PANAJI
Goa’s newly created Kushavati district received a substantial administrative and development push in the 2026-27 State Budget with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant announcing Rs 500-crore allocation and a set of institutional measures for building the district’s governance and welfare framework.
Sawant, while presenting the Budget on Friday, said the funds would be used to strengthen welfare delivery and administrative infrastructure in the state’s third district, created to cater to tribal and rural regions in the hinterland.
“To enhance the standard of welfare services and administrative infrastructure, a provision of Rs 500 crore has been made in this financial year for the development of the Kushavati district,” he said.
The government also plans to prepare a blueprint document titled “Vision Kushavati”, intended to guide the district’s long-term development. The document will outline administrative, economic and infrastructure priorities while reflecting the aspirations of local communities, particularly in tribal areas.
Sawant said the district had been conceived not merely along geographical lines but with an emphasis on preserving the region’s environmental and cultural character. “The government has taken into account the environment, culture, history, flora and fauna of the region, which together form a hotspot of diversity,” he said explaining the need for the blueprint.
Among the institutional measures announced was the establishment of a branch office of the Goa State Scheduled Tribe Finance and Development Corporation in the new district. The corporation will simplify procedures and increase loan limits under three schemes -- Ashray Aadhar, Short-Term Loan, and Self-Employment – in a bid to improve access to finance for tribal communities.
To strengthen oversight and administration in the southern region, the government also proposed branch offices of the Vigilance Directorate in South Goa, and another for Kushavati. The office will function under an Additional Director with supporting staff. A budgetary provision of Rs 14.8 crore has been made for the initiative.
The budget further set aside Rs 139 crore for the three Collectorates in the State. The CM said the administration would focus on modernising governance systems in the coming year. Plans include the introduction of a paperless e-office system, digitisation of records, and the upgrading of the Integrated Command and Control Centre. The Collectorate will also pursue ISO certification for subordinate offices, a move the government said would help set standards for citizen-centric administration.
