MARGAO: “How serious is the government about the Agriculture Policy?” is the question that comes to mind given the manner in which the discussions on the proposed policy at the special gram sabha today were either held or not held
Recognising that agriculture is on the decline in the State and as Goa does not have an agriculture policy, the government decided to formulate one.
Following a representation by Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir, Agriculture Minister Ravi Naik vide letter dated September 18, 2023 asked the panchayats to discuss suggestions for this policy at the Special Gram Sabha held on October 2.
Ironically while this letter was supposed to be sent to all the around 200 panchayats in Goa, some panchayats did not receive it and hence did not discuss the policy at the gram sabha held today.
The panchayats of Netravali, Kalay and Uguem in Sanguem taluka did not receive this letter and hence the agriculture policy was not discussed in these villages which are primarily agrarian.
But what have raised eyebrows and even protests at some places is, the government’s attempts to sideline agriculture and ask the panchayats to take up other programs at the same time.
Vide a circular dated September 28, the panchayats were directed to participate in the live online interaction with Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant under Swayampurna Goem, which was scheduled to commence at 10 am.
At many places villagers objected to this clash of programmes and at Chandor-Cavorim the villagers including some panchayat members walked out and did not participate in this programme.
Only the Sarpanch, Secretary, one panch member and the Village Development Committee convenor attended the programme, but despite repeated efforts could not participate and speak to the chief minister.
“This is nothing but a farce and pre-planned programme where only previously selected persons are allowed to talk to the chief minister,” said the Chandor Cavorim VDC convener, J D’Silva.
At Nuvem which has 11 panchayat members, there were only six villagers present for the gram sabha which included the Sarpanch, Deputy Sarpanch and two panchayat members, one of whom sauntered in long after the gram sabha began.
The only two villagers present were Jose Roque Andrade who was the Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee and Zarina da Cunha who is also a member of the BMC.
Nuvem Sarpanch Freda D’Sa said two other panchayat members who had come for the gram sabha had to leave early and added that usually the attendance for special gram sabha is poor while there is a good crowd for the regular gram sabha.
The third programme that clashed with the discussion on the Agriculture Policy was the Health Department’s programme to educate people about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which is supposed to be a Central scheme like the DDSSY scheme of the State offering insurance to people.
Under this scheme, the beneficiaries are already identified by the Social Welfare department as economic condition and social status is a determining factor.
At Nuvem which has 11 panchayat members, there were only six villagers present for the gram sabha which included the Sarpanch, Deputy Sarpanch and two panchayat members, one of whom sauntered in long after the gram sabha began.
The only two villagers present were Jose Roque Andrade who was the Chairman of the Biodiversity Management Committee and Zarina da Cunha who is also a member of the BMC.
Nuvem Sarpanch Freda D’Sa said two other panchayat members who had come for the gram sabha had to leave early and added that usually the attendance for special gram sabha is poor while there is a good crowd for the regular gram sabha.
The third programme that clashed with the discussion on the Agriculture Policy was the Health Department’s programme to educate people about the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana which is supposed to be a Central scheme like the DDSSY scheme of the State offering insurance to people.
Under this scheme, the beneficiaries are already identified by the Social Welfare department as economic condition and social status is a determining factor.
However, at Chandor-Cavorim, Dr Varsha said she did not have the list of the beneficiaries identified from the village and promised to send it to the panchayat.
At Nuvem, Zarina da Cunha objected to the health officials wasting their time with their talks and asked them to first ensure that the DDSSY scheme is implemented properly.
Interestingly, at Sao Jose de Areal the villagers prevailed upon the panchayat to hold another gram sabha on October 8, with a single agenda being the agriculture policy.
Social activist from the village Fredy Travassi lamented that the panchayat had publicised rabies injection through an announcement in the church, but failed to publicise the discussion on agriculture policy.
The panchayat has now been asked to publicise the gram sabha on October 8, so that farmers can given their inputs.