the goan I network
MARGAO
As the controversy rages over the reservation of Zilla Panchayat constituencies, women voters of the Pajifond ward of Margao Municipal Council have a question or two ahead of the municipal polls scheduled in October later this year “ will the powers ever mete out justice to the fairer sex by reserving the Pajifond seat for women?
It is about 30 years now, three decades to be precise, that Pajifond ward has never been reserved for women, a situation attributed to manipulations by the local players to cling on to power with the help and connivance of the powers that be controlling Fatorda’s politics of one-upmanship.
And, the question whether Pajifond will be reserved for women or not has come at a time when the male local players once again appear to be bracing up to throw their hat in the municipal election ring due in eight months from now.
If former Margao Municipal Council Chairperson Santosh Pai Raiturkar had represented the Pajifond ward for two-terms, his successor Raju Naik had held the seat for 15 long years before being unseated by incumbent councillor Angelis Pereira.
Reports that Raju Naik has again set his eyes on Pajifond and his rival Angelis preparing the ground for yet another battle with his bete noire in the coming election has only raised eyebrows whether women from Pajifond will once again miss the reservation bus in 2020.
Given the situation, local residents look at the key political players, Fatorda MLA Vijai Sardesai and former two-time BJP MLA Damu Naik to do justice to the women from Pajifond by reserving the seat for members of the fairer sex.
“It’s an open secret that reservations of wards and constituencies are decided not on merit, but on political considerations. If the incumbent MLA and the former MLA insist that women power should reign supreme in Pajifond for the next five years, both Vijai and Damu should ensure justice for the womenfolk,” remarked a woman from Pajifond.
She added: “Let the political leaders have their candidates in the fray, we will not mind. Our only plea to the BJP as well as the Goa Forward is to reserve the Pajifond ward for women at least in the coming election”.
Women and child rights activist Auda Viegas said it’s indeed surprising that the Pajifond ward has not been reserved for women for the last 30 years. “I have nothing against anyone, but the fact remains that if the law provides for reservation for women for the local civic bodies, Pajifond cannot be an exception. Hope better sense would prevail and local players will bat for women reservation in Pajifond,” she added.
In the run-up to the 2015 municipal polls, Auda and many women had pinned their hopes on then Director of Municipal Administration Elvis Gomes to go by the letter and spirit behind the 74th Constitutional Amendment by reserving Pajifond for women, but in vain.
