Siolim, Taleigao, Merces, St Cruz, Saligao, Xeldem, etc have not been audited; and another 29 did not undergo auditing in 2020-21,” he said demanding transparency.
The legislator also questioned the wisdom of a VP when during a gram sabha meeting a resolution to ban illegal matka in St Cruz was not taken up, indicating the concerned VP supports this activity. Sardesai sought the government’s stand on the issue while also asking if the minister was in the know of the matter.
Calangute legislator Michael Lobo slammed how some VP Secretaries have been functioning and urged the Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho to rechristen their designation as ‘Sevak’ instead of Secretary. “As per the Panchayati Raj Act, powers should be given to the local people… They (Secretaries) are Sevaks because they sit in the VPs and not in Mantralaya. But some VP Secretaries have developed that attitude wherein they don’t care for anyone be it the minister, MLAs, Sarpanchas and the people,” he alleged demanding that the government should tighten the noose around these oversmart VP Secretaries.
