Every year on April 24, National Panchayati Raj Day is celebrated by the central government in Delhi. Mohan Verekar from Savoi-Verem once attended this programme as a sarpanch”and he truly deserved it. However, after that, I have neither read nor heard of any sarpanch from Goa receiving such a recognition.
This raises an obvious question: what exactly are the panchayats and their elected representatives in Goa doing? On either side of village roads, one can see overgrown bushes and heaps of garbage. Panchayats collect fees from citizens for garbage collection and its processing. In addition, they receive funds from the government from time to time. Despite this, why are villages not garbage-free?
The truth is that funds are not being utilised properly. Former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi once remarked that out of every rupee sent by the central government, only a fraction actually reaches the ground. Many years later, one wonders whether even that fraction is being spent effectively.
To monitor those who dump garbage, most panchayats have installed CCTV cameras as per High Court directives. However, they are mostly defunct. Non-functional or damaged cameras are not replaced. Should even this require court intervention?
The problem is not limited to garbage. Roadside encroachments mushroom overnight”food stalls, chicken shops, and vehicle repair garages”creating traffic obstructions. It is difficult to deny that such encroachments do not come up without the blessings of the panchayat authorities.
Panchayats have the authority to revise taxes, but the process must be transparent. Public notices are required, yet they are often published in newspapers that villagers hardly read. Is this not an attempt to keep citizens in the dark? Increasing taxes without proper awareness is unjust.
At the same time, no serious efforts are made to recover lakhs in pending dues. Is it fair that honest taxpayers bear the burden while defaulters go scot-free? Panchayat-owned properties remain unpaid for years without recovery action. Contractors are paid advances without deducting TDS”this too demands scrutiny.
While such irregularities persist, Panchayats appear prompt in granting permissions for large housing projects. Citizens are not naive enough to miss the implications.
During Panchayati Raj Day celebrations, much is said about transparency and accountability. However, unless there is a change in the functioning and mindset of panchayat members, such events will remain meaningless.
