the goan I network
PANAJI
The announcement was made by Chief Minister Manohar Parrikar in the budget speech on Friday. He announced that the DRDAs, which are presently under the department of panchayats, will be brought under the ambit of the new department.
It is, however, interesting to note that the department of rural development is already in existence and was headed by the then RDA minister Alina Saldanha in the previous government. This surgical bifurcation is likely to afford total financial freedom for the new department as well as administrative independence from department of panchayats. Upon completion of the formalities, certain central as well as state funds and grants, which flowed through the directorate of panchayats will be directly handed over to the rural development department.
Presently, the North DRDA has jurisdiction over six development blocks of North Goa District namely, Tiswadi, Bardez, Pernem, Bicholim, Ponda and Sattari and the South District Rural Development Agency has jurisdiction over five development blocks namely, Sanguem, Quepem, Canacona, Salcete and Mormugao. These agencies implement the programmes with the assistance of the Block Development Officers.
Meanwhile, the department of panchayats has been allocated `192.20 crore of which `10 crore has been earmarked under MGNREGA, ` 10 crore under Indira Awas Yojna, ` six crore under Goa Gram Samruddhi Scheme and `20 crore under Deen Dayal Infrastructure Development Scheme. Apart from this, the budget speech included the announcement of setting up of a dedicated cell in the Public Works Department to look after the Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak Yojna and other infrastructural works under the ‘new’ rural development department.
A separate cell has also been proposed t be set up in Revenue Department to keep record and maintain government land and properties.
The budget speech also envisages the establishment of a special squad of
Vigilance Department with full powers to investigate cases including disproportionate assets.
