MARGAO
Administrator of Comunidades, South zone, Ganesh Barve has set in motion the process to implement the amended Article 181-A, empowering the government to appoint Mamlatdars or Joint Mamlatdars as custodians of comunidade bodies where elections could not be held for these bodies.
Components of the comunidade bodies have sounded a word of caution to the government before implementing the provisions of the 2024 Amendment.
President of Margao Comunidade, Savio Corriea, told 'The Goan' that though the government has empowered itself under the recent amendment to the Code of Comunidades to take over the custody of comunidades that did not convene for elections, he feels that this step ought to be taken only as a last resort.
“Efforts must be made to scout for able and willing components for appointment as the managing committee, as was being done earlier. If the amendment is implemented, more than half the comunidades could come under government control over the next triennium,” Correia warned.
The South Goa Comunidades Administrator, in a memorandum, has directed the Escrivaos to compile a list of comunidade bodies wherein elections for members of the managing committee could not take place within the time limit specified in Article 47.
When contacted by 'The Goan', Administrator Ganesh Barve clarified that the exercise is part of the process to ensure the smooth implementation of the amended Article 181-A. He explained, “As per the Amendment, the Administrator is required to seek a detailed report from the Escrivaos of comunidade bodies where the elections to the managing committees could not be held. After the report, my office will send a report to the government for further action,” he said.
However, Barve emphasised that the process would end after submitting the report to the government. "It is then for the government to decide how to proceed with these defaulting comunidade bodies," he added.
As things stand today, one-third of the comunidade bodies in South Goa, i.e. 30 out of the total 90 comunidade bodies in the South Zone, have defaulted in holding elections for the managing committees. Of the 30 defaulting comunidades, 20 are from Salcete, six from Mormugao, three from Quepem, and one from Sanguem taluka.
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ARTICLE 181-A: PROVISIONS
- The amended Article 181-A of the Goa Code of Comunidades allows the government to appoint a Mamlatdar or Joint Mamlatdar as a custodian for Comunidade bodies that fail to hold elections
- The custodian will take over the powers and functions of the managing committee for the triennium. Members of the Comunidade can appeal the custodian's decisions to the respective administrator
- Additionally, the custodian's decisions requiring government approval must follow existing processes, and the government has the authority to review any decisions made by the custodian or administrator within one year. This provision aims to ensure the smooth functioning of Comunidades despite election failures.
