Speaking at the inauguration of the Village Development Programmes, Sarpanch Joseph Sequeira said the panchayat’s primary focus is on promoting greenery and agriculture in the village.
“Our sole motto is to promote greenery. Our panchayat members are actively involved in promoting agriculture. While some people may indulge in filling land illegally, the panchayat immediately takes note and takes action against such activities,” he said.
The programme brochure was released by the Parish Priest of St Alex Church, Fr Mariano Silveira, and Purohit of Shree Shantadurga Temple, Ramchandra Mone, marking the formal inauguration of the initiative.
Project Coordinator Premanand Diukar highlighted the importance of involving villagers in planning.
“We have to plan by knowing the ground reality of the village, and therefore the villagers are the right people to give suggestions,” he said.
He added that while many governments have come and gone, basic infrastructure in the village has often been neglected, and the programme seeks to train people and make them self-reliant.
The inauguration coincided with Gandhi Jayanti, and rich tributes were paid to Mahatma Gandhi and former Prime Minister Lal Bahadur Shastri.
Panchayat Secretary Arjun Velip appealed to the residents to participate actively in the upcoming programmes, while members of NGOs including JCI and Lions Club attended in large numbers, reflecting strong community support for the initiative.
The initiative is being described as a pioneering effort among the 191 panchayats in the State, and aims to combine sustainable development with active citizen participation in improving the quality of life in Calangute.
