PANJIM: The GOACAN has urged the Directorate of Panchayats to ensure that all 191 village panchayats have their own dedicated website with Citizens Charter.
In a letter to the Director Narayan Gad, GOACAN has pointed out that a large number of village panchayats are yet to launch their websites and have also not prepared their Citizens Charter.
GOCAN has pointed out that the Goa State Information Commission (GSIC) in its order had directed the Director of Panchayats to ensure that each and every village panchayat has a well formatted and user-friendly website displaying all information held with the public authority in the public domain.
In a statement, GOACAN co-ordinator Roland Martins has stated that today as Goa has to deal with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the Government is working on a Economic Revival Plan which will help the 191 panchayats to make their villages self-reliant, the setting up of a website and the preparation of a Citizens Charter for each panchayat would be the appropriate step to be taken.
“Moreover the website and Citizens Charter could provide the required boost for the effective functioning of the Village Development Committee (VDC), Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC), Village Child Committee (VCC) and the Road Safety & Traffic Management Committee of the Panchayat,” he said.
He said that the facility will help bring the Departments of Social Welfare, Women & Child Development, Agriculture, Animal Husbandry & Veterinary Services closer to their beneficiaries in the village.
GOACAN has recommended that the department appoint a Nodal Officer to take this task ahead by coordinating with GIPARD and the Departments of Information Technology, Public Grievances, Civil Supplies & Consumer Affairs. The Nodal Officer could also provide guidance to the panchayats on financial assistance, design and content for the website & Citizen Charter.
