Panaji
Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar promised to "think of" a development fund for MLAs on the lines of the Member of Parliament Local Area Development (MPLAD) fund for local legislators after the demand was put forth by several legislators including Jennifer Monserrate as well as several others.
"Why is there no development fund for the MLAs. In several other states each MLA is getting this money.
Why in Goa we do not get it? Let there be a local area development scheme with proper guidelines," Monserrate suggested.
Besides agreeing to think about that demand, Parrikar also promised to look into the demand to hike the MLAs salaries which currently stand at ₹90,000.
"Rather than having to physically do it every time, let me think about automatic increment. In tune with inflation," Parrikar said.
ACCOUNTS DEPT: Parrikar announced that the Department of Accounts has been completely digitalised with currently all payments being done through electronic mode either through RTGS, ECS or NEFT.
In other departments like that of commercial taxes, Parrikar said that 75% of the receipts are digitised. "We will take it to 90%," he said.
"We are totally digitized since 2012. Even for receiving money, e-challans are very popular today. Even accountability established. Electronic payment. Accounts department is fully computerized. Govt expenditure is 100% digital," Parrikar said responding to a cut motion moved by the opposition alleging that the government had failed to implement e-governance in the accounts department.
On the issue of delayed processing of pensions, Parrikar said that often the documents are submitted to the department late, which leads to delay in processing.
