the goan I network
MARGAO
The Director of Panchayats ambitious participatory Gram Panchayat Development Plan programme in Salcete via the special gram sabhas on October 2 virtually came a cropper after officials of various government departments played truant.
The Directorate of Panchayats had directed the village panchayats to hold special gram sabhas on October 2 with the specific agenda of involving the people at the grassroots to deliberate on the projects to be undertaken in the villages under the GPDP.
While most of the panchayats had held a host of awareness programs ahead of the October 2 special gram sabha to get the people to attend the meet, the resources persons, mostly officials of government departments, failed to turn up at most of the gram sabhas.
Take the case of Colva.
Sarpanch Anthony Mama Fernandes informed that the resource persons played truant since not a single official turned up for the gram sabha to guide the members on how to go about in identifying the projects.
“Members who had attended the gram sabha were upset over the attitude of the government officials. Many of them remarked that the absence of the officials only shows their commitment to the grassroot panchayat institutions,” the Sarpanch added.
Camurlim Sarpanch Basil Fernandes echoed similar sentiments.
“Not a single official representing the 10-11 government departments turned up,” Basil said.
The situation at other gram sabhas was no different.
At Dramapur-Sirlim, Sarpanch Sanjana Chari said only two officials, representing Zonal Agricultural Officer and Women and Child Development turned up for the meeting.
That’s not all. The health department, the Sarpanch said, had earlier informed about its inability to send its official for the gram sabha due to manpower constraints.
At the Assolna gram sabha, only a lone health official turned up for the special gram sabha.
If Sarpanch Xavier Almeida is to be believed, the woman official left the meeting within half hour on grounds that she has to attend a similar gram sabha at Velim panchayat.
“Our gram sabha members were upset after the official left the meeting without making any presentation on the health projects that could be taken up in the village,” Xavier added.
Velim Sarpanch Savio D’Silva said the preparatory GPDP could not take off for want of government officials. He said only a lone official, representing the health department, turned up for the gram sabha, adding that the panchayat was told by the Block Development Office that around 10-11 officials will attend and assist the gram sabha with their Gram Panchayat Development Plan.
When The Goan called up the Salcete Block Development Officer Amitesh Shirodkar to shed light on the issue, he expressed his helplessness, saying that his office had informed the heads of each of the government department to attend the gram sabha.
Shirodkar pointed out that letters were dispatched to the Health Officer, Community health centre, CPDO, Water Resources department, Zone Agriculture Officer, Animal Husbandry, Electricity department, Fisheries Director, PWD Roads, PWD- Water supply, Director of Tribal welfare, etc.
“I will send a report to the Panchayat Director on the failure of the government officials to attend the gram sabhas,” Shirodkar added.
