TEAM GOEMKARPONN
CANACONA: A day after holding an All-Women (Mahila) Gramsabha, Agonda Panchayat held its first-ever Bal-Gramsabha as children put forth their demand for Children Park in the village.
Making alone and raising only demand, children numbering about 70 from the two different schools in the village demanded a ‘Children’s Park’ in the village from the Sarpanch at the Bal-Gramsabha.
Earlier, Sarpanch Prettal Fernandes expressed her personal experiences and provided understanding to the children as to what is a panchayat and Gramsabha, besides seeking to know from the children about the knowledge of their respective panch members elected by their elders to represent their respective wards in the panchayat body.
Then Fernandes provided information as to how the elected members function and are supposed to work to bring out the development and improvement of public-related services.
Also explained how and why certain issues are taken up by the panchayat and put forth to the government for its implementation.
More than 70 children, mostly school-going children from the village’s two schools (St. Anne’s Institute and Govt High School) were shown videos and cited examples of road traffic disciplines and were apprised of the dangers of riding bikes or driving Cars underaged and without Driving licences.
ASI (Traffic) Vasu P Gaonkar gave a pep talk to the enthusiastic children on the dangers and pros and cons of careless driving or riding on the roads, and guided children non Traffic rules and regulations, Traffic signboards, showed videos of accidents, gave some examples how social media ill-equips/spoils young minds to drive fast.
“Presently, you are under-aged, but you all are the future riders and drivers. When you attain the age to drive/ride, see that you don’t put your life as well as others’ lives in danger and you can do it by being a responsible citizen”, Gaonkar told the children.
Dr. Classie Furtado from Health Services explained to the children in simple words why children should be abreast of personal hygiene and diet as well for sustaining a healthy life.
Sarpanch Prettal Fernandes, Agonda Panchayat Secretary Amol Naik Gaonkar, BDO Staffer Harsha Naik Gaonkar, Dy. Sarpanch Karuna Faldessai were present as panchayat representative while, ASI (Traffic)- Vasu P Gaonkar, CHC/Health Departments Kanvisha Fal, Aayush Doctor Shradha Naik, ANM Nurse-Dipali Pagi, Bro. Vikas Pagi, Dr. Classie Furtado and Home Guard Nilesh Velip were present.
