the goan I network
MAPUSA
Most new panch members in Bardez are yet to get their first salary, while some senior members have not received their pay for almost six months.
Some sarpanchas and senior panch members, who have been re-elected, have failed to get salary for the two months of their last term besides four months of the current term.
"It's a total failure on the part of the government," said Shivdas Kambli, Deputy Sarpanch of Tivim blaming the government for delay in releasing the salary of the panch members.
He said at least four members of Tivim who were re-elected during this term have not received salary for six months.
Assagao Sarpanch, Jalindar Gaonkar informed that none of his panch members have received salary so far. Panch members of Calangute and Anjuna have also not been lucky.
However, Nachinola Sarpanch, Preeti Bandodkar said all the panch members of the panchayat had received their salary during the Chaturthi and Diwali.
Director of Panchayat, Sandhya Kamat informed that the government had released the salaries and it could have been stuck due to failure of the BDOs to submit relevant bills.
"There was a problem in Salcete but as far as I know all salaries of panchayat members of Bardez have been released," Kamat said.
She said at times delay in sending relevant documents to the accounts department could lead to delay in releasing the funds.
"In any case, I will look into the matter," the director said.
It may be recalled that Panchayat Minister, Mauvin Godinho had recently attributed the delay in salary payment to the incomplete process of hiking salaries of the elected representatives of panchayats.
Currently, sarpanchas are paid Rs 4,000, deputy sarpanchas Rs 3,500 and panch members Rs 3,000 per month.
