Local leaders flag health and civic gaps as CM announces steps on hospital services and employment schemes
Chief Minister Pramod Sawant listens to a senior citizen during the Sarkar Tumchya Dari outreach programme held in Ponda on Friday.
PANAJI
Ponda saw the relaunch of Chief Minister Pramod Sawant’s flagship outreach programme Sarkar Tumchya Dari (Government at Your Doorstep) on Friday.
The event was held at the Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir in Ponda. It featured political exchanges and local concerns. Dr Ketan Bhatikar raised issues specific to Ponda and sought urgent steps to improve health services and civic infrastructure.
Responding to the concerns, Sawant said the process to appoint a neurosurgeon at the sub-district hospital in Ponda has begun. He also asked the municipality to provide land for a city bus station.
The chief minister said the government is committed to fulfilling the vision of late leader Ravi Naik. He added that the double-engine government is rolling out schemes across Goa for public convenience and accused the opposition of misleading people with baseless claims.
Sawant said crores of rupees are being spent on cleanliness drives and highlighted schemes aimed at tackling unemployment. “Special schemes have been launched to address unemployment. Youth should make use of these opportunities,” he said.
The programme was attended by Power Minister Sudin Dhavalikar, Water Resources Minister Subhash Shirodkar, MLA Govind Gaude, Ponda Municipal Council chairperson Virendra Dhavalikar, Rajiv Gandhi Kala Mandir president Ritesh Naik, AP members Ganpat Naik, Pritesh Gaonkar and Gauri Shirodkar, Sarpanch Naved Tehsildar, and other dignitaries.
Dhavalikar said the government has expanded facilities under Sarkar Tumchya Dari and urged citizens to benefit from the schemes. Shirodkar called for joint efforts to make Antruj Mahal a leading region, stressing cooperation between the people and the government. Sawant reiterated that the programme aims to bring governance closer to citizens.
The relaunch in Ponda is part of a wider push to strengthen grassroots governance. The initiative aims to ensure delivery of welfare schemes, address local grievances, and improve the government’s reach at the constituency level.
While the government highlighted its work, local voices at the event underlined issues that are yet to be resolved.
