The Works

| 2001 |

Part 3: Greed for money main cause of ouster

If you think interference from the local MLA is the main cause of instability in panchayats, leading to frequent ouster of sarpanchas, think again.

Contrary to expectations, a significant proportion of people in the state feel that sarpanchas are frequently ousted in no-confidence motions due to the fear that sarpanchas make money.

In a survey of 405 people in different parts of the state, the department of Political science at Goa University observed that ‘political interference’ was only the third factor leading to constant instability in panchayats.

The survey included people from both the old conquests (Bardez, Tiswadi and Salcete) and new conquests (other talukas).

The allegations that sarpanchas could make money (32.2%) and corrupt, selfish and irresponsible sarpanchas (17.4%) were the more common views voiced by the electorate, while interference from MLA was shared by only 13.1% of those surveyed by the department.

Political Science department head Prof Peter Ronald D‘Souza however suggests that there could be a link between ‘inteference of MLA’, ‘sarpanchas making money’ and ‘corrupt sarpanchas’.

“There may be a connection between an MLA and a sarpanch. The sarpanch could be seen as an agent of the MLA. But at the same time, the sarpanch could be projecting oneself as a future politician,” explains Prof D`Souza.

“So, the allegation that sarpanchas make money could be either due to the inteference of MLA on the one hand or selfishness on the other,” he adds.

Other factors, according to the electorate, which has also led to instability in panchayats are caste politics (8.6%) and lack of co-operation among members (4.8%).

However, those most critical of interference of MLA were the people in the old conquest of North Goa (27%), while only a small faction (4.6%) of people in the new conquest (North Goa) accused MLAs of instigating instability in the panchayats.

Moreover, people in the new conquest (North Goa) also displayed a peculiar trend, different from the rest of the state.

The least number of them cited caste politics and the sarpanch’s ability to make money, while many blamed lack of co-operation among members.

Incidentally, most of the people in the new conquest of (North Goa (40.2%) couldn’t specify the main reason for the instability in panchayats.

Prof D‘Souza insists that the survey indicated an important trend.

“Goa differs in comparison with the rest of the country in one crucial component — caste politics,” opines Prof D`Souza.

“Perhaps, this is one factor in which Goa stands out from the rest of the country. Goans are largely concerned with secular issues and not caste-based issues,” he adds.

There is, however, an exception to this feature.

A surprisingly large number of people (21.7%) in the new conquest (South Goa) felt caste politics was the destabilising factor in the panchayats.

The answer to this trend could well be in the demographic setup of the area.

“A large number of the Dhangars, Velips and other communities are located in the talukas of Saneuem, Quepem and Canacona,” explains Poinguinim MLA Isidore Fernandes.

(A total of seven constituencies were chosen for the survey, four in North Goa and three in South Goa. In each constituency there were three polling stations and each of the constituencies as well as polling stations were chosen using the random method.

As many as 22 voters were selected from each polling station, giving a sample size of 462 respondents, of which 405 respondents were available for their views.

The data was collected by political science teachers, which included Lolita D‘Souza (Carmel College), Maria Rodrigues (MES College), Cajetan Raposo (Xavier’s College), Constancio Fernandes (Govt College at Quepem), Angela Dias (Agnel College at Pilar), Sarla Katageri (CES College at Cuncolim), Nilesh Naik (Sanquelim), and 28 students. The data, processed with advice from K Subrahmanya Nairy, was directed by Prof Peter DeSouza.)

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