Village bodies to fast-track pending gram sabhas, approvals
MARGAO
With the Election Commission of India lifting the Model Code of Conduct following the cancellation of the Ponda by-election, village panchayats across Salcete taluka are finally preparing to convene their long-pending gram sabha meetings to deliberate on and approve budget estimates for the financial year 2026–27.
For several weeks, panchayat bodies had been in a state of uncertainty, unable to proceed with statutory financial approvals due to the enforcement of the election code. The delay has had significant administrative implications, as the non-approval of budget estimates by the gram sabha effectively bars panchayats from incurring expenditure in the new financial year, which commenced on April 1.
Salcete taluka, which comprises 30 village panchayats, has seen only a handful of gram sabhas successfully approve their budgets before the Model Code of Conduct came into effect early last month. The majority of panchayats were forced to halt proceedings midway, leaving key financial decisions pending.
Among those affected were the panchayats of Raia and Velim, both of which had scheduled gram sabha meetings in March but were compelled to cancel them due to the election code restrictions.
Velim Sarpanch Veena Cardozo confirmed that the gram sabha had to be postponed at the last minute. “Our meeting was scheduled in March, but we had to defer it due to the election code. We were informed that such meetings could not be held while the code was in force,” she said. Cardozo added that reports of a similar cancellation in Raia prompted her to seek clarification from higher authorities, who reiterated the restrictions.
However, the situation has raised questions within administrative circles. A panchayat official, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed surprise at the blanket application of the Model Code of Conduct beyond the immediate jurisdiction of the by-election. “It is understandable that panchayats in Ponda taluka had to defer their gram sabhas due to the by-election. But it is unclear why the code should have affected panchayats in Salcete or even further south in Canacona, especially when the meetings were limited to discussing budget estimates,” the official remarked.
The postponement of gram sabhas has left most panchayats without approved budgets well into the new financial year, creating a temporary administrative paralysis. With the lifting of the Model Code of Conduct, panchayat bodies are now expected to expedite the convening of gram sabhas and complete the budget approval process at the earliest.
Officials hope that the delay will not significantly disrupt developmental works and essential services at the village level, as panchayats move quickly to regularise their financial operations in the coming weeks.
