Lukewarm response to ZP polls<http://www.navhindtimes.in/news/goa-news/9453-lukewarm-response-to-zp-polls>
Written by RAIKAR/ ABDUL BEIG Monday, 08 March 2010 01:21 · PANAJI: The indifference on the part of state government towards the Zilla Panchayats in the state, by way of holding back powers to these grassroots local government bodies, found its reflection throughout the ZP election conducted in the North district of Goa. Altogether 30 zilla panchayat constituencies in North Goa underwent polls on Sunday; however, 118 candidates as well as their supporters seemed to be the only ones interested in the electoral exercise, with most of the 4,53,209 ZP voters in the district opting to stay away from the polling booths. Interestingly, number of supporters of various political parties were seen moving with many candidates even though the polls are not contested on party symbols. Voting for the 18 of the 20 zilla panchayat constituencies in South Goa was held largely in a peaceful atmosphere and no untoward incident was reported. While one candidate was elected unopposed from Colva constituency, election to the Navelim constituency has been countermanded following the death of a candidate. The Sattari taluka in the North, with both its ZP constituencies namely Honda and Nagargao drawing voters, appeared to be the only taluka where voters turned out at the polling booths in substantial numbers. The other talukas in North Goa – Pernem, Bicholim, Bardez, Tiswadi, and Ponda – witnessed lacklustre response from the voters. A visit to the Bardez taluka showed that most of the eight ZP constituencies in this taluka namely Tivim, Aldona, Penha da Franca, Reis Magos, Calangute, Anjuna, Saligao and Siolim had multi-cornered contests, with three to four candidates contesting the election in some of these constituencies. The Siolim ZP constituency had seven candidates battling it out. Less voter turnout and more number of candidates may result in division of votes in such constituencies. The voters in Mandrem, Korgao, Dhargal and Torsem ZP constituencies in Pernem taluka also expressed lack of interest in the election even though queues were seen at few polling booths in this taluka. Some of the Pernem voters who opted to abstain from voting said that they, in general, are depressed with the existing political scenario in the state and cared less if it was a parliamentary, assembly of ZP election. Few of the local farmers and cultivators also said that key issues like use of agricultural lands for the Sports City and Mopa international airport were ignored by the government as well as local village panchayats right from the beginning, which have made them ignore the ZP polls. The Taleigao, St Cruz, Chimbel, Agassaim, Chorao and Cumbharjua ZP constituencies in Tiswadi had mixed response for the election, with the Chimbel constituency witnessing large crowds of voters at the polling booths, most of the voters being coaxed by the candidates to exercise their electoral right. Some polling booths in Taleigao also had queues of voters during later part of the day. The Bicholim taluka with Latambarsem, Mayem, Pale and Kudnem ZP constituencies while Ponda taluka with Tivrem, Veling, Kavlem, Curti and Shiroda ZP constituencies witnessed few pocket areas, especially stronghold of some political parties attracting crowds of voters. Few of the polling booths in these talukas were also devoid of voters, as was noticed. In general, various areas in North Goa were seen dominated by political parties and certain individual politicians, thus drawing voters from these areas to polling booths. At other places, the situation was too gloomy to pull out voters from their houses, as these voters neither had any motivation nor will to vote. “The Zilla Panchayat concept just cannot work in Goa; it is clear waste of public time and money,” said one North Goa voter from Pale constituency. That explains the response to ZP polls in North Goa. In South district, though there was commotion in Velim constituency on Saturday night after it was reported that a minister was distributing cash to seek votes in favour of a particular candidate, voting on Sunday was largely peaceful. With voters trickling in regularly, polling officials were kept busy throughout the day. The locals, however, informed that there was not much enthusiasm among the voters of the ZP constituencies in South Goa, as is otherwise seen in gram panchayat or the assembly elections. Few vehicles were seen carrying voters to the booths in South Goa district and enquiries revealed that the vehicles belonged to the relatives or friends of the people who boarded them. According to the information provided by some youth “hanging” around the voting booths, most of the voters had turned up at the polling stations at the behest of the elected representatives (MLAs, panchas, etc) or other leaders who were backing one candidate or the other to ensure their victories. Many people in the district informed that Zilla Panchayats (with hardly any ‘relevant’ power) did not matter much for the people and as such there was hardly any enthusiasm among the voters to rush to the voting booths. A number of people preferred to cast their votes when the polling began at 8 a.m. to beat the heat and free themselves to be able to take up other chores, but as the day progressed the number of voters at the booths became lesser, with there being no queues at most of the polling stations. Absence of queues at the polling stations was a blessing in disguise for the people and helped the voters to finish their ‘job’ quickly and return to their homes. http://www.navhindtimes.in/news/goa-news/9453-lukewarm-response-to-zp-polls Institution of Irrelevance<http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinions/9476-institution-of-irrelevance> Written by NT Network Monday, 08 March 2010 01:32 http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinions/9476-institution-of-irrelevance <http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinions/9476-institution-of-irrelevance##> <http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinions/9476-institution-of-irrelevance##> <http://www.navhindtimes.in/opinions/9476-institution-of-irrelevance##> PANCHAYAT institutions are supposed to be vehicles of socio-economic transformation in rural India. But the indifference of the people towards the elections to the Zilla Panchayats held in the state on Sunday explicitly underlines the fact that this institution is losing its relevance. Either in South Goa or in North Goa the voters lacked that element of enthusiasm as is otherwise seen in gram panchayat or the assembly elections. Peoples’ indifference is indeed the matter of concern for the future of the Zilla Panchayats. The reports emanating from the two districts make it clear that the indifference of the state government towards the Zilla Panchayats, by refusing to devolve the powers to this grassroot local body, found its reflection in the peoples’ averseness. Most of the voters had turned up because the local MLAs or other leaders wanted them to vote for particular candidates. Significantly, the role and nature of the style of functioning of the political leaders and parties also made the people to remain inside their homes. If the voters from Pernem are to be believed they opted to abstain from voting as they are depressed with the existing political scenario in the state. Certainly this would not augur well for the state or its political system. For quite some time the North Goa Zilla Panchayat chief, Ms Amol Morajkar has been harping on the issue that Zilla panchayats are irrelevant. The ZP’s key task was to prepare plans for economic development and social justice in the district and coordinate their execution. But ZPs have failed to play that role. The reason is they are not fully supported by the state government. They even did not receive adequate funds to undertake developmental works as envisaged in the 73rd and 74th amendments to the Constitution. Ironically, even after two years of submission of the report by the State Finance Commission, the state government is reluctant to implement the recommendations for improving the functioning of panchayats and ensure that overlapping of developmental works does not take place at the level of gram panchayats and Zilla Panchayats. There is no denying the fact that over the years the Zilla Panchayats have become pocket boroughs of powerful state politicians who use them for their personal and political gains. Basically this was the reason that they were on the roads, on Sunday, persuading the voters to cast their votes. It is unfortunate that devolution of power and funds have been blocked in the tussle of power between legislators and panchayat members. If the government is keen to protect this body it should provide autonomy to it and allow it to function independently. -- -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. Miguel Braganza, S-1 Gracinda Apts, Rajvaddo, Mapusa 403507 Goa Ph +91-9822982676;91-832-2255913 www.ofai.org www.pgsorganic.in Horticulture.Facilitation.Networking -.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.
