Team Herald
CALANGUTE: Members of the Odisha Assembly Panchayati Raj Standing Committee on Wednesday visited the Calangute panchayat to study its functioning.
During their meeting with Calangute panchayat members, the eight-member team said they discussed about revenue generation, sanitation and social security issues and the differences in functioning between the panchayat system in Odisha and Goa.
“The Calangute panchayat is one of the best panchayats in the country and their functioning is a good example for the rest of the country, because they have done a lot to transform a backward village into a prosperous and developed village,” the Odisha MLAs said.
They also suggested that the Sarpanch should not be replaced frequently as that would ensure that whoever is the Sarpanch, will work more efficiently to avoid being ousted.
Calangute Sarpanch, Joseph Sequeira said they discussed about the powers of the panchayat in the two States as they have different panchayat systems, with Goa having only a two-tier panchayat raj.
“They (Odisha panchayats) have a lot of powers. For example, for water, we have to go to the Public Works Department and Water Resources Department, but they can take up projects directly,” he said.
Calangute Panchayat Secretary, Arjun Velip said they explained the various social schemes through which they provide monthly financial assistance of Rs 600 to the poor, Rs 1,000 to the disabled and also for cancer patients.
