MAPUSA
Richer coastal panchayats like Calangute and Candolim in North Goa, and Benaulim and Colva in the south, along with well-to-do and larger panchayats in urban pockets such as Penha de França in Bardez and Navelim in Salcete, are yet to roll out online citizen services.
In contrast, smaller panchayats in rural talukas -- Tuem, Varkhand-Nagzar, Virnoda and Casnem-Amberem-Poroscodem in Pernem -- have already gone online, underlining a striking divide where initiative, rather than resources, appears to be driving adoption of e-governance at the grassroots.
Even as the government continues to promote e-governance to bring services closer to citizens, adoption at the village level remains uneven, with several panchayats still dependent on manual systems for routine services.
Officials from the Directorate of Panchayats said that while the digital framework is in place, the pace of implementation varies widely across panchayats.
“Financially stronger panchayats are better placed to adopt online systems, but even then, the transition depends on local priorities and initiative,” a senior official said, indicating that resources alone are not the deciding factor.
In all, only 16 of Goa’s 191 village panchayats have operational online service platforms – barely 8% coverage. These include Chicalim, Chicolna-Bogmalo, Bastora, Bhatti, Carambolim, Alorna, Khazem-Amberem-Poroscodem, Varkhand-Nagzar, Keri-Tiracol, Tamboshem-Mopa-Ugvem, Virnoda, Tuem, Curca-Bambolim-Telaulim, Agonda, Poinguinim and Loliem-Pollem.
Officials noted that at least seven of these panchayats were assisted by the Goa Institute of Public Administration & Rural Development in setting up digital platforms.
However, support translated into results only where panchayats showed willingness to adopt the system.
“We are ready to assist any panchayat that wants to go online, but there has to be the will to implement it. In several cases, panchayats have taken the initiative on their own,” the official said.
Apart from administrative inertia, staffing constraints continue to hamper progress. Panchayats are required to regularly upload and update data – ranging from certificates and tax records to public notices – onto digital platforms, a task that requires dedicated manpower.
“The biggest challenge is availability of manpower. Smaller panchayats, in particular, do not have sufficient staff to manage and update the system, which slows down implementation,” another official said.
Despite the slow pace, the State government’s latest budget has opened a window for accelerating digital adoption.
A sum of Rs 15.5 crore has been earmarked under the Deendayal Infrastructure Development Scheme for infrastructure creation, which can be utilised for digital upgrades. In addition, Rs 14.5 crore has been allocated to support financially weaker panchayats, while Rs 34 crore has been set aside to strengthen the functioning of district panchayats.
Officials said that effective utilisation of these funds could help bridge the digital divide by enabling recruitment of technical staff, procurement of necessary hardware and development of user-friendly platforms.
With e-governance seen as key to improving transparency, efficiency and service delivery, the contrast between proactive smaller panchayats and lagging affluent ones raises questions over priorities and the State’s ability to ensure last-mile digital access for citizens.
