Work in villages hindered as
Panchayat secretaries and clerks have to report to the BDO as enumerators to update the National Population Register for the National Population Census-2011
These staff members have also to perform their parent office duties as panchayat secretaries
The order was issued on November 5, and will remain in force up to November 30
Secretaries who hold additional charge bear the bigger brunt of the said order
Draconian govt order cripples panchayats across Bardez
Secretaries, clerks deputed as enumerators for census work in addition to parent work
THE GOAN NETWORK
MAPUSA
Work in Bardez panchayats has been severely hindered due to an order which asks panchayat secretaries and clerks to report to the Mamlatdar to update the National Population Census-2011.
An order issued by the Block Development Office has relieved at least 50 per cent of the panchayat secretaries, some clerks and other staff asking them to join as enumerators for updating the National Population Register for the National Population Census-2011.
The worst is that the order further says that the relieved staff shall perform the duties as enumerators in addition to their parent office duties as panchayat secretaries, as no substitute staff is available in the office to take charge of the parent post.
The order has been issued on November 5, and will remain in force up to November 30.
As a result of this order, there is virtual turmoil in many panchayats, as work has been stalled with the common man having been the worst sufferer.
Sources told The Goan that some sarpanchas have even gone to the extent of writing to the mamlatdar asking him to cancel the order, as it has hampered the work in the panchayats.
Some secretaries who look after affairs of more than one panchayat, as additional charge, face the brunt of the order.
At least four secretaries hold additional charge in Bardez. The secretary of Aldona also holds additional charge of Moira Panchayat. Similarly, Candolim secretary also looks after the affairs of Arpora Panchayat. The secretary of Guirim also holds the charge of Sangolda and Uccasaim secretary also looks after Nachinola Panchayat.
In such situations, it won’t only be difficult but near impossible to handle both the jobs of enumerators and secretaries of two panchayats.
Former Nachinola panch Satish Govekar condemned the government order and for its insensitivity towards the common man.
“As a former panchayat member, I go with public work to the panchayat only to be told that the secretary and the clerk have been deputed for some other work. In such situation how can a lay person get his work done,” Govekar questioned.
He said the government had some time back made a grand announcement that an individual can get his certificate within 48 hours, but with this order the government has created a situation where for almost a month a common man will not get any certificates.
He criticized Deputy Chief Minister Francis D’Souza, who is also the revenue minister, for failing to understand peoples' problems.
“What is the revenue minister concerned doing? Does he not know the problems people face due to such draconian orders? It’s a shame for a government that came to power promising 100 per cent governance,” a bitter Govekar lashed out.
BOX
Govt teachers upset too Panchayat secretaries and clerks are not the only government officials who appear to have been wronged by the recent departmental order. Government teachers have also raised the heckles on government fiat over census work during school vacations.
“Government teachers get only 10 days per annum earned leave while all others get 30 days. Yet our services are requisitioned for census and sometimes even election work during the vacations,” a government teacher groaned.
Some Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan teachers have decried education department’s decision to call them for training on the census work during the Diwali holidays.
The government it appears takes advantage of school teachers who have no avenue to complain for fear of repercussions, another teacher said.
