Ponda Scan Issue 1 | Page 8

1 to 31st August 2014 Govind Gaude Engineer, ST leader Ponda has a significant SC/ST population. I am making a point blank allegation that our government is least bothered about the upliftment of the underprivileged communities in the state. Authorities dilly dally in giving SC/ST their basic constitutional rights. Non utilisation of Tribal Sub plan funding is a saga in its own right. Hardy 12% of it gets utilized. The remaining either gets diverted or gets lapsed. Even if this fund was judiciously used for the benefit of this weaker section of the society it would create wonders. But authorities neither have the will nor the conviction for this. Maybe there is a hidden fear that if the weaker section gets empowered they will question the wrong doings and take the wrong doers to task. With regards to Ponda city one major problem is traffic mismanagement. Lack of infrastructure and planning has lead to heavy traffic congestion in the city. Driving in the city or even walking on the city roads for that matter is a nightmare. Within 3 KM of the city radius there are many schools and colleges so traffic congestion is maximum in the morning and afternoon. Pedestrians cannot use the footpaths as they are occupied by roadside vendors as well as shopkeepers who keep their wares on display outside their shops. I understand that these are small time vendors who are trying to make a living through hard work. But they could be shifted to some other open spaces in the city so that obstruction to the footpaths gets taken care of. Wha Ё