MARGAO: In 1997, a group of likeminded people from the ‘granary of Salcete’ – the village of Curtorim – put their heads together and set a vision for the village, resulting in the birth of the Curtorim Union. What began as a small step taken 25 years ago, the Curtorim Union has now become an example to the entire State of Goa, teaching communities to protect and promote the beautiful villages they have inherited. The Union stresses on planning at the grassroots level, to help make villages self-sufficient.
‘Curtorim Union’ is called a pioneer in the field of planning, a visionary organisation that pushed to establish self-help groups, mahila mandals, farmers’ clubs, and even a cell for senior citizens, 25 years ago.
Interestingly, the Goa Panchayat Raj Institutions (PRIs), a cell of the Curtorim Union, is among the few organisations in Goa fighting for the empowerment of the local bodies.
The Curtorim Union was first started in 1997 and registered in 1999. Thereafter, several sub-groups were established under the Union, including PRIs, a library, Farmers Club, Mahila Mandal, Senior Citizen Cell, Cell for youth development, sports, tenant association etc. Founder President of the Curtorim Union, J Santano Rodrigues told Herald that the union was formed keeping in mind the vision to build a sustainable future for their people and ensure their well-being through a vibrant society, thriving economy as well as an effective and responsibly enabled governance.
“I am proud to say that the Curtorim Union is the pioneer for planning and development at the grass root level, and follows the practice of drawing up plans every 10 years. A few of the initiatives implemented by the government in recent years were planned by the Union years ago,” said Rodrigues.
He pointed out that their ‘Adarsh Amcho Ganv’, was a perfect plan that is unlikely to be found in any other panchayat or village in the State of Goa, as anyone can access it for 2 exhaustive details about the village. “ Be it with regard to the history or geography of the village, or the political or social status of its people, all of this can be accessed at the click of a button. Curtorim has got everything on record, along with its plans for the future,” he said. The open resource lists every spring, stream, hill and field of the village, every species of medicinal plant and wild animal that can be found here, and even names a few village elders, who are treasure troves of traditional knowledge.
“The PRI is one of Goa’s only groups dedicated to the cause of rural development and devolution of powers to the local bodies. The vision of PRIs is to facilitate and enhance the people’s participation in development programmes and health management of rural local self-governments through grass root democracy. They also work towards democratic decentralisation in the form of statutory Panchayat Raj Institutions, as self-sufficient village republics in the State of Goa,” explained Santano.
The PRIs continue to fight legal battles for the devolution of power to the local bodies.
He said one of the main aims of the PRIs of Curtorim Union is the promotion of true Gram Swaraj (village self-rule) vide devolution of powers to the gram panchayats and Zilla panchayats for effective overall planning, community development and administration.
The Goa PRIs Union will strive to sensitise and mobilise innovative approaches for promoting people-centered local governance as well as open new perspectives of participatory development dialogues between the stakeholders, said Rodrigues.
He laments that most of the devolution of power to the local body remains only on paper, while the actual powers and resources needed to make these local bodies vibrant institutions of self-governance are still with the State Government of Goa.
Luisa Paes, who is currently President of the Curtorim Union, told Herald that members of their union were working hard for the betterment of the village.
“Through our work, we show our love and concern for the village and its people. We see this as a responsibility, because what we are taking forward is a gift that we received from our forefathers,” said Paes.
