PANJIM: In a bid to maintain the character of the villages, which is slowing fading, the State government through Directorate of Panchayats is working towards promoting a ‘Smart Village’ concept for holistic rural development.
Addressing media persons on Wednesday, Panchayat Minister Mauvin Godinho said he wants to promote such a concept wherein the basic necessities required in the village, including beautification, enhancing greenery, garbage management, improving water bodies, etc would be taken care. “We want to have proper holistic rural development. We want the whole village to look like a village. We want to maintain the character of Goa and the village,” the Minister said.
He added, “As far as we are concerned, it is nothing but maintaining the greenery, retaining the water bodies, beautifying the market places, construction of new markets, improving open spaces by promoting gardens and play grounds, basic amenities. All this will be done using funds from the XIVth finance commission.”
The Minister also announced a review of the block advisory committees in each panchayat. “We are also in process of reconstituting the block advisory committees, which were discontinued. Government has already cleared the file. I feel, that inputs should not only come from sarpanchas and panch members for development plans but also from the concerned active citizens,” he said.
