PANAJI: Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Thursday urged Gram Panchayats to prepare comprehensive Vikasit Gram Panchayat Plans by March 2027, announcing that the best-performing projects would be recognised with awards by the Rural Development Agency (RDA).
Addressing a District-Level Panch Sammelan attended by Sarpanches, Panch members and Gramin Rojgar Sahayak (GRS), Sawant stressed that Panchayats must make greater use of Central government schemes, particularly under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), to undertake development works while generating employment in villages.
"The Government of India is ready to sanction projects, but Goa is not sending enough proposals under MGNREGA. If you prepare quality proposals and send them, they will be sanctioned," Sawant said, referring to discussions with Union Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan.
The Chief Minister said the objective of the Sammelan was to create awareness among Panchayat representatives about the various schemes implemented by the District Rural Development Agency (DRDA) and the Rural Development Department (RDD), enabling them to utilise available funds effectively for village development.
Sawant interacted with Gramin Rozgar Sahayaks, asking them to share projects successfully implemented in their Panchayats. He said rural development schemes should achieve a dual objective by creating public assets while providing employment opportunities to local residents.
"When you construct drains, check dams, ponds or undertake other development works, infrastructure is created while registered workers, especially women, receive employment and wages. Rural employment is not only about development but also about providing livelihoods," he said.
During the interaction, several GRS representatives highlighted projects executed under MGNREGA in their villages.
Sunita Shirodkar from Kasarpal said her Panchayat had constructed a well for a Scheduled Caste family for Rs 4.5 lakh using NREGA labour.
Representatives from Navelim said they had undertaken trench digging, soak pits and drainage works through 100 per cent labour-oriented projects, engaging local workers registered under the employment guarantee scheme.
Sanika Naik from Kundaim said the Panchayat had constructed 126 soak pits during the COVID-19 pandemic and completed another 40 later. She said more than 100 soak pits had since been handed over to the Panchayat, with each unit costing between Rs 10,000 and Rs 15,000.
She also highlighted canal desilting works in Advalpal carried out in four phases at an estimated cost of Rs 4 lakh to Rs 6 lakh.
A representative from Taleigao said the Panchayat had undertaken pond desilting and well construction near agricultural fields, while Guleli, Harvalem, Bhironda and Keri Panchayats highlighted contour trenching, soak pits, protection walls for BPL and Scheduled Tribe families, plantation works and rural roads executed under the scheme.
Sawant repeatedly emphasised that Panchayats should maximise Central funding by preparing proposals under water conservation initiatives such as Pani Adva Pani Jirva and the Catch the Rain campaign.
"If projects are properly prepared with estimates, labour requirements and layouts, the Government of India is ready to sanction them. We must utilise Central funds instead of depending only on State grants," he said.
The Chief Minister announced that Gramin Rozgar Sahayaks would undergo specialised training on project preparation, utilisation certificates, water conservation, agriculture, irrigation and floriculture to improve project execution.
Sawant called for large-scale rejuvenation of traditional water sources, urging Panchayats to desilt village wells, ponds and canals under MGNREGA.
"We should preserve every village well. Desilt them, protect them and recharge groundwater. There is no shortage of funds if Panchayats have the vision to take up meaningful projects," he said.
He clarified that No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were required only in cases involving disputed land and were generally unnecessary for works such as desilting ponds, rejuvenating wells and constructing check dams under water conservation schemes.
"We are not taking away anybody's land. We are creating structures that help recharge groundwater and benefit the entire village," he added.
The Chief Minister announced that roadside plantation would be taken up extensively under the VBG Ram-G Yojana, covering national highways, state highways, district roads and village roads.
He said the Rural Development Department would provide saplings while labourers engaged in plantation would receive wages under the scheme.
"We have started roadside plantation across the State. Traditional trees such as amla, baheda, kadamba and peepal will be planted. These projects can provide large-scale employment, particularly for women," Sawant said.
He added that women should be encouraged to participate in MGNREGA works while a limited number of men could be engaged for heavier tasks.
GRS representatives also highlighted challenges such as delays in material payments and procedural issues related to obtaining NOCs.
Responding to these concerns, Sawant instructed officials to collect written suggestions from field staff and assured them that pending issues would be examined.
"You know the ground realities better than anyone. Write down your problems and suggestions. We will study them and fast-track solutions," he said.
During the interaction, the Chief Minister also noted that daily wages under MGNREGA had been increased from Rs 378 to Rs 407.
Sawant directed every Gram Panchayat to prepare a Vikasit Gram Panchayat Plan covering agriculture, horticulture, fisheries, dairy farming, irrigation, sanitation, Public Works Department projects and other village infrastructure by March 2027.
He said Panchayats should identify projects that were genuinely beneficial to local communities and submit them for approval.
"Prepare projects that are necessary for your village. Once they are submitted, I will review them within 15 days so they can be sanctioned quickly," he said.
He also announced that the RDA would recognise Panchayats implementing outstanding projects.
"In my opinion, the Panchayat that executes the best project should receive an award from the RDA. Those who perform good work deserve appreciation and recognition," Sawant said.
The Chief Minister further urged Panchayats to submit major project proposals by November so they could be forwarded to the Government of India for approval.
Highlighting the government's Swayampurna Goem initiative, Sawant said Panchayats should focus on innovative and income-generating projects rather than routine civil works alone.
He suggested community farming, fisheries, floriculture and fodder cultivation as areas that could generate sustainable livelihoods.
Sawant said the government planned to distribute over one lakh rose saplings to farmers to boost floriculture ahead of the festive season and encouraged Panchayats to identify suitable beneficiaries.
He also suggested bringing fallow land under fodder cultivation through women's self-help groups, saying this would generate wages under MGNREGA while creating an additional source of income through the sale of fodder.
Concluding his address, Sawant urged Panchayat representatives and Gramin Rozgar Sahayaks to actively interact with Rural Development Department officials during the workshop and exchange successful project ideas to improve implementation across Goa.
"Good ideas from one Panchayat can inspire another. Together, we can achieve the vision of Vikasit Gram Panchayat and Swayampurna Goem," he said.
