Sarpanch Dhillon alias Yeshwant Desai with Panch Ashok Velip while addressing media persons in Gaondongrem. Captured by : The Goan
CANACONA
Gaondongrim Sarpanch Dhillon (Yeshwant) Dessai has alleged that materials worth Rs 15 lakh, which were obtained under the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana (PMKSY) for various Anganwadis of Gaondongrim village, have been diverted elsewhere.
Dessai has now threatened to complain to the PMO seeking the Prime Minister’s intervention in the matter.
The Canacona Zonal Agriculture Office (ZAO) in a brief function at the Dy Collectorate building on Wednesday had distributed water filters, tables, steel cupboards and plastic chairs inviting Devalayas and Cooperative Societies from Canacona.
Dessai said these materials had been previously obtained under the PMKSY for the Water Conservation Initiative of ‘Pani Adwa, Pani Jirva scheme, a number of months ago, for distribution to the village Anganwadis as decided by the PMKSY Gaondongrim Village Committee.
“The different materials were lying unutilised in the Agriculture office for over 7 months,” said Dessai while speaking to media persons in the presence of panch Ashok Velip. “As chairman of the PMKSY village committee, I had submitted a list of Anganwadis to the ZAO, but officers apparently acting on political dictates after sitting on the matter for months now, gave away the materials to Devalayas, Cooperative Societies and others at a function where Speaker and Canacona MLA Ramesh Tawadkar was chief guest on Wednesday,” said Dessai.
“However, none of the anganwadis listed by us (the village committee) got these items and many heads of the concerned Anganwadis were questioning us. Many locals were upset that they did not get the materials and even resolved in one of the Gram Sabhas to boycott the Lok Sabha elections in protest. Agriculture officers were given an ultimatum to distribute the approved goods.”
Dessai said a meeting of residents from Gaondongrim will be convened and a decision will be taken regarding the previously issued warning to boycott the Lok Sabha election as Anganwadis had not received the goods as decided by the village committee. “The Gaondongrim panchayat will further complain to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) and seek Prime Minister Narendra Modi's intervention in this regard,” said Dessai.
When the media reportedly contacted Tawadkar, he agreed he was present as chief guest for a distribution function organised by the agriculture department. He insisted that it was for the agriculture department to decide whom to give the materials, and the materials in question had been duly distributed.
When contacted, ZAO Nagesh Komarpant without specifying details said the goods which were available had been distributed on Wednesday.
