MARGAO: Social activists have expressed anguish over the government’s failure to implement and monitor the village Gram Panchayat Development Plan (GPDP) in the right
direction.
The State level empowered
committee, responsible for ensuring that panchayats complete their respective GPDP, has allegedly not conducted a single meeting, leaving citizens feeling betrayed.
At a meeting called by Goyche Fuddle Pillge Khatir (GFPK) in Margao, citizens demanded that the 73rd constitutional amendment be rectified at the earliest, as it has not yet been implemented by the Goa Legislative Assembly.
GFPK presented a basic awareness module titled ‘Let’s learn GPDP for Goa’, and is now resolved to take this awareness drive to the village level and to pressurize the government to implement GPDP.
According to Seby Rodrigues, the 15th Finance Commission has sanctioned Rs 293 crore for the state of Goa for GPDP, but monitoring and implementation at the village level are crucial. He alleged that the state level empowered committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, has not conducted a single meeting, sabotaging everything pertaining to GPDP.
Arthur D’Souza, another social activist, alleged that the panchayat system has been controlled and taken over by those in power, and not in the best interests of the citizens.
Citizens are demanding action, with Jack Mascarenhas stating, “The collective power of the ordinary people can bring about change. For this, government officials at the highest position who are responsible for implementing the GPDP properly should be held accountable.”
