Some issues at the Saligao gram sabha: Nov 19, 2006
---------------------------------------------------
Minutes of the earlier meeting read:
* Road widening at Pequeno MOrod
* New schemes: Rajiv Awaz Yojana; PM Yojana.
* Asphalting of road at D'Mello Vaddo
* Street lights not functioning.
* Widening of road near Casa Tipri
* Follow-up of playground issue
* Lourdes Convent appeal for funds for poor students
* Government primary school maintainence, well for water.
* Below-poverty line candidates
* Right to Information Act.
Villagers present pointed out that the Pequeno Morod road
issue had not been passed, or proposed, as claimed. Nobody
had proposed or seconded the resolution, they noted.
Panchayat's Bholanath Ghadi promised to take corrective
action on this.
Another correction was sought in the fact that the meeting
had ended by 11.15 am, and not at 1 pm, as recorded in the
minutes. A question was also raised as to why meetings were
called at 10 am, when the gram sabha rules required the same
to be held at 11 am. This could lead to some villagers
missing the meetings....
SEE THE FOLLOWING: The Gram Sabha meeting shall be
held at 11.00 hrs. (Refer rule 5 of Gram Sabha
meeting Rules, 1996) The preponing or postponing of
the timing of the meeting is a violation of the rules.
http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/msg00496.html
Panchayat officials however claimed that a resolution had
been taken to hold earlier meetings.
There was also no observer for this meeting, nominated by the
Block Development Officer, the panchayat acknowledged.
It was pointed out that due notice was not given for this
meeting. But the panchayat officials said they had been
directed to hold the meeting by senior officials, and hence
the urgency.
Some issues that were discussed:
* Panchayat members said it was difficult to get NOCs
(no-objection certificates) for the Pequeno Morod road.
* A resolution was passed to work for a government-funded
library to be set up in Saligao.
* The issue of illegal encroachments in the village, and the
panchayat's stance on the same was taken up.
* New panchayat secretary Nagvenkar (check name) was
introduced. He is shared between the Sangolda panchayat
and Saligao's.
* Under the Employment Guarantee Scheme, a villager can
employment for "ten days" in a year, according to the
panchayat. But there seems to be some confusion here, as
the Goa government announcement said "Chief Minister
Pratapsingh Rane launched the Goa Rural Employment
Guarantee Scheme on Monday. It guarantees employment to all
adult persons in every household of the State for not less
than 100 days in the financial year."
http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/27/stories/2006092706180300.htm
* Panchayat officials said they had received a fund of
Rs 55,000 from the RDA for this scheme... which, if
the figures above are accurate, isn't going to go very
far in creating employment! The wages range from Rs 100 to
Rs 125 for skilled and semi-skilled staff.
More on it: http://www.rediff.com/money/2005/aug/22spec1.htm
* Two villagers -- Rosario Julio DSouza Fernandes and Albert
Fernandes of Pequeno Morod -- sought help under the Rajiv
Awaz Yogana for house building/repairs. The panchayat asked
for someone to propose and second the resolution. It was
pointed out that proposing and seconding a resolution did
not amount to passing the resolution. Next, a vote was
sought to be taken by asking if anyone "opposed" the
resolution. It was also pointed out that a vote properly
taken should ask who is both in favour and who is against.
* A matter from Valentino D'Souza was received but not
taken up on the grounds that it was sub-judice. It relates
to the construction of a compound wall under dispute.
* A letter from Joe Fernandes, raising various village
issues, was received a day late (due notice not given).
But the issues were taken up briefly, and it raised
concerns over garbage in the market area, the growth in
number of stray dogs, confidential mail to the panchayat,
how much of building activity is illegal in Saligao,
etc.
* Alice D'Cruz raised the issue of ward members not visiting
their respective wards.
* A villager asked to what extent a 'farm house' could
extend, and was told 4000 sq m.
* Issues raised also pertained to the Tabravaddo road
being in poor shape, cleaning the surroundings of
the temple, and citizens from Pequeno Morod brought
forwards a resolution (passed) saying that mobile
towers should not be built in inhabited areas of the
village.
* Panchayat member Roland D'Souza claimed that he had been
told that the Saligao Civic and Consumers' Forum had
told the lawyer not to go ahead with the garbage case.
* Panchayat officials said attempts to put up a dustbin
in the market area had caused the problem of smell
in the area.
* Villagers asked why street lights were kept on till
10 am, while they were not put on when needed at night.
* Issues of blocked water drains were raised.There
was some talk of a playground in the Sonarbhat
tollem. PWD work resulting in burst pipes and water
wastage was also raised. The meeting ended by noon.
--
FN 9822122436 +91-832-240-9490 (phone calls after 1 pm please)
[http://fn.goa-india.org] [http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers]
_______________________________________________
Saligao 403511 website http://saligao.goa-india.org
Saligaonet mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.goacom.org/mailman/listinfo/saligaonet
