Dhargalim likely to lose privileged status
HERALD REPORTER
PANJIM, AUG 28
Though Dhargalim panchayat was able to draw huge grant-in-aid during last three years by virtue of being part of the constituency of Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar, it is unlikely to enjoy similar privilege in the future.
With complaints of weaker panchayats growing louder about unequal distribution of grant-in-aid, some months back the department of panchayat took the decision to allot at least one work annually to each qualifying weaker panchayat.
In the last few years, a precedent has been set that those panchayats falling in the constituency of the panchayat minister received larger grant-in-aid than weaker panchayats in other constituencies. Consequently, more desirable and needy panchayats were left out as their share of grant got diverted to those favoured by the minister.
Take for instance, Dhargalim panchayats – in 2007-2008 it received grant-in-aid of Rs 12.29 crore, in 2008-2009 it got Rs 1.71 crore and in 2009-2010 Rs 7.31 crore.
There are 189 panchayats in the State and most come under the bracket of weaker panchayats but none got grant-in-aid as high as Dhargalim panchayat in the last three years.
“We have decided that at least one work would be given to each weaker panchayat,” said Menino D’Souza, Director of Department of Panchayat.
Weaker panchayats are those whose annual income is less than Rs 15 lakh and are entitled to receive grant-in-aid from the department of panchayat.
Also, grant released to panchayats under Finance Commission (FC) will be allotted in equal proportion. All panchayats weaker or otherwise are entitled to receive grant under Finance Commission. There has been huge increase in grant released under the 13 Finance Commission for 2010-2015.
The State is set to receive Rs 92. 2 crore for this period with basic grant to the tune of Rs 59 crore and Rs 31.2 crore as performance grant.
The department has already received first instalment of Rs 4.2 crore this years and it has been released to panchayats and zilla panchayats.
Dhargalim likely to lose privileged status
PANJIM, AUG 28 Though Dhargalim panchayat was able to draw huge grant-in-aid during last three years by virtue of being part of the constituency of Panchayat Minister Babu Azgaonkar, it is unlikely to enjoy similar privilege in the future.
