Govt to spend Rs 100 cr on panchayats, municipalities

Team Herald

PANJIM: In a major boost to the urban and rural bodies, the State government on Saturday announced to spend Rs 100 crore on the panchayats and municipalities by December 19, this year, as State is set to commemorate 60th Goa Liberation from the Portuguese colonial rule. 

The amount will be spent from Rs 300 crore announced by the Centre to mark the 60th year of Liberation. The announcement was made by Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, who, however, stressed that each panchayats will have to submit the report on 10-point programme to accomplish the objective Swayampurna Goem and the proposals with special projects, for which grants upto Rs 50 lakh would be given, by February 28.  

The Swayampurna Goem initiative will be launched across all 11 municipal areas and Panaji City Corporation from the coming week. The programme was launched in 191 village panchayats from October 2, 2020. 

The Chief Minister on Saturday held online interaction with the government officials, Swayampurna Mitra, sarpanch and panchas to review the progress of Swayampurna Goem programme. 

During the interaction, it was informed that 156 panchayats have been submitting timely report on the initiative; while there have been complaints coming from the Swayampurna Mitra about non-cooperation from the panchas and sarpanchas from few panchayats. 

“The Central government has announced Rs 300 crore to State to celebrate 60th Goa Liberation year. Of these, Rs 100 crore would be spend on the panchayats and municipalities in next one year,” Sawant said adding ‘the grants of Rs 50 lakh will be given to panchayats which cooperate and submit the report on 10-point programme that include electricity, water, toilets and housing for all, list of beneficiaries of Griha Aadhar, Deen Dayal Swasthya Seva Yojana (DDSSY), Dayanand Social Security Scheme (DSSS), etc., by February 28. 

“And proposal with projects, in the larger interest of village and people, like panchayat ghar, community hall, crematorium, market, etc duly certified by ‘Swayampurna Mitra’ officers before this month end,” he added further.

He said that the government will ensure that all the approvals including financial and administrative is issued within two months of receiving the proposals, so that the work can commence by June. 

“We want to inaugurate all the projects on December 19, this year,” Sawant said. 

The Chief Minister lamented that while majority of village panchayats have submitted reports, only few are lagging behind. 

“Almost 156 panchayats have submitted reports, but some elected members are not cooperating. Majority of reports from panchayats in Sanguem Taluka are yet to come,” he stated.

He also said that Swyampurna Mitra officials have complained that some panchayats were not cooperating during visits to panchayat offices. 

“I appeal to sarpanchas and panchayats members to cooperate and help the government in furthering people-centric initiatives,” he said.

Sawant also announced reward of Rs 10 lakh, Rs 15 lakh, Rs 20 lakh and Rs 25 lakh, each to the best four performing panchayats along with honouring the best sarpanch, panch and Swayampurna Mitra. 

Meanwhile, speaking on the Liberation Day celebration, he said that the all structures related to Goa’s Liberation struggle would be renovated by December 19.

“It is the duty of the village panchayats to inform the government of such structures so that none are missed out,” said the Chief Minister.