THE GOAN NETWORK
OLD GOA
The election to the Dhado Khazan Tenants Association committee was adjourned to October 20 due to lack of quorum, even as aggrieved farmers protested that the members’ list was yet to be updated.
Mamlatdar representative Munnesh Gaonkar and Carambolim talathi Devidas Bhomkar remained present at the Carambolim panchayat hall on Monday, as the election process to the tenants association began at 10.30 am.
However, only two members were allowed inside the panchayat hall as only their names figured in the members’ list.
After waiting for over an hour, the election was adjourned to October 20 as the required quorum of 50% was not achieved.
Meanwhile, aggrieved farmers protested against the holding of the elections as they said that the members’ list had not been updated despite orders to include the names of heirs of the members who have expired.
“We have orders from then Tiswadi Mamlatdar passed in 2017, that our names be included in the said tenants association. However till date, our names have not been included,” Adv Bharat Naik informed The Goan and stated that holding elections without updating the members’ list is grave injustice to the farmers.
Lending her support to the protesting farmers, activist Tara Kerkar decried the dictatorial attitude of authorities concerned and demanded the government's intervention in the matter so that the real farmers get their rightful right.
“Tenants associations are formed to protect the interests of farmers. But here, it is noticed that farmers have been deprived their farming rights by inundation of fields. More so, there is no accountability of the lakhs of rupees in funds earned through sluice gates auctions,” Kerkar alleged.
“The heirs of the members who have expired are also not given their rightful place in the tenants association as, despite orders, their names are not included,” Kerkar further pointed.
A strong police force led by Old Goa PSI Sudin Redkar remained present at the election venue to maintain law and order, as the situation got tense over the presence of one member of the tenants association, whom the aggrieved farmers held responsible for various irregularities.
