Moodubelle: Grama Sabha focuses on the common problems faced by the villagers

By Eugene Moodubelle
Pictures by Anil Alva
Bellevision Media Network

Moodubelle, 18 February 2011: The second Grama Sabha of the villagers from Moodubelle, Padubelle and kattingeri villages for the year 2010-2011 was held in the premises of the Belle Grama Panchayat (BGP) office on Friday, 18th February 2011 at 10.30 am. The Grama Sabha was presided over by the President of  the BGP, Mrs. Jacintha Aranha and was attended by the elected representatives of the BGP, various departmental officers, staff of the BGP and recently elected member of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat-Mrs. Stella Ida D’Souza and the newly elected President of the Udupi Taluk Panchayat-Devdas Hebbar. Quite a number of villagers from BGP jurisdiction were present for the meeting.

 

Following the customary welcome by the member of the BGP-A.G. D’Souza, the former president of the BGP-Sashidhar Wagle in his introductory address pointed out the need to have the Ward level meetings prior to the Grama Sabha so that the grass-root problems and  the needs of the villagers at the ward level could be articulated during the Grama Sabha. However, he pointed out that very few people make it a point to attend such meetings and even the larger meetings such as the Grama Sabha.

 

Officers representing various departments that are concerned with the village administration such as Primary Health Centre, Women and Child Development Department (Anganwadi), Nodal Officer, Veterinary Doctor, Mescom officer and Jnana Jyothi Senior Counsellor highlighted the schemes and facilities available under their departments from the State and Central Government and made an appeal to the villagers to approach the respective departmental officers with their needs and problems.

 

Mohan B. Baadkar, Senior Counsellor of Jnana Jyothi, which is a Fianancial literarcy and credit counselling centre, sponsored by Syndicate and Vijaya bank with its office in the premises of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat said that Jnana Jyothi was established with the explicit aim of educating the people in the villages, especially those who do not have access to the bank the need to cultivate the savings habit and would help such people in opening accounts and giving them guidance and assistance in all kinds of banking activities.

 

The Secretary of the BGP-Ramappa Hithalmani presented before the Gram Sabha the various projects that have been identified by the various Ward meetings which included improvement of roads, drinking water facility, street lighting, etc. The Village accountant-Ganesh pointed out the need to register the births and deaths in the panchayat within 21 days of the birth or death of an individual or within one year at the office of the Tahshildar.

 

 

In his brief speech, Peter Raphael Aranha-Headmaster of the Church Aided Higher Primary School, Moodubelle highlighted the need of the people to participate in the democratic process such as the Grama Sabhas. At this occasion he also made an appeal to the villagers to cooperate fully in the Census programme by giving correct information to the teachers who will be approaching them for this purpose.

 

President of the BGP-Mrs. Jacintha Aranha on behalf of the Grma Sabha felicitated Mrs. Stella Ida D’Souza and Devdas Hebbar for being elected as the member of the Udupi Zilla Panchayat and member and President of the Udupi Taluk Panchayat respectively.

 

While thanking the villagers for electing her as the member of the Zilla Panchayat, Mrs. Stella Ida D’Souza promised that she would try her best to work towards the development of the village. Devdas Hebbar also made an assurance that in his capacity as the President of the Udupi Taluk Panchayat, he would use his good office to see to it that the funds available for the development of the village from the Taulk Panchayat would be utilised so that people can have better amenities. Meanwhile, he also made an appeal to the villagers not to obstruct developmental work as they may have to sacrifice some portion of their land for a road or some other purpose which would bring them benefit once such developmental work has been undertaken.

 

Mrs. Jacintah Aranha in her presidential address said that there are many problems that are being faced by the villagers and the BGP has been trying to solve them at the earliest. However, she pointed out certain limitation regarding the supply of drinking water as the level of water in some of the bore-wells has gone down. She said that alternate arrangements such as open wells would be made so that the villagers would have better water supply. Speaking further, Mrs. Jacintha Aranha said that the BGP has been giving priority to cleanliness especially in the Santé-katte. She said that there is a proposal to convert the Sante-katte into a commercial complex and appealed the villagers to give their suggestion. She also said that the BGP has a proposal to set up a crematorium at Thokoli in the land belonging to the BGP and made an appeal to those people who have their land adjoining to this land to cooperate by surrendering some portion of their land for an approach road.

 

A number of villagers expressed about the difficulties that they have been facing with regards to electricity, roads, drinking water, etc. and also gave their appeals in writing to the BGP president. The Grama Sabha was conducted smoothly by Harish Shetty, one of the members of the BGP.