MAPUSA
The special gram sabha convened as part of the programme to celebrate National Panchayat Raj day turned out to be a damp squib in Bardez as most people were not aware of the special meeting and therefore failed to attend it.
Absence of villagers forced sarpanchas of most panchayats to adjourn the gram sabhas for nearly an hour in order to form the quorum.
“We had to literally beg with the people on the phone to come for the gram sabha or else there was no possibility to form the quorum,” a panchayat member said on condition of anonymity.
Surprisingly, some department officials who were supposed to attend the gram sabhas to explain about various government schemes also failed to attend the meeting.
The special gram sabha in Calangute resolved to write to the water resources department (WRD) urging them to install the water connections promised under the ‘Har Ghar Jal’ scheme.
“Almost 100 houses had applied for the connections under the Har Ghar Jal scheme but not a single one has been released. The villagers have requested the WRD to release these connections,” said Cheryl Lobo, Acting Sarpanch of Calangute.
The officials of the fisheries department explained to the villagers about various schemes meant for fishermen through which they can get loans to buy boats.
The Candolim special gram sabha held a discussion on good governance and women’s empowerment.
