Bhandari samaj to verify voter list, forms taluka-wise panels

Panaji: Members of the Gomantak Bhandari Samaj at its annual general body meeting in the city on Sunday decided to undertake verification of voters based on the registered voters’ list, for which taluka-wise committees have been formed. There are around 3,914 registered voters.

The general body also granted approval for a financial audit of the previous committee’s transactions for the period from 2021 to March 2026.

Gomantak Bhandari Samaj administrator S V Naik said that in order to conduct voter verification, “Two-member

committees have been formed in each taluka while in Ponda and Bardez, three-member committees have been formed to oversee the voter verification process in their respective talukas. The final list will be discussed and finalised during the special general body meeting.”

Stating that 137 members attended the meeting, Naik said the current process was focused on bringing transparency to the membership list and ensuring legal compliance before elections are held within four months.

“The general body granted approval for a financial audit of the previous committee’s transactions for the period of 2021 to March 2026,” said Naik.

A resolution was also passed congratulating the government on the Cabinet decision to implement a 100-point roster for postgraduate medical courses, Naik said.

He further said that a decision had been taken to form two separate committees in Mapusa and Margao for the management of assets and to oversee the functioning of the samaj halls in the two towns.

Referring to discussions during the meeting on voting rights for members, Naik said there are 3,914 members whose list has been approved by the Registrar of Societies and who will have voting rights.

However, he said there were also names recorded by the previous committee without government approval and their eligibility to vote would be decided after legal consultation and preparation of the final voters’ list.

He said Samaj certificates were being issued to help members obtain OBC status. However, he added that if members felt such certificates should not be issued, the matter would be examined further.