MARGAO: Goa is currently at 9th place when compared to other States in the Gram Panchayat Development Plan Campaign. With a score of 8.24, Goa is behind other States and UTs such as Dadra and Nagar Haveli (19), Chandigarh (14.96), Tripura (13.97), Arunachal Pradesh (9.14) and Daman and Diu (13.43).
Within the State, North Goa District (8.38) has scored marginally higher than South Goa (8.01). In North Goa, Bardez Taluka is at the top while Tiswadi Taluka is at the bottom. In the South, Canacona occupies the top spot while Mormugao is at the bottom. All the villages in Canacona have scored more than 10.5 which reveals that they have completed all of the tasks assigned to them.
There is an underlying pattern that reflects in the score and that is the villages in the interior parts of having scored higher than the villages that are relatively urbanized have higher educated demographics. For example, the village with the highest score is Gaondongri (11) while the village with the lowest score in Goa is Velsao-Pale (3) and Sancoale (3). Surprisingly, even St Cruz village which was the first village in Goa to prepare the GPDP plan in 2016 and get funds has scored a mere 6 points.
According to the convener of St Cruz Village Development Committee (VDC) Elsa Fernandes, local politics could be one of the reasons hampering the efforts of many villages in implementing the GPDP scheme. “The villagers of interior Goa are more dedicated to the progress of GPDP. These people don’t allow their personal agendas to interfere with the larger village internet”. Elsa’s view was demonstrated during the recent Benaulim special gram sabha on Liberation Day where the presentation by their VDC Convener Royla Fernandes was cut short by the local tourist taxi drivers to discuss their issue. In St Cruz, the GPDP plan was prepared in 2016 but after having received the funds, for the next two years, no GPDP plan was prepared.
Interestingly, there is also a lack of support from the State Government. In other States such as Andhra Pradesh and Sikkim, the State Government right from the Chief Minster’s level is actively involved in the implementation of the scheme. As a result, these States have implemented development works in coordination with other State ministries. For example, in Andra Pradesh, the GPDP scheme has converged with MGNREGA and other sectoral departments wherein they have taken up works such as roads, underground drainage system, SWM & LWM, plantation, skill development, livelihood activities and also the activities relating to health, education, women development & child welfare, agriculture, animal husbandry etc, thereby maximising efficiency and fund utilisation.
“The XVIth finance commission 5-year plan is currently active and will end in 2020. Crores of rupees are still waiting to be utilized. If the most educated villages fail to utilize these funds, that mean the locals and administration together has to share the responsibility of the failure. We also have a lot to learn how to use the powers granted to us to develop our village under the 73rd Amendment,” Fernandes said.
