PANAJI
Stating that panchayat elections have become a farce, Goa Forward President Vijay Sardessai demanded that the government should first announce that powers will be devolved to the panchayats before the elections are held.
Sardessai further demanded that the upcoming panchayat elections should be held to make atmanirbhar panchayats, swayampurna gram sabhas, for which devolution of powers is important.
Speaking to reporters in Panaji on Saturday, Sardessai said, “The panchayat elections have become a farce just like the Assembly session was turned into a farce by curtailing it. We thought that by curtailing the Assembly, it would benefit the panchayats but sadly panchayats are becoming domains and hegemonies of some MLAs. The MLAs want to keep power with themselves and then make their children contest VP polls. Every level of governance is controlled.”
“There is a demand from the people that the panchayats should be given more powers as entitled under the 73rd amendment of the Constitution. However, the government has limited the role of panchayats into undertaking menial works like constructing drainages, laying pavers, roads, installing benches, etc. This is the power that the elected panchas will get,” he opined.
Sardessai further informed that under the 11th schedule of the Constitution, there are 18 functions but in Goa only 8 have been devolved and two have been partially devolved to urban bodies.
“Government talks about atmanirbhar and swayampurna. Our demand is that this panchayat elections should be held to make atmanirbhar panchayats and swayampurna gram sabhas. For this, devolution of powers is very important,” Sardessai stated.
“The government should first declare the powers that are going to be devolved to the panchayats, and only then seek votes for their candidates. If the government fails to do so, then the voters should defeat the candidates backed by the ruling BJP party,” he added.
GF seeks revival of State Finance Commission
PANAJI: Stating that the State Finance Commission has become a mere paper tiger, Goa Forward President Vijay Sardessai has demanded that the commission be revived and its report presented to the House at the earliest.
“The 2nd State Finance Commission, set up in 2010, had prepared a report but it has not even been studied. Then a 3rd State Finance Commission was set up but no report was submitted. Now, a new commission has been appointed but it looks like it has become a mere paper tiger as the government is not serious about it,” he alleged.
“The State Finance Commission constituted in January 2017 has not submitted its report which shows that the government is trying to kill local self-governance in violation of the Constitution,” Sardessai stated.
However, Sardessai demanded that the State Finance Commission should be revived and its report be presented to the House at the earliest.
Seeks action against minister in tur dal fiasco
PANAJI: Stating that accountability comes at the top and not at the bottom, Goa Forward leader Vijai Sardessai has demanded that action should be taken against the then minister for the fiasco in which tonnes of toor dal and sugar got spoilt.
“The government says it will take action but that should be against the minister. The accountability comes at the top, not at the bottom. Making someone scapegoat and claiming that action is taken will not help,” Sardessai added.
