Work at BDO, panchayats come to standstill
Most staff deputed for work on revision of electoral rolls, agri census
MAPUSA
With the task of revision of electoral rolls kick starting on Thursday coupled with the ongoing agriculture census, work in the Block Development Office and various panchayats in Bardez has come to a standstill.
The Booth Level Officers (BLOs) from the BDO and the secretary, clerk and gram sevaks from the panchayats have been deputed either for the revision of the rolls or the agriculture census work.
The revision of electoral rolls which began on Thursday (September 15) is expected to take minimum 45 days and will end only on October 31.
“With most of our staff deputed for revision of electoral rolls and the agriculture census, our office is completely paralyzed. The people who visit the BDO office are the worst sufferers, as they are caught unawares,” said an officer in BDO.
Earlier, the election-related work used to be carried out either after working hours or on Saturdays and Sundays. But this time due to the mammoth task entailed in revising the electoral rolls, the Election Commission has directed that the staff be posted for full 45 days.
Simultaneously, agriculture census is also going on where the staff has to visit door to door and collect data from individuals in agriculture business.
More importantly, the panchayats have to also prepare the Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) within this month to avail funds as per the 14th Finance Commission.
“If panchayats fail to submit the GPDP within this month work on the 14th Finance Commission will be held up and the panchayats may not be able to avail the funds,” an officer in the know told The Goan.
Frequent staff transfer and officials asked to hold dual charge only adds to the problem and slows down work.
Director of Panchayats, Gurudas Pilarnkar said such situation was quite normal during the election time and the government was helpless.
“Such things happen during the election time. We are aware of it but can do very little,” Pilarnkar said.
