PANAJI
The Pramod Sawant-led Goa cabinet on Wednesday increased fund allocation to newly elected Zilla Panchayats and panchayats in the State.
Addressing the customary post-Cabinet press conference Sawant said that his government is also considering to delegate more powers to the two Zilla Panchayats.
The Swayampurna Goa scheme will also be taken to areas in municipality jurisdictions, he said.
Meanwhile, the State government will shortly lift the ban on gram sabhas due to the pandemic.
“Gram sabhas, which are suspended due to Covid outbreak, will commence shortly. Rs 18 crore additional grants will be issued to the panchayats,” he added.
FILM FESTIVAL: Sawant also said that preparations are on for the International Film Festival of India(IFFI) which is slated to be held from January 16 next year. 224 films will be screened under different sections at the 51st IFFI to be held in Goa from January 16 to Jan 24.
This time, the festival will witness the best of cinema with World, Asia & India Premiers. The festival will also showcase 47 films in the Indian panorama section, 26 in feature & 21 in Non feature section.
The international festival which had been postponed from November 2020 to Jan 2021 due to Covid pandemic is slated to be held in hybrid mode -- partly physical, partly hybrid.
