the goan I network
PANAJI
Neglected for years by the State government in matters of devolution of funds, local self-governing bodies including civic bodies (municipalities), village panchayats and the district level zilla panchayats may finally have something to smile about.
The 15th Finance Commission headed by N K Singh said it is seriously deliberating on recommending in its report a fund devolution mechanism by which this “third tier” of governance receives adequate funding by default.
Addressing a press conference after two days of deliberations with the State government, industry, trade bodies, professional groups and political parties, Singh said the distribution of funds to the urban local bodies and the village panchayat setups is a “crucial part” of his Commission’s work.
“It is crucial that this third tier of governance takes off,” Singh said.
Panchayats and municipalities in Goa have perennially been complaining of lack of financial support to them from the State. The first rung of the political establishment (State level) is reluctant to adequately fund the local self-government system and is perceived to be seeing it as a encroachment on their turf by the grassroot politicos.
The district level panchayati raj institution Zilla Panchayat, polls for which incidentally will be held in mid-March, has been functioning devoid of any powers, financial muscle or any significant scope of work.
Meanwhile, the beleaguered tourism industry of Goa met with Singh and the two other members on Friday morning to impress on the Commission to spare a
thought for the sector which has been reeling under suppressed business sentiment over the last two years.
Singh later told the media at the press conference that although Goa is well known as a tourist destination, data has come to the Commission’s notice that the tourism potential of the State has declined in the last two years.
Singh attributed the drop in footfalls to global factors like economic slowdown and competition from cheaper upcoming destinations.
Singh acknowledged Goa’s struggle to deal with a significantly large migrant (floating population) which exerts pressure on infrastructure, both physical as well as social.
The Statutory Finance Commission chief also suggested Goa could put its famous beaches to more uses than just a ‘tourist attraction’.
“Goa should tap its beaches to generate alternative energy. And it should not be restricted to solar energy but also wind and tidal,” Singh said.
