NT NETWORK

Margao

After a long wait, finally the director of  panchayats,  Narayan  Gad, on Moday, has issued an order releasing the  pending salaries of the  panchayat members of  Salcete taluka.

These panchayat members were not paid their salaries  since October 2019.

The recent order will give them some relief as they would be paid  salaries from October  to March.

This reporter tried to find out from the director of panchayats  as to why the salaries were delayed, but the  director could not be contacted  despite  repeated calls to the office on  Tuesday and
Wednesday.

Recently, the elected representatives from the grassroots-level have been given additional responsibility of monitoring the  home-quarantined people from their respective area.

“We were neglected by the government. Six months at a  stretch,  salaries were not given. Those issuing orders, gets salary  on time.  Why  the government  always gives ill-treatment to the panchayats and  zilla panchayats?”  fumed a sarpanch. “Who knows when we will get  the salaries of  the month of  April, May and June” said a panch 
of  Rachol.

This is not the first time that the government ‘held back’ their salaries. During the past terms too,     panchayat members had to  raise their voice for  it.  

Once the order is received by the  block  development officer ( BDO),  bills have to be prepared  and then the bills  need to be sent to the  accounts department  for releasing their salaries. This may take another one week or even more.