PANAJI: Newly inducted minister Sankalp Amonkar has begun reviewing the departments allocated to him after the portfolio distribution on Sunday, focusing on ongoing work, government welfare schemes, and the implementation of programmes aimed at benefiting farmers and the public.
Amonkar will formally assume charge of the Agriculture, Civil Supplies, and Handicrafts and Textiles portfolios on Thursday. Ahead of taking charge, he has scheduled a series of departmental review meetings to understand their functioning and the status of ongoing projects.
The Agriculture Department was scheduled for review on Monday, followed by Civil Supplies on Tuesday and Handicrafts and Textiles on Wednesday.
Addressing the Agriculture Department's Director, officers and members of the press, Amonkar said he had immediately contacted the Agriculture Director after the portfolio allocation on Sunday to arrange a comprehensive review meeting. "The responsibility for Agriculture, Civil Supplies and Handicrafts entrusted to me by Chief Minister Pramod Sawant is a significant one," he said.
Explaining the meeting's purpose, Amonkar said he wanted to understand the department's exact status, particularly the implementation of government welfare schemes and programmes for farmers and the general public. "Before officially assuming full charge of all three portfolios over the coming days, I wanted to review the progress of ongoing work initiated under the Chief Minister's prior leadership. It is now my responsibility to accelerate these efforts in coordination with our Director and officers," he said.
Emphasising the importance of agriculture in Goa, Amonkar said protecting agricultural land would remain a priority while addressing challenges faced by the sector. "Agriculture is very close to our hearts, and agricultural land must be protected," he said.
He further stressed the need to identify areas requiring improvement and ensure that farmers receive maximum support and benefits from government schemes to boost agricultural productivity in the State.
The minister said the departmental reviews would help him understand existing challenges, assess the progress of ongoing initiatives and identify measures required to improve the delivery of government programmes.
