Team Herald

MARGAO: The Salcete Block Development Officer has launched a programme to train the panchayat members on various aspects of the functioning of the panchayats. 

While 10 members from 10 panchayats have already undergone the training, members of the remaining 20 panchayats will be imparted the same shortly.

In all 12 faculty members including senior and experienced government servants along with individuals associated with NGOs like Roland Martins of Consumer Rights along with Lorna Fernandes and Lecturer of Chowgule College Gunaji Desai undertake the training.

The training programme is prepared by the Goa Institute of Public Administration and Rural Development and is spread over a period of four days.

On the first day, the very being of the panchayat is discussed including the Panchayat Raj Act and the various committees to be constituted. As per the training manual, the panchayats are supposed to constitute the three standing committees and one committee each for the following: Supervisory, Village Development, Ward Development, Education, Village Water & Sanitation, Health & Sanitation, Village Child, Biodiversity Management and Road Safety.

On the second day, the preparation of the Gram Panchayat Development Plan under which the panchayats can directly avail funds from the Centre under the 14th Finance Commission is discussed along with the different schemes of the various government departments.

On the third day, the role of the panchayat in Swach Bharat Abhiyan is discussed in detail especially since the panchayat is now designated as the nodal agency to make India ‘open defecation free’. Besides, the building regulations and how to deal with illegal constructions and the powers of the panchayat member, sarpanch and secretary in this regard is also taken with on this day.

On the last day, the panchayat members are educated about the panchayat funds, the tendering process that they have to adhere to and also on how to interact with the Block Development Officer.