SUNDAY, MAY 19, 2024
Team Herald
MARGAO: My village, my plan may soon emerge from the realms of a catchphrase and be a life mantra for those who seek funds and encouragement for the all-round development of the village. And that too truly by the people, for the people, of the people.
Goyche Fudle Pilge Khatir (GFPK) has started an awareness drive to help the villages ensure that their panchayats complete their respective village Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) to secure maximum funding from the 15th Finance Commission.
GFPK has compiled a basic module of awareness, which will be presented on May 6; the programme is titled ‘Let’s learn GPDP for Goa’.
“It’s essential to recognise the guidelines that the Goa Government set forth in 2016 to facilitate the creation, record-keeping, and monitoring of the GPDP. Therefore, it is crucial to develop a comprehensive understanding of the resources, procedures and needs of the local community,” said Jack Mascarenhas, GFPK president.
“The 15th Finance Commission has announced a significant allocation of funds amounting to Rs 2,36,805 crore to bolster the rural local bodies throughout India. In particular, the panchayats of Goa are set to receive a portion of this sum, with Rs 293 crore earmarked for this region. This move is in line with the mandate set forth by the 73rd Constitutional Amendment and Schedule-XI, which seeks to reinforce rural local self-governance at the grassroots level,” he added.
“By leveraging the financial support and active participation of residents in all 191 villages of Goa, we have a unique opportunity to propel the region in the right direction. It is noteworthy that the Maand, a traditional system of governance that has long been associated with ancestral communities in various locations, is a key reference point for this initiative,” said Jack.
“We can recreate the Maand of today in the form of Village Development Committees in every village and plan for the needs of our village through the GPDP as per Schedule-XI,” Jack added.
