Benaulim panchayat serves notices to ward panel members

MARGAO: Against the backdrop of the recent trend at gram sabhas, where villagers insist that the ward committee submits its report to the pancahyat before the budget is passed, the Benaulim panchayat has served notices to their ward committee members and convened a meeting next Sunday. Benaulim panchayat officials informed that the panchayat had served notices to the ward members and those who don't respond to the same will be asked to step down.
Panch member Jose Camilo, who is also a ward development officer on the committee, blamed several factors for the delay in preparing the committee reports. He claimed that the committees, that were formed during the tenure of former sarpanch Royla Fernandes, require the presence of the convenor, panchayat secretary and sarpanch, and that there was lack of coordination between these roles that was hindered the functioning of the ward committees.
According to the directorate of pancahyats, every gram sabha has to constitute two or more ward development committees and the constitution, role and functions of these committees shall be as prescribed in the panchayat rules. "The ward development committee shall assist the village in preparation of the draft development plans for the sectors allotted to them. The panchayat shall then consolidate these sectoral plans into a village development plan. The panchayat shall then place the same before the gram sabha for its approval and forward the same to their respective district panchayats" reads the definition of ward development committees.