PANAJI
Aam Aadmi Party has some new faces contesting the Zilla Panchayat elections and they come into the electoral battle with the sole idea of bringing about a change in the system.
Hanzel Fernandes who is contesting from Benaulim constituency is a newcomer to politics. Hanzel said he is contesting the elections to bring about a change since he is new and will have new ideas to deal with the problems as against others who have been in the same game for years.
“Despite being in the coastal belt and of touristic importance my constituency does not get proper water supply and people have to stay awake late night or get up early in the morning to fill up their tanks,” he said.
Besides, he said health care is a cause of concern as the constituency does not have a health centre and people have to go either to Chinchinim or Cansaulim health centres for their checkups. “The sub-centre at Carmona is not upgraded and does not fulfil the needs of the people,” he added.
Hanzel said he along with other youngsters were discussing how the village has changed from a green spot into a concrete jungle over the years and the way narrow and bad roads are causing accidents every day, and to change this situation he has decided to contest the elections.
Hanzel stressed the need to set up markets for local produce where farmers would be able to sell locally grown vegetables and fruits and where even the local fishermen could sell their catch instead of erecting temporary stalls by the roadside as is done at present.
“The government is not attending to the actual needs of the people which is actual development but under the name of development is undertaking works that are not required like road widening or double-tracking the railway line,” he said.
