the goan I networkrMAPUSA rrThe sarpanchas also said that such an idea would in fact lead to chaos and could turn out to be counterproductive. rThe most stringent attack against the move came from Verla-Canca Sarpanch, Milton Marques, who said the idea was absurd and absolutely wrong. r“It just beats me. How can a staff from the local area be rude to people from their own locality? I feel the suggestion is completely absurd and I will oppose it completely,” Marques said. rIt may be recalled that Panchayat Minister, Mauvin Godinho on Wednesday said he was examining the issue of introducing a common cadre for panchayat staff and workers to facilitate better functioning of the panchayats. rGodinho said some panchayat employees who have been stuck at one place for years dictate terms to the sarpanch and the elected members. r“With common cadre, we will be able to transfer them to other panchayats,” he had said. rThe Verla-Canca sarpanch further said that the decision if implemented will lead to chaos, affecting the functioning of the panchayat. He also said government’s plan to introduce common cadre in panchayats would put democracy under stress.“It would amount to government taking over the powers of local self-governing bodies,” Marques added. rSeconding him was Aldona Sarpanch, Gajanand Haldankar. He said the staff in Aldona Panchayat was good and cooperated with all the members and even the locals who came for their work in the panchayat. “We will definitely oppose the common cadre proposal of the government,” Haldankar said. rFormer sarpanch and presently the deputy sarpanch of Tivim, Shivdas Kambli was also against the plan. He said local staff was in much better position to understand and explain to people who come for their work in the panchayat office. rContrary to the pessimistic vibes, Assagao Sarpanch, Jalindar Gaonkar felt that it was a good proposal and if implemented properly could actually help in running the panchayats smoothly. r“Some staff that has been there for many years at times refuses to even listen to the sarpanch. The sword of transfer will definitely bring some control over such elements,” he said. rGoankar, however, felt that the staff should not be transferred to far off places which could be counterproductive. r“The government can come up with a mechanism where the staff in Bardez is transferred within the taluka instead of transferring them to South Goa or some other panchayats,” he said. rTaking a somewhat defensive stand on the issue, Parra Sarpanch Delilah Lobo opined that the decision could be beneficial to some panchayats. rShe said the decision could be implemented in panchayats where all records were computerized. r“In panchayats where records are stored in physical form, the sarpanch has to depend on the clerk concerned for a particular file. In such cases, a clerk from another panchayat will get completely lost,” rshe averred. rStating that there were some positives and some negatives in the proposal, she said it would be better if the government does a survey to find out which panchayats have records computerized and which have not. rrIf a staff member from Benaulim Panchayat is posted in Verla-Canca, he will have no idea of people in Verla-Canca, leading to utter confusion in the working of the panchayat. r”Milton Marques, Verla-Canca Sarpanch rrWe will definitely oppose the common cadre proposal of the government. r”Gajanand Haldankar, Aldona Sarpanch rrThe sword of transfer will definitely bring some control. r”Jalindar Gaonkar, Assagao Sarpanch rrThe decision could be implemented in panchayats where all records are computerized. r”Delilah Lobo, Parra Sarpanch
P’yat common cadre gets thumbs down in Bardez
Giving thumbs down to the plan of forming a common cadre for the panchayat staff, most sarpanchas in Bardez said it was a bad idea and would not serve the purpose it was intended for.
