MARGAO
Ex-Carmona Sarpanch Allwyn Jorge has threatened to go on a hunger strike over the locking of the gate of the government primary school complex allegedly by the Chinchinim Primary Health Centre at George Ward.
At a meeting of the residents, wherein people came with banners near the government primary school complex on Saturday evening, Allwyn said that since the past five years no development has taken place in Carmona except at the primary school complex under Zilla Panchayat funds. He claimed the gate was locked only a few days after the election results.
Speaking further, he said that the entire property was gifted to the Education Department by one of the villagers and the complex was developed under Zilla Panchayat funds by putting up children’s park, play rides, walking track, open recreational spaces, benches for the benefit of the villagers after obtaining NOC from the Education Department.
“The government had also put up community toilets in the premises for the purpose of the villagers before declaring Goa as open defecation free. The heritage building in the premises is partly leased to the Directorate of Health for their Rural Medical Dispensary and to Directorate of Women & Child Welfare housing the anganwadi,” he explained.
He further said the Chinchinim PHC or the Carmona panchayat has no legal standing to lock the gate which prevents access to the children and senior citizens to the facilities which also houses the community toilets.
The residents have decided to write to the Education Department, Director of Health, Chinchinim PHC, Carmona panchayat to remove the lock on the premises.
Villagers suggested the premises could be used as a library facility for the village instead of a rural medical dispensary without any facilities.
Another villager Alan Rodrigues said that the property was gifted for the benefit of the village children and appreciated the development done in the premises and that the premises should not be locked anytime to benefit the villagers to use the facility.
