PANAJI: The Directorate of Panchayats has begun reviewing village panchayats that failed to conduct their mandatory gram sabhas during the first quarter of the current financial year, directing Block Development Officers (BDOs) to verify the status and ensure the pending meetings are held at the earliest.
According to senior officials, BDOs have been asked to submit reports explaining why gram sabhas were not convened in certain villages. After reviewing these reports, the Directorate will instruct the defaulting panchayats to organise the missed meetings without further delay.
Officials clarified that the information available on the NIRNAY portal may not present the complete picture, as technical issues with the online platform could have delayed the uploading of gram sabha records.
As per the Goa Panchayat Raj Act, every village panchayat must hold gram sabhas at regular intervals, with the first meeting of each financial year required between April and June. These meetings provide villagers with an opportunity to review panchayat functioning, discuss development projects, and pass resolutions on matters affecting their communities.
The responsibility for convening a gram sabha lies with the sarpanch in consultation with elected members. If the meeting is not called, the concerned BDO is expected to step in and ensure compliance with the statutory provisions.
The Directorate said it will first seek explanations from panchayats that failed to conduct the meetings. While the Goa Panchayat Raj Act does not specify a direct penalty for such lapses, repeated non-compliance could lead to stricter administrative measures, including the Director of Panchayats summoning the sarpanch, seeking an explanation, and directing the immediate conduct of the gram sabha.
Officials further noted that technical glitches on the Union Government’s digital platform for recording gram sabha proceedings may have contributed to incomplete or delayed updates on the NIRNAY portal.
