AERIAL VIEW
Though there is not much significance to Panchayat Raj in a small state like Goa, yet it is a very important institution.
We may say why do we need panchas when every voter knows the Ministers and MLAs personally? Also most of development works are being carried out by MLAs?
The answer is even if we know MLAs, they will not visit every ward to do your work of overflowing gutters, tree cutting, road widening, supporting people in getting panchayat related documents, garbage management, helping people getting schemes like Swayampurna Goa, Sarkar Tumchya Dari, Ladli Laxmi etc.
No doubt, panchayats are crippled by lack of funds and staff but still it is very jmportant to strengthen the institution.
SURAJ NANDREKAR
Editor, Goemkarponn
The voting for the much-delayed panchayat elections will be held tomorrow, Wednesday, August 10. The results are to be announced on August 12.
Though the elections are not held on party lines, many MLAs and politicians and political parties have floated panels to gain supremacy at the grassroot politics.
Now the question is who should people vote? Is there any meaning for panchayats in Goa? Do the panchs and saepanchas work for people or for themselves or to serve their political masters.
The answer to these questions is simple. Though there is not much significance to Panchayat Raj in a small state like Goa, yet it is a very important institution.
We may say why do we need panchas when every voter knows the Ministers and MLAs personally? Also most of development works are being carried out by MLAs?
The answer is even if we know MLAs, they will not visit every ward to do your work of overflowing gutters, tree cutting, road widening, supporting people in getting panchayat related documents, garbage management, helping people getting schemes like Swayampurna Goa, Sarkar Tumchya Dari, Ladli Laxmi etc.
No doubt, panchayats are crippled by lack of funds and staff but still it is very jmportant to strengthen the institution.
Now whom so we vote? The answer is vote for anybody except the rubber stamps. Those who love to seve the people, solve garbage issues.
Please elect the educated, honest and committed person, who will work for you and not his master and become a mere rubber stamp.
If you elect an illiterate person his or hers only aim would be to make money.
Do we need to say here that the panchas and sarpanchas become crorepatis within few months of elections?
Also, a related allegation is that many panchas and sarpanchas have fielded their spouses as candidates since the wards are reaerved for ladies only to stay in power. The elected women representatives are merely rubber stamps; their husbands or other family members are the ones actually running the show.
As we all know that Panchayati Raj is the outcome of the 73rd amendment of our constitution to access the democracy at its very gross root level.
But people in the rural areas as well as among villages are illiterate, ignorant and have little knowledge of understanding about the policies of government comprising nature of the government and others.
Last tenure of Panchayati Raj had totally rendered the common people irrelevant to its duties and obligations.
As Panchayati representatives remained involved in several illegal activities like illegal constructions, illegal hiuse numbers, environment destruction, galloping BADP, MGNREGA, IAY, etc, funds including others sponsored under many of the central and state government schemes.
Plenty of such complaints regarding misuse of public funds has filed in some hawk-watch agencies like SVO, Vigilance commission, crime branch, local police stations, etc of which some had taken into cognisance so and many of them are under trial against many of the Panchayat members also.
The family members of the panches and sarpanches have been enrolled as village workers or labourers issued with job cards and a huge amount of money has been withdrawn surmounting their heads, which has gone solemnly into their own pockets. In this game, the employees of the concerned block development offices have close connivance with them also.
Meaning they have adopted all kind of unfair means to privilege themselves and their near kiths and kin despite seeking the welfare of poor people in their close vicinity or Panchayat. It is the biggest blunder that they have joked with the democracy.
Conclusion is if government should prescribe an educational standard to qualify for the election of Panchayat members, Sarpanches and other local bodies. Also at least at the grassroot level the panchas must be with unblemished record or any criminal background or cases.