PANAJI
Scenes of citizens pouring out their grievances and also voicing their angst against inefficient functioning of the administration dominated proceedings at the ‘Prashasan Tumchea Dari’ (administration to doorstep) programme launched by the Pramod Sawant government at taluka headquarters across the State on Friday.
The exercise presided by a Cabinet minister in each of the 12 talukas received a good response in most places and saw many senior citizens raising concerns of mobile towers being located in residential areas, besides individual cases of being stuck in bureaucratic red-tape.
Several complaints were related to the inefficiency of staff at government offices particularly those tasked with issuing routine documents and certificates such as birth, residence, etc.
In one case at Mapusa, a senior citizen narrated to the shock of all present, of how the case of his mutation application was stick for the last 17 years.
The programme has been launched by the Sawant-led government on the eve of its first anniversary. Sawant took office post the February 2022 election on March 26 last year.
In Quepem, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant interacted and heard grievances of the elected representatives of the local bodies and general public.
He listened to the general public individually and asked administrative officers to address their issues and difficulties.
He said his government had decided 10 focal points which include housing for all, sanitation for all, financial security for all, social security for all, equipment for divyang, Kisan credit card, Kisan card for all, fisheries card for all and through Swayampurna Goa programme 98% of the population has been made aware of various schemes of Government.
In Pernem, WRD Minister Subhash Shirodkar said stakeholders of the government should ensure that schemes implemented in the interest of the people should reach the needy, a record of which should be maintained to enable to set a target in future.
Locals demanded that electricity cables dangling dangerously be put in place and clearing of pending cases in the deputy collector’s office as well as the mamlatdar’s office.
They also demanded repairing of potholes on the roads before the monsoon, providing a taxi counter for the landless and compensation to those who have lost their land for the Mopa Airport.
Transport and Panchayats Minister Mauvin Gudinho assured that transport issues in Sattari taluka would be solved as the government is hiring private buses under KTC.
He also informed that the government is in process of purchasing 500 electric buses, of which some will be deployed in Sattari on priority.
In Canacona, PWD Minister Nilesh Cabral chided 2 local elected representatives for their unreasonable demands and also rebuked a PWD officer for seeking ‘priority’ to carry out regular department works.
Cabral was informed that the 5-year CRZ licences/NOCs issued to tourism stakeholders are expiring this year and was urged to explore the possibility of extending the NOCs by at least a year, so that the tourism stakeholders will get some respite in their trade and need not dismantle their structures after the end of this season.
Various problems pertaining to sanitation, water, power, government facilities and poor service from government staff were raised at Bicholim.
People from Bicholim, Mayem and Sankhali constituencies put forth their problems and grievances during the meet with Social Welfare Minister Subhash Phaldessai.
In Ponda, Revenue Minister Atanasio 'Babush' Monserrate heard the grievances of people regarding garbage, property and land disputes in addition to hearing about specific job-related and other issues.
Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte was inundated with a host of issues as he embarked on the government’s administration to the doorsteps exercise in Saxttidom, promising a follow up on the issues with officials, going to the extent of handing out an assurance that the exercise will not be a one-time affair.
